November's Autumn

Seth Orza and Carla Korbes in Carousel © Angela Sterling

Christopher Wheeldon is considered by many as the most original and talented choreographer of the preset day. The Pacific Northwest Ballet under the direction of Peter Boal recently presented a program devoted to four of his works called All Wheeldon. It features:

• Carousel
• After the Rain, the pas de deux
• Polyphonia
• Variations Serieuses

Carousel is a short work originally created for the Richard Rogers centenary celebration in 2002, based on the musical it hints at the story of Billy and Julie.

The set is understated; a backdrop and carnival lights above that change color throughout the dance. The costumes have clean lines and vibrant shades. Amid the simplicity movements and emotions are the focus.

It opens with playful choreography and cartwheels then transitions into a romantic pas de deux and ends with, what for me was the most moving moment, the dancers creating a carousel, the effect is truly stunning! In an interview shown with Christopher Wheeldon he mentioned when originally choreographing the dance, the budget was very limited so he used choreography to create the set.

Corps de Ballet in Carousel © Angela Sterling

After the Rain was next. The ballet is two sequences, the rainstorm and this pas de deux, which was featured by itself in the program.

It's presentation is more modern than I'm used to but the music is wonderfully touching (Spiegel im Spiegel by Arvo Part) and there are many striking poses. Although abstract it has a very earthy feel, I had the impression some of the poses imitated nature.

Kaori Nakamura in Polyphonia © Angela Sterling

Polyphonia is quirky, with long lines, and dashes of comic movements. It's set to the complex piano music of György Ligeti. There are a variety of moods within the different sets of choreography and music. 

I really enjoyed Carousel but am undecided on Polyphonia, particularly the 'eyes wide shut' pas de deux and the sequence of four, but I loved the lyrical 'wedding dance' solo and the playful piece danced by Kaori Nakamura and Benjamin Griffiths.

Variation Serieuses is a funny story-ballet. Cleverly staged as though we are watching everything from the wings and the dancers are performing to an 'audience' off at another part of the stage.

There is the 'stereotypical' prima ballerina in a huge pink romantic tutu who makes a great deal of fuss. The ballet master who desperately tries to appease her tantrums and get on with the show, the male lead, a great dancer, who must put up with the ballerinas antics.

After a somewhat clumsy male dancer, who stepped on the ballerina's foot earlier, fails to catch her she falls into the orchestra pit injuring her foot. (Might I add, he shouldn't be blamed for her calamitous jumping ability).

But the show is saved by a talented and unpretentious corps de ballet dancer who gets her first taste of stardom, but the story goes full circle and she's becomes the ballerina.

Polyphonia © Angela Sterling

Final Thoughts Wheeldon has a talent for creating choreography that is unique and he isn't afraid of putting a little humor into his work, as also shown in his recent production of Alice and Wonderland for the Royal ballet where the Queen of Hearts imitates the famous rose adagio from in her own dreadful way.

His style is very modern and energetic. I'm very much used to the Classic Romantic style of ballet but I think its good to have experienced a different vision. 

I end with a video from another abstract piece by Wheeldon that wasn't featured in the program but I came across on YouTube and liked: