BRILLIANCE AT THE BALLET

It’s my fault that the following is about a performance from last Thursday. But it’s still relevant, because the Texas Ballet Theater season hasn’t ended. Jenny Block, our girl about town and ballet fanatic, attended A Majestic Evening. Here’s her report.

It’s no secret that I like the ballet and that I love our own Texas Ballet Theater. So I’m sure it will come as no surprise to you when I say that their performance last Thursday, A Majestic Evening, really was glorious. First on the bill was the world premiere of a gorgeous new piece choreographed by Ben Stevenson. Preludes for Van was created to honor no other than Van Cliburn himself–who was there last night, of course. The music was played by the 2005 Silver Medal winner of the competition, in fact. The piano was placed onstage, and the dancers moved across the apron in pairs and groups and solo moments as well. It was lovely. The costuming was subtle in grays and whites, and the music was various Rachmaninoff pieces. Andre Silva was remarkable. I couldn’t take my eyes off of him, and Julie Gumbinner and Lucas Priolo were, as always, magical together. There is something about bringing real-life chemistry (the two are newlyweds) to the stage. After the intermission, Carlos Acosta (London Ballet) and Paloma Herrera (American Ballet Theatre) performed Le Corsaire pas de deux. Acosta blows me away every time I see him dance. It doesn’t seem human the way he leaps and turns. If you have never seen him dance, even if you are in no way a ballet person, you should. The show closed with Tim O’Keefe’s Love Thing choreographed to various Tina Turner pieces. It was, once again, wonderful. The dancers looked like they are having so much fun, and the choreography is inventive and energetic and exciting. Andre Silva was a standout in this piece as well. But all of the dancers are truly wonderful. A Majestic Evening was a one-night gig. But you can catch TBT’s Cinderella at the Music Hall at Fair Park May 12-14.