A Life Less Examined: ABT's Swan Lake w/Michele Wiles & Cory Stearns

photos by Chimene- Jared Matthews (far Lt), Michele W. & Corey S.; Swans; Vitali K (far Rt).
This was my 2nd and final ABT performance of Swan Lake in Chicago on Fri 4/16, 2pm, and it was thrilling for different reasons than opening night b/c I would be seeing the partnership of Principal, Michele Wiles and new Soloist, Cory Stearns. I had never seen Ms Wiles perform in Chicago, and it was the debut of Mr Stearns as Pr. Siegfried. They made a beautiful couple.

I had only heard great things about Ms Wiles in the past. As my companion, Joy, said about her, "she's perfection". As both Odette and Odile, she, and I quote the Washington Post, "...is a stunning technician who makes the knottiest technical feats look easy". Like Ethan Stiefel, Ms Wiles appears unassuming on stage, until she blows your mind by stopping on a dime while en pointe or some other feat of balance when it seems impossible to do so. I tell you, I gasped out loud several times. There were no over dramatizations or pyrotechnics, just incredible technique all while looking melancholy, resigned to fate and sometimes serene as the white swan before her transformation into the seductively, coquettish black swan. Bravissima, Ms Wiles!

Cory Stearns for me is just a cutie-patootie! What I love about him is that he blends good technique and artistry with an incredible ability to emote! If he's acting sad then first I see it in him and then start to feel it myself internally. If he's portraying any emotion [joy, dismay, frustration] you'll not only see it but, hopefully, attentuate to it. He for me is like Ms Julie Kent of ABT or Fabrice Calmels of the Joffrey Ballet. When these dancers are on stage, I have to see their facial expressions, and when they are not dancing, I don't really want to look away from them because their countenance says so much. What Mr Stearns brings to dance goes beyond technique yet includes an ability to create good chemistry with his partners.

Even while Mr Stearns as Pr. Ziggy sought a dance partner at his own party, he seemed sad not because he had to find a wife but possibly because he wanted to fall in love naturally versus being forced to marry. I felt he portrayed all the loneliness and isolation of having princely obligations and, therefore, sought solace in the woods. He was then an excellent partner to Ms Wiles, romantic, sensual and soulful, and he held his own as a soloist, too. I adored how he danced and expressed himself with each of his potential brides; he showed no disrespect to the lovely ladies only that he couldn't choose her because he was in love with another. If I had to describe him in a single word as a performer, I would say he is "poetic."

photo by Chimene- Swan flock
I'll be honest and say that I enjoyed the corps de ballet flock of swans more so on Thursday 4/15 opening night because that was a virtuosic performance. On this night it was just good; same with the pas de trois, which lacked timing and synchronicity between Mr C. Lopez, Ms Riccetto, and Ms Boylston. The corps in the birthday party and great hall scene were again excellent and delightful. Besides the two leading roles, the other stellar or stand out performances for me belonged to Mr Blaine Hoven as a Neopolitan. I just like the way Blaine looks when dancing. I'm always drawn to Ms Hee Seo's face and wonderful technique, esp. as the Polish Princess. Jared Matthews gave the best artistic performance that I've ever seen him do b/c it had personality! I absolutely loved him as the human-form, Machiavellian von Rothbart and how he toyed with the queen and potential brides; his acting was superb and his technique flawless.

photo by Chimene- Swan flock w/Vitali K.
The last dancer that I must compliment was Mr Vitali Krauchenka on a virtuoso performance as the green monster von Rothbart, which can get overlooked. It was reminiscent of acting on the level of James Caviezel's The Passion of Christ. Mr Krauchenka fully extended his body, limbs and neck like he was truly suffering. He held nothing back; it felt raw and pure and was beautiful to watch. He crawled then staggered to his feet haphazardly as he was injured by the swan flock before eventually crumpling to his death on top of a rock. His performance didn't look anything like Isaac Stappas' rendition. It was just good acting and use of the costume's cape, the floor and rocks as part of the physical technique. Bravo!

Farewell to ABT. I give no argument with them being bestowed by Congress as America's National Ballet. A better company of performers could probably not be found anywhere. I would most definitely take in another Swan Lake performance or any other whenever I get the chance.