American Ballet Theatre in Chicago- All-American Celebration

I've always wanted to see American Ballet Theatre perform a live contemporary ballet in Chicago, and they brought 3 different works. ABT and critics like Hedy Weiss and Sid Smith of Chicago have been quick to point out how Twyla Tharp, Paul Taylor, and Jerome Robbins are three of America's most beloved choreographers of the 20th century, which may be true, but the decision will always be up to the viewing audience. It happens that I am familiar with those choreographers b/c modern or contemporary dance is popular in Chicago between the Joffrey Ballet, River North Chicago Dance, Giordano Jazz and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and with the variety and frequency of touring companies such as Paul Taylor, Miami City Ballet, Austin Santa Fe Ballet, Alvin Ailey, and other national, regional, or local companies.

Tharp's "Brahms-Hadyn Variations" (Julie Kent & Sascha Radetsky) photo courtesy of Gene Schiavone

For me, Ms Tharp's work is always hit or miss. ABT performed, and I quote from Sid Smith, "Tharp's massive "The Brahms-Haydn Variations" ....possibly her most straightforward classic ballet, minus most (but not all) of her postmodern quirks". I agreed with Ms Weiss who wrote,"not only were there moments when the stage was so packed with dancers (30 of them in all) doing so much, so fast, that it was hard to focus. But often the choreography itself seemed more like a ferocious opponent with which the dancers had to do battle." So rather than get bogged down on the cor. or overwhelming volume of dancers, I chose to focus on 3 couples instead: the incredible Gillian Murphy w/Jose Manuel Carreno, the lovely Michele Wiles w/Cory Stearns and the amazing Julie Kent w/Sascha Radetsky. They make the piece entirely worth it. With dancers of that caliber on stage who cares about the cor. I just loved seeing them put through their ballet paces, plus they are just pretty to look at.

Taylor's "Company B" (above pic) featuring recorded music by The Andrews Sisters was for me all about seeing the charm, spunk and talent of Aaron Scott in Tico-Tico, Craig Salstein in Oh Johnny, Oh Johnny, Oh!, and Joseph Phillips in Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy. I love men in ballet performing high octane routines so the ladies of ABT didn't have any cor. that would ordinarily grab my attention, plus I've never been a fan of the sock-hop or bunny-hop look with its long skirts, tennies and ponytails. I apparently missed the whole concept of war, too, that was supposedly part of the theme.

ABT's "Fancy Free" photo courtesy of Andrea Mohin

My favorite piece of the night was Robbin's Fancy Free, his alleged precursor to "West Side Story". It was awesome b/c I finally saw ABT's new soloist and youtube star, Daniil Simkin. I'd been following this Russian-born kid out of Germany's career since 2006 because he had the creative foresight and aptitude to plug himself on both his own website and youtube; balletomanes like myself the world over were blogging about, writing to him (he responded back, too) and sharing his videos before he ever got into a major company. Of course, he had also won a gold medal in 2006 at The International Ballet Competition in Jackson, MS and all kinds of other dance awards and competitions, too, so some in the dance community knew of him. He basically created his own huge fan base much like the movie "Center Stage" did for Ethan Stiefel and others outside of the dance world.

Daniil Simkin photo courtesy of Richard Finkelstein

Daniil Simkin in Fancy Free rocked!!! He was everything that I knew he could be, and it was just so exciting to finally see him live! Let me quote Mr Smith again, "Sparkly Daniil Simkin, a rising ABT spitfire, was electric as the first sailor, flawless in the double spins and glissando-like split that Robbins assigned the character." Hedy Weiss wrote also, "Daniil Simkin (a dancer whose compact frame and airtight style are reminiscent of Baryshnikov's)" . Mr Simkin was a joyful presence in this story about 3 horny, fiesty sailors who visit a bar in NYC in wartime 1944 only to get carried away for the attention of a couple of ladies. Carlos Lopez and Mr Radetsky were, also, excellent, but I have seen them in other live performances; it was Daniil's time in the spotlight for me.