Salvatto & Davis "Agon"
The long awaited return of Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) began with a soft bang. On one of the two very eclectic programs was George Balanchine’s 1957 groundbreaking Agon, first danced by co-founder and artistic director emeritus, Arthur Mitchell with partner Diana Adams for New York City Ballet. Gabrielle Salvatto who danced the famous duet with Fredrick Davis was simply beautiful. Not only did she prove technically capable of delivering Balanchine’s difficult style, she delivered with abandonment and ease in her artistry. The much talked about young hopeful Michaela DePrince who with partner Samuel Wilson did well with the challenge that Marius Petipa and Nicholas Sergeyev’s 1895 duet in Swan Lake (Act III Pas de Deux) demands (exacting turns, difficult balances, skilled lifts), but missing is the artistry; the ease. Certainly a test of bravado for both dancers, it will be curious to see DePrince in another few years. Far But Close (2012) by John Alleyne showcased the company in a work made just for them, and the evening closed with Robert Garland’s Return (1999) a fun-filled work where Garland expertly melds social
dance with classical ballet, and the dancers show how well they can handle this special blending. Kudos to newly appointed artistic director Virginia Johnson for bringing DTH back to New York audiences and to executive director Laveen Naidu and the rest of the DTH family for helping to make this return real. These young artists have been faced with a challenge that they seem willing to undertake, and though a tentative start, we hope that time will be on their side. Not a bad beginning at all.
Please see my Dance Magazine preview article on DTH’s return after an eight year hiatus here:
http://www.dancemagazine.com/issues/February-2013/Dance-Theatre-of-Harlem
dance with classical ballet, and the dancers show how well they can handle this special blending. Kudos to newly appointed artistic director Virginia Johnson for bringing DTH back to New York audiences and to executive director Laveen Naidu and the rest of the DTH family for helping to make this return real. These young artists have been faced with a challenge that they seem willing to undertake, and though a tentative start, we hope that time will be on their side. Not a bad beginning at all.
Please see my Dance Magazine preview article on DTH’s return after an eight year hiatus here:
http://www.dancemagazine.com/issues/February-2013/Dance-Theatre-of-Harlem
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