Berkshires arts reviews

July 5, 2007 performance reviewed by Connell McGrath

Nederlands Dans Theater II (NDT2) performed at Jacob’s Pillow from July 4 through July 8. These are the younger dancers some of whom eventually go on to perform with the more famous NDT1. They are without exception outstanding technical and expressive dancers with excellent training and excellent direction. With a company like NDT2, the selection of choreographer and art direction is as important as the technical ability of the dancers. The directors of this company are choosing great work for the dancers to perform.

Kenta Kojiri and Andrea Schermoly in Hans van Manen’s Simple Things. Photo by Dirk Buwalda.

The first piece was Sleepless (2004) choreographed by Jiri Kylian to ascore composed by Dirk Haubrich based on Mozart’s Adagio in C-minor. Kylian places emphasis on decor and lighting for this piece, both to powerful effect. He sets a white scrim at an angle across the back of the stage with vertical slits in it through which the dancers can enter and exit.

Kylian writes the following about this piece: “Are we really clear in our intentions? Are we really sure that we want to move towards or away from…? I find this an interesting question which inevitably has a great influence on our existence, our intentions and our passing through life.” Sleepless is an existential work — that’s clear from the beginning. The dancing is superb and so is the choreography. The piece is engaging, fresh and technically stunning.

The next piece, Simple Things, was choreographed by Hans van Manen (2001), to an assortment of contemporary and classical music. While not as thematically profound as Sleepless, it is still very strong work in all aspects. The ballet begins and ends with a playful duet for two men set to accordion music. Next, there are a series of pas de deux with two women. The dance is nicely balanced between playful and serious, silly and thoughtful.

It is somewhat reminiscent of Mark Morris, though van Manen stays more serious throughout the piece than Morris would with similar material. The choreography is very
demanding and at once classical and innovative. It’s executed with technical brilliance by these young dancers.

The last piece on the program was Dream Play by Johan Inger (2000) set to excerpts from Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring. Also very good work, though of course it’s an ambitious undertaking to try to choreograph this work. He keeps it simple and doesn’t have grandiose visions for his interpretation of this notoriously difficult ballet. He frames the work as a momentary dream had by a young man in which the primeval rites of Spring are enacted by a primitive group.

NDT2 really delivers on this performance, and showcasing work such as this is one of the reasons that Jacob’s Pillow remains a prestigious dance Festival.

Map, info., links: get directions to Jacob’s Pillow, Becket, MA