You can like your ballet contemporary or traditional – but Post:Ballet‘s ability to combine them both will certainly take your dance appreciation to the next level.
The highly acclaimed company was founded in 2009 and is connected to California’s Berkeley Ballet Theater. It provides opportunities for dancers to connect to the community and take a fresh look at classical movement and music.
And if you haven’t caught their video of “Waltz of the Snowflakes,” posted to YouTube just a few weeks ago, you’re truly missing out.
Everything old is new again
‘Tis the season for The Nutcracker, a holiday staple for those who don’t even necessarily consider themselves fans of ballet. Tchaikovsky’s soundtrack is familiar to just about everyone, not even requiring you to have seen the ballet to recognize its music.
As little Clara is introduced by the Nutcracker to a new, magical world full of treats and sweets, she also sees dancing snowflakes. And “Waltz Of The Snowflakes” is the 9th beautiful scene in Act 1 of the ballet.
The Berlin Philharmonic’s performance observes as the background for the contemporary version of Post:Ballet – and it’s one that’s quite different from the sparkly, shiny, snowy world of the classical stage.
In a place where it very rarely snows, in a parking lot that’s nothing like a stage, and with costumes that are more comfort than glamor, 11 dancers in face masks put on a truly 2020 performance.
Let it snow
The creative interpretation was choreographed by the company’s founder Robert Dekkers and filmed in Alameda, California. The stage is a parking lot outside a warehouse, with a few vehicles in the parking lot and dabbles of graffiti in place of velvet and glitter.
That juxtaposition alone is striking. And while you may prefer the opulence of the original production, the lack of distraction from the scenery does allow you to appreciate the dancer’s skills even more.
Mercifully, they are no on pointe during the performance, wearing shoes far more conducive to the concrete beneath their feet.
Their tutus are long and flowing, their tops slouchy – and probably a lot easier to move in than netting, spandex, and sequins.
Compare it, for a moment, to Balanchine and the NYC Ballet’s snowy forest Waltz:
The evolution of The Nutcracker
Ballet is ever-evolving. And that’s what the arts often have to do to survive.
Of course, modern versions don’t replace or compete with originals – they complement them. They give those who appreciate art another lens through which to view their favorites.
It’s unlikely you’ll see a parking lot-version of The Nutcracker. But in 2020, chances are you won’t see a performance at all.
This “pandemic version” is not ignoring our current situation – it’s showing that just because we can’t be together in a theater, The Nutcracker doesn’t go away. It adapts.
It’s outside, where it’s safer. The dancers are masked, for the benefit of themselves and the people around them. In some ways, they’re just like the rest of us.
Ballerinas are typically untouchable figures – somehow mystical in their grace and beauty. But Dekker’s vision is one that shows even they didn’t go through 2020 unscathed.
They did, however, keep dancing.
It’s also rare to see any Black women or other Women of Color in The Nutcracker. Here, that’s not the case. Again, it’s about dance and music, not about making sure the snowflakes are white.
Since it was uploaded on December 13, the Post:Ballet version has been viewed nearly 100k times – and deserves to be viewed even more widely! Not only because it’s the season, but because it proves that the show does go on – and it’s beautiful, inclusive, and everlasting.
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