Emmy winning, Ballets Boyz will perform four Philadelphia premieres by celebrated choreographers Russell Maliphant, Liv Lorent, Rafael Bonachela and Craig Revel Horwood on March 17-18 at Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 3680 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA.
Ballet Boyz, under the artistic direction of two former principal Royal Ballet dancers, Michael Nunn and William Trevitt, are known for their cheeky, highly innovative and world-class commissioned programs that mix contemporary cutting-edge choreography with an entertaining introductory video showing a behind-the-scenes view of their life and history. Ballet Boyz, so named after its popular TV series in the United Kingdom, won an International Emmy and the Rose d’Or for its groundbreaking documentary on Christopher Wheeldon entitled Strictly Bolshoi.
The Philadelphia premieres include Russell Maliphant’s eye-catching Broken Fall, winner of the 2004 Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Dance production; Rafael Bonachela’s powerful duet EdOx; Liv Lorent’s dazzling Propeller; and Craig Revel Horwood’s hilarious Yumba vs. Nonino.
Set to an hypnotic score by Barry Adamson, Maliphant’s Broken Fall, a trio originally created for Trevitt, Nunn and Sylvie Guillem, will feature the ‘Boyz’ and founding member Oxana Panchenko. The work explores risk, partnering and trust. The Times proclaims, it “never ceases to amaze.” The dance’s “fluent, power-sharing phrases are delivered with muscular charisma and supple intimacy.” Panchencko has danced all the major solo and principal classical roles and in works of Cranko, Ashton, Balanchine, Tharp and Kylian. She is the winner of Time Out Live Award for “Outstanding Performance” in Forsythe’s Septext and the “Outstanding Female Classical Artist of the Year Award” at the Critics Circle National Dance Awards.
Bonachela’s EdOx, a fiercely intense duet performed by Tim Morris and Panchenko, is set to Ezio Bosso’s hauntingly beautiful score for solo double bass. EdOx is a physical dialogue highlighting the superb flexibility and emotive qualities of the two performers. The Guardian notes, “The choreography has a tough, agitated energy, its gluey partnerwork punctuated by slicing lines.”
Lorent’s Propeller, performed by Nunn and Panchenko, examines balance, counterbalance and co-dependency. The program closes with Revel Horword’s ingenuous tango, Yumba vs Nonino, for Nunn and Trevitt. The tangos are “combative and intimate; confrontation as companionship, duet as duel. Nunn and Trevitt are superb.” (Financial Times).
Lead dancers with The Royal Ballet and K Ballet renegades, Michael Nunn and William Trevitt of Channel 4’s Ballet Boyz fame, founded Ballet Boyz/George Piper Dances in January 2001. The aim of the mid-size touring company is to challenge, surprise and enlighten audiences by bringing together elements from all realms of the art world, including composers, artists, designers and film makers. Distinguished career highlights include The Rough Guide to Choreography (2004) aired on Channel 4; Naked (2005), a full evening work which premiered at Sadler’s Wells; Encore (2006), a production premiering four commissioned works that toured internationally; Ballet for the People (2007), a gala for the re-opening of the Royal Festival Hall; and the award winning Strictly Bolshoi (2008), a UK television premiere for Channel 4.
Performances will take place on Tuesday, March 17 and Wednesday, March 18 at 7:30 pm.
Ticket prices are $48, $42 and $38 (evening) and $42, $36, $32 (matinee). Tickets may be purchased by calling the Annenberg Center Box Office at 215-898-3900 or by visiting www.pennpresents.org. Dance Celebration is presented by Dance Affiliates and Penn Presents. Its 27th season under the artistic direction of Randy Swartz salutes The Dancemaker.
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