The news of the non-renewal of Joaquín de Luz as head of the National Dance Company on the part of Inaem somewhat darkened the eve of the group’s presentation at the Teatros del Canal – which has hung the ‘No hay Billets’ sign for the four days of the exhibition. There he has presented a program that is, according to its director, an example of the versatility of the CND, which José Carlos Martínez It illuminated his ‘classical’ face, without abandoning contemporary work, a path that Joaquín de Luz has followed and that we hope his successor will continue.
- Choreographies
‘Heatscape’ (Justin Peck / Bohuslav Martinů), ‘Le Jeune Homme et la Mort’ (Roland Petit / JS Bach), ‘Cantata’ (Mauro Bigonzetti / Assurd) - Address
Joaquin de Luz - Interpreters
National Dance Company - Soloists
Yanier Gómez Noda, Yaman Kelemet - Place
Canal Theatres, Madrid
This time this aforementioned contemporary face of the company played, with two new features: ‘Le Jeune Homme et la Mort’, the legendary choreography of Roland Petit; and ‘Cantata’, from the Italian Mauro Bigonzetti. The program was completed with a work released last year: ‘Heatscape’, by Justin Peck (a beautiful neoclassical choreography and Balanchinian influences, which the company incorporated into its repertoire last year).
The great attraction of the program is, without a doubt, the inclusion of ‘Le Jeune Homme et la Mort’, a legendary choreography by Roland Petit (1924-2011), one of the greatest creators of 20th century dance. Jean Cocteau created a dark and simple story of love, art and death and the choreographer used the solemn music of ‘Passacaglia’ by Bach, with orchestration by Ottorino Respighi. Its premiere in Paris in 1946 was a shock, and the same would happen in its presentations around the world; He arrived in Madrid twelve years later, and did so, curiously, in a show by the company of Pilar Lopezwho included this piece in his Spanish dance program, danced by Jean Babilee (its original performer, and for whom the choreography was created) and Claire Sombert. Taylor Hackford opened with this piece, danced by an amazing Mikhail Baryshnikovhis film ‘Sunny Nights’ (1985).
The magnetic choreography is a punch in the spectators’ stomach. Bach’s music (originally for organ), at once calm and disturbing, surrounds the movements, between dance and gymnastic, of the desperate protagonist, followed by the desperate pas de deux and the terrible ending. Yanier Gómez Noda He brings the young man to life with the right drama and mastery of the body that the very demanding choreography requires, with precise and disturbing movements. Next to him, Yaman Kelemetwith a mysterious and playful character at the same time.
‘Cantata’, by Italian Mauro Bigonzetti, is a song to life through the group’s music Assurd, which reinterprets the folklore of southern Italy with its songs that intertwine nostalgia, joy and nature. The choreography is contagious to exhibit through scenes full of energy and chiaroscuro (the colorful but tattered costumes contribute to this), in a vital, inspired and passionate work, very well performed by the cast of the National Dance Company.
