What to make of a single evening of dance that stretches from ballet to tango to the street style known as jookin’? That uses music from Tchaikovsky to Stravinsky to James Brown? That resurrects choreography from 19th-century Russian Marius Petipa to movie star Gene Kelly to present-day populist Larry Keigwin?
Best to just sit back and not analyze things and let the folks at the Vail International Dance Festival entertain you with their world-class methods. Yes, the programs are all over the map, but they lead you on memorable journeys. The adventure continues through Aug. 9.
The 2014 fest opened July 27 in that only-in-Vail way. Within the first 15 minutes, audiences were tugged from a solo improvisation by Memphis street-styler Lil Buck, who started his act gliding along the railing in the back of the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater and danced down the center aisle to the stage, to a traditional tutu-and-tights bit of “Swan Lake” from ballet stunners Carla Korbes and Robert Fairchild.
Don’t stop your head from spinning yet or you’ll miss the hold-tight tango of Buenos Aires imports Gabriel Missé and Analía Centurión.
What holds this all together is a camaraderie among dancers that cuts across form, an understanding that movement — designed and controlled — is the most human of all artful expressions. These dancers have come to celebrate their common aspirations — and, no doubt, stories of body aches — and so the mood is relaxed.
That said, there were standouts and they came from Philadelphia. Who would have thought there would be such a strong connection between Vail and Philly in 2014, but it’s been a treat to both the eyes and ears. Only a few weeks after The Philadelphia Orchestra wrapped up a residency at the Bravo! Vail music festival,the Pennsylvania Ballet is making a stand at Vail Dance. So is BalletX, the city’s alternative and hot-hot contemporary company.
Pennsylvania provided the power for George Balanchine’s signature “Emeralds” and “Rubies” pieces and reminded everyone that classical is where all this work has its roots. (The company performs the whole “Jewels” trio July 30).
BalletX wowed in two ways. First, its rep piece, “Slump,” was the night’s highlight, featuring four men and four women and music ranging from klezmer to Yma Sumac to Ella Fitzgerald. Choreographer Joshua L. Peugh’s movements swung wildly, too, with the dancers, in juiced-up 1950s costumes, going from prim play-acting to primate-ive posturing (I don’t mean primitive: There was definitely some monkey business about the way they strutted).
Second, BalletX charmed with artistic director/choreographer Matthew Neenan’s quirky, romantic duet “La Chasse,” which was given to capable Pennsylvania Ballet stars Lauren Fadeley and Alexander Peters for the night.
BalletX has four appearances left at the fest, on Aug. 1, 2, 4 and 5, and those may be the best bets for the year.
That’s how it goes in Vail: Companies mix and match, styles collide, dancers extract the best from one an other. It’s an odd, sometimes awkward, sometimes revealing mix, and if you blink, you’ll miss it.
Ray Mark Rinaldi: 303-954-1540, rrinaldi@ denverpost.com or twitter.com/rayrinaldi
VAIL INTERNATIONAL DANCE FESTIVAL Vail’s annual presentation of dancers from around the world runs through Aug. 9, with most events at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater. Prices vary. 888-920-2787 or vvf.org.
