Dance
Ballet high
Whoever said ballet is boring? We never thought so, but in our supersonic, Ritalin-hungry world of stimuli, Giselle and the dying swan may seem a bit antiquated for some tastes.
Fugate/Bahiri Ballet NY aims to change that attitude. Founded in 1997 by accomplished ballet veterans Medhi Bahiri and Judith Fugate, the Ballet NY mission is to present the highest level of professionalism and artistry possible, to develop new audiences for ballet in overlooked cities and to keep the cost of production and ticket prices affordable. The company performs this Saturday at Leeward Community College Theatre.
Fugate and Bahiri felt that most dancers had forgotten the fun factor. Technique and athleticism were fine but a dancer who never jetÈs out of his own little eight-count bubble makes for an uninspired audience.
Recruiting a potpourri of top-rated dancers, Fugate and Bahiri have created a diverse and all-inclusive repertoire. Awed by Baryshnikov power and Balanchine genius? They got it. Like the new and hypnotic ‡ la Robert Altman’s The Company? Got it. Or maybe you crave the tutus and pink toes shoes of a traditional Nutcracker. They got that under their dance belts too.
LCC doesn’t claim to be ecstatic over the cancellation of U2, scheduled to perform the same night as Ballet NY, but when the rock giants cancelled, theater manager Joe Patti campaigned to make U2 and ballet fans one and the same. Say ‘I am taking a buddy to the ballet,’ to the box office staff and pay only $16 a ticket.
LCC Theatre, 96-045 Ala Ike St, Pearl City, Sat 4/8, 8pm, $23 general, $19 students/seniors/military, 455-0385, [lcctheatre.hawaii.edu]
