Gretel Batista and Ihosvany Rodriguez in ‘La Bayadera’,’ one of the works included in the program.
Courtesy of CCBM
The Cuban Classical Ballet of Miami, under the artistic direction of Eriberto Jiménez, returns to the Jackie Gleason Theater in Miami Beach to offer a unique show entitled “An Evening in White”, dedicated to the so-called white ballets of the romantic repertoire of The Nineteenth century.
The program for what promises to be a fine concert with guest stars, on the stage where some of the company’s most successful performances have taken place, includes excerpts from masterpieces such as “Giselle” ( 1841), “La Bayadera” (1877), “Swan Lake” (1895) and “Las Sílfides” (1909).
The insertion of “Las Silfídes” in the program deserves an explanation, since it is not a work created in the 19th century.
This short one-act piece (with music by Frédéric Chopin and choreography by Michel Fokine) is for some a belated ballet blanc and for others a nostalgic exercise that resurrects the style and pays homage to its predecessors.
However, the real rationale for its appearance in “An Evening in White” is that while the other three tracks selected are examples of the genre as they contain a scene where the dancers dress in white and move like ethereal beings,” Les Sylphes” is a white ballet in form and substance, from beginning to end.
At the time, the white ballet proved to be the perfect choreographic solution to represent the spirituality of the drama of love that manages to manifest itself beyond death. Without forgetting that in terms of staging it meant an important contribution to the development of ballet with argument.
You can replace csárdás with a polka in “Swan Lake” without major consequences, but you can’t change swans with willis without affecting the story and destroying its essence.
Although its original premiere – choreographed by Czech Julius Reisinger – was in 1877, “Le Lac des Cygnes” we enjoy today, part of the 1895 revival made by Frenchman Marius Petipa and Russian Lev Ivanov for the Imperial Ballet of the Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg.
In this “lake”, there are two imperishable two-steps of irrefutable beauty. The first is the second-act love duet played by Prince Siegfried and Odette, the Swan Queen. The second, known as “the pas de deux of the Black Swan”, appears in the third act, is danced by Siegfried and Odile and includes the famous 32 whipped. Odette is a white swan, Odile is a black swan.
For “Une soiree en blanc”, CCBM has chosen the pas de deux from the second act, for obvious reasons and the Cuban Arianne Lafita with the Italian Vittorio Galloro will perform on Saturday evening. Both return to Miami only to take part in this function, where they will also bring to life another emblematic couple of romanticism (Giselle and Albrecht) in the pas de deux of the second act of “Giselle”.
For its part, “Las Sílfides” will be interpreted by Ihosvany Rodríguez as the young poet who walks and meets the feminine spirit of the air, represented by Astrid Arvelo, Mayrel Martínez and Natali Alvarez.
In “La Bayadera” (with music by Ludwig Minkus and choreography by Marius Petipa), Rebecca Storani, Ihosvany Rodríguez, Astrid Arvelo, Eleni Gialas and Natali Alvarez will dance the roles of the lead couple and soloists, in the stage known as the name of “The Kingdom of Shadows”.
But Arianne Lafita and Vittorio Galloro are the big attraction of “An Evening in White” because they both left a very pleasant impression on each other in 2011, during their participation in the XVI International Ballet Festival in Miami.
“Miami audiences are very enthusiastic and grateful to the artists. When we performed at the festival in 2011, it was really a great experience, because even though it was our first international appearances, people really appreciated our art,” they tell us when we communicate with them. by email.
What have they done since?
“We have been dancing together for 11 years as independent principal dancers, performing almost the entire repertoire of classical ballet, neoclassical and contemporary pieces. We have performed as guests in many national theaters and operas in Europe, Russia, Asia and Latin America. In fact, on Wednesday, January 26, before heading to Miami, we’ll be performing with the full Nutcracker ballet in a performance for the Bucharest Opera’s centenary. »
Arianne Lafita and Vittorio Galloro in “Swan Lake”. Photo: Aldo Palosci (courtesy CCBM)
What does this trip to Miami mean to you?
“In these difficult times around the world, the Cuban Classical Ballet of Miami and its director Eriberto Jiménez show the high level of ballet art in Miami and the importance of giving art and culture to the public. For us , it is a great pleasure and an honor to be able to share the stage with the artists who will participate in this Gala. It is also a great joy to return to Miami and reunite with its wonderful audience. We are sure that it will be an evening unforgettable.
“Remove from your heart the love of beauty, and you will have removed all the charm of life”, said Jean Jacques Rousseau, Swiss writer and philosopher venerated by the romantics.
But there is no need to worry, beauty has always been one of the goals of art, the theme of Romanticism still holds true today, and the love of beauty is an acquired taste in the ballet-loving Miami audience.
If you are going to
The Miami Cuban Classical Ballet’s “An Evening in White” gala is presented the evening of Saturday, January 29 at 8 p.m. at the Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater (1700 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139). To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.cubanclassicalballetofmiami.org
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