Lets Go Bach To Broadway!
Written By | Hunter Gilmore
The Atlanta Ballet is bringing us all Bach To Broadway! Maybe not literally but they are
definitely bringing us some serious ballet moves. Now this was my first time attending a ballet and I must say I was highly impressed. The company of dancers comprising the Atlanta Ballet are strong, graceful, and impactful in their own right. Bach to Broadway is creatively directed by Gennadi Nedvigin and conducted by Tara Simoncic. The show is broken up into 3 captivating acts, each of which tell a story of their own.
The first act is called “7 for Eight” with music by Sebastian Bach. This act is the introduction so the music selection is noticeably slower than the other acts yet still just as interesting. It definitely gave a deep and somber feel with the black background and costumes. It is set to seven movements from four Bach concerts and built for eight dancers, “7 for Eight” is a ballet dedicated to pure movement with no formal story or plot line. “7 for Eight” becomes an extended study on intimate physical moments between individuals.
The second act is called “Who Cares” which is extremely fitting since it definitely gave romantic vibes to say the least. George Balanchine and George Gershwin collaborated to create this intricate piece. Balanchine used the songs not to evoke any particular era but as a way to portray an exuberance that is both broadly American and charged wit the energy of New York City. It is set against a starry Manhattan skyline, this playfully romantic ballet teases the purely classical choreography off-balance with inflections of jazz dance steps and rhythms.
“Concerto Armonico” is the third and final ballet. This one was actually my favorite of the three. I loved the bold colors and interesting geometric shapes used in the set design. This piece is a world premiere for the Atlanta Ballet, choreographer Maxim Petrov uses the propulsive energy of Alexander Tcherepnin’s “Concerto for Harmonica and Orchestra, Op. 86” to conjure physical images of wide open spaces and vast territories yet to be discovered. “Concerto Armonico” is a ballet filled with optimism and a spirit of adventure.
If you haven’t gone to see Bach to Broadway yet, there is still one more show date for May 13, 2018. They are playing at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. You can find tickets and times at www.atlantaballet.com.