Eclecticism
will be emphasized at the season finale of the Milwaukee Ballet, according to
Artistic Director Michael Pink. "We try to showcase a number of different
styles,” he says. “My aim throughout the year is to find a balance between
audience expectations, what everyone is used to and would like to see, and the
production of challenging, fresh material."
The
mixed repertory program that ends the season will feature three vastly
different pieces, each with a different emotional pitch, to ensure that all in
attendance will be able to connect with something they see on stage.
“The
The
second section features legendary choreographer Anthony Tudor’s Offenbach in the Underworld, a wondrous
and flighty sendup of one evening's worth of random interaction at a Parisian
cafe. The flirtatious interactions between the patrons are explored in this
section and the noncommittal nature of the interactions is captured through the
humorous, engaging dances, including the "can-can." No resolution is
found in this section because there is no conflict, only snapshots of a
fanciful and vibrant night life.
The
final portion of the evening’s performance is Aubade, a premiere choreographed by Pink. Inspired by the music of
Francis Poulenc, the section captures the essence of devoted lovers dealing
with the reality of separating at dawn. The word “aubade” itself means a song
or composition evoking daybreak. The piece features a more contemporary feel
than the other two sections and strives to blend the dramatic tension of a
forced separation with the natural beauty of a new beginning.
Pink
says that the narrative of his piece focuses on the separation of undefined
companions losing each other as a new day begins. “As soon as the sun is up,
it’s time for the men to go,” he explains. “It isn’t clear where they are
going, or even who the men are—soldiers, prisoners, whatever—there isn’t a real
solid definition of their character, but the idea of devotion being torn apart
is at the heart of it all.”
The production runs May 15-18 at
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