Arts & Culture Magazine - November/December 2007 - (Page 33)

Arts & Culture Magazine : : PERFORMING ARTS ‘07 tionally close to Sir Fred, as Webb affectionately calls him. Both danced his choreography, including leading roles, in The Two Pigeons, and worked with Ashton for years. In early rehearsals dancing as a member of the Royal Ballet corps in Elite Syncopations, Webb remembers MacMillan chiding him for looking like “a piece of spaghetti gone wrong.” It used to be that only The Royal Ballet performed Ashton and Macmillan, the cream of twentieth century British choreographers. However, now large American companies such as ABT (American Ballet Theater), San Francisco and Houston are permitted to perform them. “We’re not a very big company, are we?” says Webb, “And we’ve got two of Sir Fred’s works in our first season.” David Bintley, now the artistic director of the Birmingham Royal Ballet and whose Scottish Dances is on the January program, shared a dressing room with Webb for years when they danced together at the Royal. And Hans van Manen’s distinctive style nearly enticed the young Webb to leave Britain for the Dutch National Ballet simply to soak up more of that energy that will be seen in Van Manen’s Grosse Fuge later in the season. Characteristic of Webb’s eclectic spirit, he and fellow Brit Matthew Bourne, the Tony-awarding winning choreographer of the smashing Swan Lake, danced with an all-male company and the currently touring Edward Scissorhands; they have been friends ever since they met organizing an HIV/AIDS benefit in London. Bourne, who was the first to hire Webb when he retired from the Royal Ballet, will be here when the Sarasota Ballet performs his Infernal Galop and in so doing becomes the first company in the world to have one of his ballets in their repertoire. These connections make a difference. But what about the audiences who are to see what Iain Webb is bringing to our stages? Webb says there is something for everyone and he points to the opening program on November 30 and December 1 as a key example. “As a Brit coming over to America, I had to feature the two greatest choreographers of the twentieth century—George Balanchine and Sir Fred.” “We’re an American company and Mr. B is truly the backbone of American dance,” Webb continues. “I only met Mr. B once and danced in a few of his ballets. There’s always been some criticism that Americans can’t do the Ashton and the English can’t do the Balanchine American style, but these days we are universal. It’s ambitious, but because of the dancers’ energy, I know we can produce both styles.” Allegro Brillante is a lovely Balanchine work that has been performed many times even in Florida, so audiences may have the opportunity to compare the technical and artistic qualities of Sarasota’s dancers to those of other companies. However, this will not be the case with Ashton’s The Two Pigeons, which is rarely performed in the United States. Two years ago, it was the smash hit of the two-week long Ashton Festival in New York City when the Birmingham Royal Ballet brought their production to the United States. The story is filled with fantastically vibrant dancing, so, “The traditional ballet audience will be blown away by it, but it’s also perfect for first-timers,” shares Webb. “It has every emotion, every excitement. I can say this because my father, who felt so uncomfortable at the ballet, was spellbound by it. When people leave the hall they’ll already be on the phone with the box office to see it again…and again.” The Sarasota Ballet is located at 5555 N. Tamiami Trl. Call the Box Office at 941.359.0099 or visit www.sarasotaballet.org for more information. Photo by Frank Atura. Courtesy of the Sarasota Ballet. arts and culture magazine : : 61 http://www.sarasotaballet.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Arts & Culture Magazine - November/December 2007

Arts & Culture Magazine - November/December 2007 Contents Extra! Extra! Modern Times Gallery Interview - Jopseph Caulkins Exhibitions Dodi Reifenberg and Bradley Wester Profiles Center Stage Carnevale Horse Feathers Grill & Lounge Dancing on the Stage of Life Gallery Guide Calendar of Events

Arts & Culture Magazine - November/December 2007

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