What's the 'POINTE' of classical ballet?
Love it or hate it; seems there is not grey area opinions about classical ballet. Just like opera! Begun in 1500's Europe, this art form has progressed through the romantic, neoclassical and more recently contemporary. Our nation's premier practitioner is known as either Canadian National Ballet, or slightly more colloquially the National Ballet of Canada. Either one, it's become world renowned. Its schools train not only future performers but instills in all its graduates- discipline, focus, dedication ambition, and obedience. All facets that assure these young people will be the cream that rises in whatever field to which they aspire.
This evening's gala performance included excerpts from Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet, his interpretation of Shakespeare's tale of the young Capulet, Juliet, and her love for Romeo, a Montague. Both families are in a Hatfield/McCoy relationship, but without the moonshine & shotguns. Like Stravinsky, the composer had his own running quarrel with Joe Stalin, so; the score had compromises.
No programme was given out so I can't list the prima & primo dancers, nor can I list the piano accompanist also seen on stage. I can state that both dancers are inspired masters of their art. To try and describe their walk; their en pointe duets, their jetés; the lifts and every turnout or basic fives, is beyond any Thesaurus. One has to see, and thus react to their exquisite body movements. Even the opening support duo in peach-colored tutus appeared as if synchronized mirror reflections.
Post interval, the corps de ballet performed a very modern interpretation of the 'Sharks/Jets' fight scene so often used to demonstrate the Bernstein musical opus of the original play. This endeavor illustrated the NBC's range and wider market appeal that many such organizations cannot or do not stage.
The venue for tonight's gala is St. Catharines' FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre and considering that our town's population is about 140,000, that the PAC's 2025 season entertained almost 115,000 ! She's certainly one of the gems of downtown. This 3rd visit just reiterated the commitment, support, and affinity of its FOH staff, and of the administration people I've met. Tonight, I learned and witnessed another of them. Colleen Smith is the Executive Director of the operation and hearing her make a pitch for support, this was the first time I've witnessed impulsive applause for a pitchman (or pitch woman) and for a commercial. Her enunciation, timing, phraseology and definitely sincerity was the reason for such a response, Hopefully, the evening was a financial success. The on-stage presentation certainly was.