 Once
again asserting the ever-adventurous imagination of its artistic
directors Judith Fugate and Medhi Bahiri, the six-year-old Fugate/Bahiri
Ballet NY – formerly known as DanceGalaxy – will return
to the Peter Norton Symphony Space, January 8–10, with four
premieres, each uniquely different in style, subject and point of
view. The new works include the world premiere of Thaddeus Davis’s
“Vivaldian Chat,” as well as the first company performances
of George Balanchine’s “Valse-Fantaisie,” Antony
Tudor’s “Continuo” and Ann Marie DeAngelo’s
“A Glimpse.” Also on the program is Peter Martins’s
“Reflections.”
Balanchine’s “Valse-Fantaisie,” which premiered
in 1967, is a romantic sextet for five women and a man. Marked by
its sweeping neoclassical lyricism, the ballet is set to music by
Mikhail Glinka. Tudor’s “Continuo” was originally
created for the choreographer’s students at the Julliard School.
While pure Tudor in style, the ballet differs in its abstract quality
from his usually narrative ballets. The music is by Johann Pachelbel.
Inspired by Theophile Gautier’s 1835 novel Mademoiselle de
Maupin, “A Glimpse” explores the author’s worship
of beauty for beauty’s sake, regardless of its moral or social
conditions. The ballet, originally premiered by Ballet de Monterrey
in 1992, is set to music by Franz Lizst and Enigma.
The world premiere of Thaddeus Davis’s “Vivaldian Chat,”
a duet, focuses on the ongoing conflict between affection and power
in a relationship be it sexual or platonic. The score draws from
Bach, Vivaldi and Thomas Newman’s soundtrack from the film
“In the Bedroom.” The ballet marks Davis’s second
original work for the company. Last year the troupe presented the
world premiere of his “Once before, Twice after,” which
also marked Davis’s choreographic debut with a New York-based
company.
And last, but not least, the troupe will present Peter Martins’s
“Reflections,” which received its world premiere by
DanceGalaxy during its 2001 Joyce Theater season. The contemporary
pas de deux is set to an original score by New York City Ballet
principal Nilas Martins.
Founded in 1997, Fugate/Bahiri Ballet NY is committed to reaching
new dance audiences by bringing first-rate dancers and repertory
to cities and communities unable to afford engagements by the larger
troupes. The breadth of the repertory by major choreographers also
offers the company’s accomplished dancers broader performing
opportunities. The company’s New York City debut was at The
Joyce Theater in March 1999, and was followed by seasons at The
Joyce, Symphony Space and Marymount Manhattan Theatre. Fugate/Bahiri
Ballet NY has also toured throughout North America, including performances
at Montreal’s prestigious Festival des Arts de St.-Sauveur.
Bringing their experience from a variety of companies such as New
York City Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, American Ballet Theatre,
Miami City Ballet, Compañia Nacional de Danza in Mexico City
and the Joffrey Ballet, among others, the company’s dancers
include Carolina Capdevila, Cornel Crabtree, Prince Credell, Christina
Fagundes, Todd Fox, Jenna Rae Lavin, Eliane Munier, Davis Robertson,
Cheryl Sladkin, Chrissy Schultz, Tiffany Stadler, Ian Thatcher and
Tanya Wideman Davis.
Upon entering the School of American Ballet at age eight, Judith
Fugate was selected by George Balanchine to play Marie in the New
York City Ballet production of “The Nutcracker,” eventually
becoming the first Marie to go on to play the coveted role of the
Sugar Plum Fairy in the NYCB production. During her career at City
Ballet, where she danced as a principal for 10 years, Fugate performed
major roles in almost every ballet in the repertory. She left NYCB
in 1997 to work as a guest artist with other companies and to co-create
Fugate/Bahiri Ballet NY with her husband, Medhi Bahiri.
Born in Marseilles, Medhi Bahiri began his professional dance studies
at Rosella Hightower’s legendary ballet school Centre de Danse
in Cannes. He was a member of Maurice Béjart’s Twentieth
Century Ballet, and was a principal dancer with Ballet West and
Boston Ballet, in addition to serving as principal guest artist
with Ballet National de Mexico, Ballet de Santiago, Universal Ballet
of Korea, Ballet du Louvre, Tulsa Ballet and Ballet Philippines,
among others. As a young performer, he was awarded the First Prize
in the Prix de Lausanne dance competition and recognized for artistic
achievement at the International Ballet Competition in Varna, in
addition to other honors.
The evening curtain for Fugate/Bahiri Ballet NY at Peter Jay Sharp
Theatre at Peter Norton Symphony Space is at 7:30pm on all nights,
January 8–10. Tickets are $26 and $19 for Symphony Space members,
students and seniors. All tickets can be purchased by calling 212-864-5400
or at the Symphony Space box office, or online at www.symphonyspace.org
or www.tickets.com. Symphony Space is located at 2537 Broadway at
95th Street.
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Fugate/Bahiri Ballet NY’s appearance at Symphony Space is
supported, in part, with funds from The Grand Marnier Foundation,
The Harkness Foundation for Dance, Arnhold Foundation, NYMEX Charitable
Foundation and The Evelyn Sharp Foundation.
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