The delicately trained toes of young and ambitious dancers kissed the stage and delighted audiences this past weekend in a performance enjoyed by all ages.
The Classical Ballet of Western New York paired with talents of the Lockport Classical Ballet to present From Glazunov to Gershwin at the Center for the Arts, a set of three dances featuring music from composers Alexander Glazunov and George Gershwin.
Friday night's performance opened with "Pas de Dix," a variation extracted from the last act of the three-act story ballet Raymonda. Four teenage dancers trickled onto the stage in white tutus with blue detail as they stepped to the original choreography designed by Marius Petipa in 1898. Four more girls joined the stage with pointed toes, displaying the range of their talents through intricate footwork as they simultaneously skipped and twirled across the stage.
The performance climaxed as lead dancer Christina Swiatowy and guest artist Eric Carvill swept the stage in an amazingly precise dance saturated with grace and style. Carvill's effortless lifts of Swiatowy across the stage made it appear as if she were floating through the air, their sophisticated movements demanding the audience's attention.
Senses tingled with pleasure as the rich, classical orchestral movements of Glazunov were paired with the playful steps of the dancers, their meticulous footwork animating the image of music notes splashed across the pages of a staff sheet.
The ensemble was followed by a collection of solo performances while a mild crescendo led to an explosive ending as the music quickened and dancers concluded their act with radiated excitement.
The second performance, "Angelina Ballerina," was a ballet carefully choreographed by Susannah Dwyer Gentes and based on the children's book series by Katherine Holabird and Helen Craig. Glazunov's masterful sounds were accompanied with a narration by Alexandra Swonder, who described the dream of a young mouse named Angelina Mouseling to one day become a ballerina.
Petite preteen dancers blended the arts of acting with dancing through their charming performances. The lead role of Angelina, played by Emma Schad, began the scene by jumping on a bed while her mother, Monet Burgio, busily worked in the kitchen holding props as she danced.
The performances of the young dancers exposed their great efforts and demonstrated their development as future performers.
Julie LoVallo, a UB alumna and mother of two performers, recalled her days of dancing for the university at an alternative venue before the availability of the Drama Theatre.
"I am so thrilled to have such a beautiful theater that my children can all perform in," LoVallo said.
The final performance, titled "Gershwin Suite," bellowed out the soulful jazz compositions of Gershwin as Dwyer Gentes' choreographed dance celebrated the all-American genre with costumes of red, white and blue topped with traditional sailor hats. A vintage and flashy Broadway backdrop created an atmosphere that immersed the audience into an era dripping with flavorful culture and history.
The first song, "Strike Up the Band," featured UB senior dance majors James Walters and Patrick Leahy, who made up two of the four men performing beside a sea of 16 young women. A series of group performances flaunted the dancers' talents as traditional ballet steps were fused with contemporary movements to create a unique and playful style.
The spunky performance successfully captured the energy of Gershwin and communicated his rich compositions through calculated movements. The show ended with the familiar "Rhapsody in Blue," which left the audience roaring with delight.
E-mail: arts@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Album covers courtesy of Island Records, The Avalanches, Warner Bros. Records, 88rising Records, Smithsonian Folkway Recordings and Numero Group
