Dance Reviews

Sep 10, 2000 - A Lyric and Lavish "Beauty and the Beast" at the Pioneer Center

By Jack Neal

When the torment and pathos of "Beauty and the Beast" met the ingenuity and lyricism of choreographer David Nixon's treatment of the fabled fairytale, enchanting things happened. The fruition of Nixon's dreams came true with the premiere of BalletMet's "Beauty and the Beast" in Columbus, Ohio in April of 1997.

Nixon's enchanting dreams opened Reno's ballet season Saturday night (9/9/2000) at Reno's Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, when the Nevada Festival Ballet presented BalletMet Columbus's extraordinary "Beauty and the Beast."

Nixon's visionary and brilliant concept transcends the normal range of platitudes for what he and his company has achieved. By way of narration and classic storybook projections, the storytelling of Nixon's "Beauty and the Beast" is clearly understood. From forest to dungeon to ballroom, the elaborate and stunning scenic designs of Carla Risch Chaffin are never less than transfixing. Linda Pisano's gorgeous costume designs and inventions (especially the Beast's exceptional look) are visually arresting and sumptuous. David Grill's superb lighting, recreated here by Michael Fernbach, wash the production in radiance.

The selection of music, most of it French (Bizet, Debussy, Faure, Honegger, Poulenc, Saint-Saens) with a dash of Britten mixed in for good measure, is an amazingly seamless and glorious score upon which to create wonderfully theatrical and rapturous dance sequences. In short, the entire conceptualization, engineering and artistry of BalletMet's "Beauty and the Beast" is a triumph for creativity and splendid dancing. And BalletMet as a dance company IS impressive.

Anne Adair Wilkins danced Beauty at the performance I experienced and she is one of the most liquid ballerinas I've seen. Her technique reminded me of the mesmerizing impact the great Dame Margot Fonteyn had on me the first time I saw her. Miss Wilkins is lithe, supple and expressive. She is a most musical dancer.

Dancing the role of the Beast Richard Tullius is dynamic, athletic and supremely skilled in the arts of dance and theater. His sequences with Beauty and hers with him are fantasy, romance, and rapture rolled unerringly into one for a thrilling and touching mating of human souls through movement and music. The dance metamorphosis of Beast to handsome prince is complete with the dashing presence of danseur Jim Orrante. The interplay between the ballet's three principals as impassionedly envisioned through Nixon's choreography was exquisitely brought off.

The remainder of the BalletMet's stable of stars are also impressive, bringing a vibrance and brilliance of dance to "Beauty's" closing scene that makes for a dazzling finale. On the way to that glittering event Sonia Welker is a lovely and graceful La Bonne Fee, Rebecca Rodriguez a dark and assured La Fee Miserable and David Paul Kierce a formidable M. Dispaire. As Beauty's self-absorbed sisters, Isabelle and Chantelle, Hiromi Ushino and Susannah Dwyer are a delight. The tall, stately beauty of William Gentes' Peacock is the epitome of nobility.

Beth Macmillan, Nevada Festival Ballet's executive director, is responsbile for bringing BalletMet's "Beauty and the Beast" to Reno. There could not be a better way to attract new fans to the high art of ballet, nor hang on to long-time fans, than through this superb kind of presentation.

"Beauty and the Beast" can be seen Sunday afternoon (9/10/2000) at 2 p.m. For tickets call 775-686-6600. For information about "Beauty and the Beast" and other Nevada Festival Ballet presentations call 775-785-7915.