Dance Reviews

Jun 2, 2001 - A.V.A. Ballet's "An Evening with Angels" Is, If Little Else, Angelic

By Jack Neal

The A.V.A and Company Ballet Theatre is presenting "An Evening With Angels" this weekend, Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 (6/1 and 2), at the Hawkins Outdoor Amphitheater on the Bartley Ranch in southwest Reno. Needless to say, when the weather is just right, the venue is a lovely one.

I can't comment about the weather for Friday's opening, because a conflict in my schedule necessitated I watch and review the dance program from a dress rehearsal the night before. The weather on Thursday was gorgeous. Reno's downtown weather Friday was like a wind tunnel in a tornado. Hopefully the wind did not ruffle the feathers of the 25 angels, ranging in age from seven to eighteen, choreographer Alexander Van Alstyne (where the initials A.V.A. come from) uses in his all-girl dance show.

Van Alstyne's young troupe acquits itself admirably on all counts. If it is impossible to pass the company's current presentation off as a professional one, it is possible to praise all concerned for making the best use of young, exceptional talent that does no harm to physically maturing girls, while allowing an expressiveness that is the envy of older, more professional companies.

Van Alstyne presents ten individual ballets using some of the most beloved music from the so-called classic repertoire. Such beauties as Beethoven's "Moonlight" Sonata, Schubert's "Ave Maria," the slow "Going Home" movement from Dvorak's New World Symphony and Johann Strauss II's "Emperor Waltz" are part of a beautifully constructed audio tape selected by Van Alstyne and produced by Willis Allen.

Van Alstyne has designed a program that flows freely from one segment to another with little or no interruption. Applause, of course, is always welcome, but by and large the entire collection simply folds from one lovely sound and lyric dance into another. Dancers remaining on stage at the end of one segment, begin the next and so on. Van Alstyne's choreography can best be described as from the elegant-restraint school. The restraint is imposed because of the relative inexperience of his troupe. That the program takes on a sameness is somewhat to be expected. The flash of out-and-out exuberance is consistently held in check out of concern for where young dancers are at this point in their development.

The company's seven principal dancers - budding ballerinas, all, Eve Allen, Vanessa Abare, Amy Hyne, Megan Rueckl, Courtney Sanks, Gabriela Simich and Lindsey Johnson, are each accomplished and exceptional in their own way. The importance of the program is to enhance the experience of these fresh talents and encourage the development of their younger colleagues in dance in both skill and appreciation.

Supporting the efforts of the seven are three dance ensembles, Corps de ballet Angels, Junior Corps de Ballet Angels and Junior Angels. The very names suggest the student dance recital nature of the event. The abilities range from cute, through charming, to quite good. The gorgeous, frail and diaphanous angel costumes, including softly feathered wings, are attributed to Stephanie LeGoy. The lovely lighting is attributed to no one.

The entire program lasts an even 60 minutes. It's a very easy evening of music and youthful dance to enjoy.

The final performance of "An Evening With Angels" can be seen Saturday, June 2 (2001), at 7:30 p.m. at the Hawkins Amphitheater in southwest Reno. For information call 775-746-0716.