Dance Reviews

May 4, 2003 - A.V.A. Ballet Theatre's youthful and lovely "Sleeping Beauty"

By Jack Neal

There would be no Kirov, New York City or Royal ballet companies, without those wonderful fledgling companies that dot the world with energetic impresarios who love dance and gifted youngsters who want to spread their wings and pirouette or jete through the wonders of great choreography. And, of course, eventually across the great ballet stages of the world.

Ah, but what talent, work and good luck that dream takes on its way to fulfillment. Nonetheless, the dream begins at home as it does with companies such as the Reno based A.V.A. (for impresario, coach, danseur noble and promoter Alexander Van Alstyne) Ballet Theatre.

One of the differences in local ballet and international ballet, a major one, is that the local impressario gets to do it all - train dancers, dance himself, choreograph, edit music, arrange for sets, costumes, lighting and sell tickets, et al - and make presentations come off with minimal resources as close to the real thing (the Kirov, or whatever) as possible.

And that Van Alstyne came remarkably close to doing in two performances on Saturday (4/12/2003) at Reno's Pioneer Center with a company of about thirty earnest, fresh young dancers.

With an excellent recording (played at comfortably appropriate sound levels and tempi) of Tchaikovsky's ravishing score reduced to a workable 90 minutes, the production looked lovely, the costumes were elegant, the lighting was on target and the dancing was vital and thoroughly acceptable. Van Alstyne did a yeoman's job of whittling down the demanding aspects of Marius Petipa's original choreographic challenges for a company more eager to tell the Sleeping Beauty story than prepared to execute Petipa's more difficult steps. What emerged was an entertaining, less-than-two hour production that played to the company's strengths and retained the enchantment of the beloved tale.

Given that half the ballet's music was left on the cutting-room floor, the characterizations were rich enough to understand, the story atmosphere was consistent enough to engross and the meaning of what was happening was clear enough to make it come together as grand entertainment for young and old.

The vengeful fairy Carabosse, who casts a death curse on the king and queen's baby, was entirely horrific in Erica Millick's force-of-nature portrayal. The Lilac Fairy, who softens the curse to one of sleep in which the entire royal court participates, was promisingly managed by Alexis Andrews. The important functionaries of the royal wedding entourage - Puss in Boots (Miccello DePerez), White Cat (Kelly McCafferty), Bluebird (Kelsey Campbell), Red Riding Hood (Jessica Marsh) and Big Bad Wolf (Arthur Reloj) - were all nicely danced and cleverly acted.

Aurora, the beautiful princess at the center of this fairy tale, was elegantly brought off by the regal Eve Allen, who embues all she dances with a silken texture. As Prince Florimund, the dashing Van Alstyne brought presence and centered professionalism to his moments on stage. Also deserving notice for solid, attractive work are Nicole Shutt, Kelly McCafferty, Maegan Price-Lundstrom, Amy Hyne and Lindsy Roberts.

There was much walk-about pageantry to this presentation, all of it staged with skill. No one can quibble with the deletions and adjustments made by Van Alstyne to bring "Sleeping Beauty" once again to life. Seeing Van Alstyne's vision of "Sleeping Beauty" enhanced by his freshly scrubbed troupe was always a treat, and sometimes truly exciting.

For information regarding future A.V.A. Ballet Theatre presentations and events call 775-786-1221. Next up for Northern Nevada dance enthusiasts, the University of Nevada Reno presents its 2003 Spring Dance Concert featuring the Lakota Sioux Dance Theatre. The program can be seen at the Redfield Proscenium Theater, the Church Fine Arts Building, 900 North Virginia Street, Reno, Thursday through Saturday, May 8-10 (2003), at 8 p.m. and Sunday, May 11, at 2 p.m. For information call 775-784-6847. "