Dance Reviews

Jul 31, 2007 - Mikhail Baryshnikov and his "Hell's Kitchen Dance" shine at Reno's Artown Festival

By Jack Neal

Movie star and dance legend Mikhail Baryshnikov returned to Reno for the city’s July month-long Reno is Artown festival. Dancing with the gifted young dancers of his “Hell’s Kitchen Dance” Monday (7/30/07) and Tuesday (7/31/07) at Reno’s Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, the phenomenal Baryshnikov, at 59, still has the star power to pack a theater and energize an audience to a standing ovation cheering for more.

Much of the glow has faded from the Baryshnikov of ballet and movie fame who escaped the Soviet Union decades ago for America’s freedom of expression. If the leaps, spins and turns have left his bag of tricks, most – but not all – of his star power remains intact.

Choreographer Benjamin Millepied as created a solo dance, “Years Later,” that pits Baryshnikov’s immense gifts of movement against the passing of time. Dancing alone with screened images of the star decades ago, “Years Ago” has whimsy and humor and the chance for fans who love this remarkable dancer to see him once again in person. And there he was – slim, trim, handsome and engaging. His fans were in heaven. Sadly, too, it was a reminder that the clock really does wait for no one. “Years Later” did what it was designed to do, market a star and sell tickets. What it did not do, and maybe could not do, was be very interesting choreographically.

Tragedy prevented “Leap to Tall,” for two female dancers and Baryshnikov, from being performed. It was to have directly followed “Years Later.” The fiancée of one of the dancers had died and she was (understandably) not available. A quick replacement of two short ballets, both choreographed by Aszure Barton, titled “Sweet Dream” – danced by Barton, and “Rom” – danced by William Briscoe, Shamel Pitts and Kyle Robinson, were entertaining (“Sweet Dream”) and exciting (“Rom”).

“Sweet Dream” is a spoof on a blonde nightclub singer, a Broadway baby out of her element, depicting the stress of live performance. Set to the sounds of the Trevor Horn Orchestra and Kodo (“Life Could Be A Dream”) it’s a touch of Marilyn Monroe mixed with drag night at the Bijou. Barton has said the piece describes a “sweet dream enshrouded by the dark reality of love.” Whatever it is, it’s a kick and delightfully tongue-in-cheek. The three charismatic young men of “Rom” bring to the reconstituted program’s first half quick, sharp, virile dance that’s exemplifies the vitality of youth and the human spirit.

“Come In” is an ensemble piece that features 13, including Baryshnikov, of the company’s dancers. Barton’s choreography reminds one of the rapturous lyricism of Twyla Tharp without being in any sense derivative. “Come In” revolves around Baryshnikov without making him the centerpiece, but one among many. The flow of the troupe in varying groupings, the positioning of dance in various areas, the darkness of the understated costumes (by Deanna Berg), the radiance of the lighting (by Leo Janks), the haunting qualities and power of Vladimi Martynov’s music, the videography of outdoor scenes by Kevin Freeman, combined with this superb company’s elegant dance created a plaintiveness, and a poignancy that recalls Shakespeare’s stab-at-the-heart line, “To be young again, if we could.”

Perhaps that’s the continuing attraction Baryshnikov transports to his fans: “To be young again, if we could.” However he does it, Baryshnikov continues his magnetic dance into the sunset.

A word of caution about magnetic dances into the sunset, however, with a sun that sets too soon. In show business, too short is usually better than too long. Although the change of program was a necessity, any program that includes a bare 51 minutes of dance (25 first half, 26 second half – the exact timing of the program sans intermission and curtain calls), with ticket prices scaled from $55 to $70, is coming close to being too short.

The Reno is Artown Festival concludes July 31. Kudos to executive director Beth Macmillan and her staff for another brilliant month. For information about next year’s Reno is Artown festival go online at renoisartown.com or call 775-322-1538.