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State Street Ballet
By Joseph Feinstein
The State Street Ballet of Santa Barbara found its way to California State University at Northridge for a sold-out, one night performance on Saturday, April 2. The thirteen member company, nine females and four males, designed a program called "Ballroom, A Salute to the Swing Era" which was both very pleasant to watch and even more pleasant to listen to.
The program opened with a "Salute to Sinatra" with Ol' Blue Eyes belting out some of his most famous hits and a line of eight dancers in formal attire, spinning and pirouetting around the empty stage with only the backdrop of a city to suggest sophistication. Here, as in all the other five pieces of the program, Mark Somerfield did some excellent work in directing the production and lighting the dancers.
The second piece, "Embraceable You," with music by Gershwin, featured Nicholas Paliga and Jennifer Batbouta in a comical "love" ballet choreographed cleverly by John Henry. Program notes give no mention of Mr. Henry's previous work, but the featured duo created a joyous and humorous mood in what they both did and did not do in accepting and rejecting each other. Shades of Shields and Yarnell, the famous dancer/mime team who popularized the love-hate relationships of men and women.
One of the most evident aspects of this troupe is their age. They are a mostly young, soon-to-be seasoned group. Each of the artists has a biography of experience, but their total oeuvre demonstrates that they are still very much in a state of becoming.
Further, their choreographers of record, William Soleau and Robert Sund, have formulated rather repetitive steps and simple moves which carried them from one work to the next...not too complicated, not too difficult, not too original. That is, until their last offering, "Band", choreographed by Mr. Sund. We see lovely, shimmering pink costumes designed by Christina Giannini and music by an assortment of such famous names as Crosby, Cole, Ellington, Holiday, and the Andrews Sisters. Here, the group seemed to come alive, creating a gusto, magic, and expression all the other pieces lacked. They seemed to be enjoying themselves, lost in the music. The difference was evident and rewarded by the thunderous applause of a most appreciative audience when the dancers positioned their bodies on the stage to spell out the word "BAND" for the finale.
One is reminded of the Alvin Ailey dance group twenty years ago. With a few special exceptions, that dance group was good but not the terrific ensemble they have become. The State Streeters have a few very talented performers who could be part of any major group. All in all, they are a fine group who can attain excellence, in time. Giving Mr. Sund more opportunity to create will add immeasurably to that success. A little more effort, a few more risks will be taking some steps in the right direction.
We will look forward to further appearances of this up and coming group.
State Street Ballet of Santa Barbara, performing at California State University at Northridge Performing Arts Center, Saturday, April 2, 2005
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