The Ballet Theatre of Maryland closed its 2007-2008 season last weekend with memorable performances from the entire company in a new major work honoring an Annapolis ballet teacher.
Dancers were also at the top of their form in preceding selections that included Italian Symphonette, a work choreographed earlier by Dianna Cuatto, and her Tango Dramatico, requested by four principal dancers: Bryan Skates, his wife, Jamie Skates, and principal dancers Alexis Decker and Christi Bleakly.
Wherever these dancers appeared, they set higher standards than before, giving cause to celebrate along with the bittersweet realization that we will no longer be able to see their magic.
Italian Symphonette featured Bryan and Jamie Skates, who again showed off all the hallmarks we've come to associate with them: seamless lifts, tender partnering and spectacular solo dancing. This piece also featured Kathryn Carlson, Calder Taylor, Alexis Decker, Brian Walker, Nicole Seitz, Margaret Hannah and Kelly Braga, who each contributed to the polished whole along with a dozen corps dancers.
The performance at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts also included a new work choreographed by BTM dancer Meagan Helman. Meetings Along the Edge, danced to music by Ravi Shankar and Philip Glass, showcased the strength and athleticism of both male and female dancers in sharply angular movements that expressed a strong sense of freedom. Aptly titled, this dance was indeed edgy with a series of sharp cut-ins between lines of dancers that appeared to be dangerous. The dance also included some spectacular innovative lifts that incorporated some gravity defying fish dives that somehow seemed new.
Tango Dramatico, an Argentine favorite, gave the principal partners an opportunity to reveal their own seductive sensuality. Where spectacular was the rule, three dancers were outstanding: partners Jessica Fry and David McAlister and solo dancer Alexis Decker, who imparted a haughty independence that became torrid when she danced with Brian Walker, Calder Taylor and David McAlister.
The major work of the evening, Annapolis Anthologies, was Cuatto's tribute to the late Grace Clark, who founded her own School of Dance and later the Annapolis Civic Ballet Company. Over a 40-year career as a teacher and choreographer, Clark taught thousands of students the Cecchetti Method. She previously studied with Ted Shawn and Ruth St. Denis and later at the Royal Academy of Ballet in London.
