NYCB 4/23 Eve
Jewels – so much more than accoutrement

Performance photos are prohibited at NYCB, but we couldn’t resist snapping a pic of the Rubies Corps de Ballet warming up next to the theater prior to last night’s performance of Jewels. Look at these beauties.

This young Corps de Azaleattes has been permanently planted with room to grow and mature. All of Damrosch Park is looking its best in years. The patio needs plantings, e.g., some glorious red Mister Lincoln hybrid tea roses which can grow very tall in tree-form would be appreciated. Or how about a little delegation of Peace roses? (Not complaining; just trying to help out here.)

Last night’s performance of Balanchine’s Jewels was a gem of the finest water. Exquisite. In many ways, exemplary. Tiler Peck & Amar Ramasar and Rebecca Krohn & Ask la Cour danced Emeralds as though it was their own most beloved ballet. Their musicality seemed effortless and natural. The goal of the evening seemed not so much to be cleverly interesting but to be truthful to the spirit and beauty of the music and choreography.

The trio of Erica Pereira, Antonio Carmena and Brittany Pollack danced with refinement and elegance. And oh, the Corps de Ballet was resplendent in its symmetry.

Megan Fairchild and Gonzalo Garcia offered the exact playful interpretation that we love to see in Rubies. Great chemistry and as we have noted before, Gonzalo seems to have his best performances opposite Megan. Savannah Lowery substituted for Teresa Reichlen in the tall girl role and spiked it with a little rum. Our only complaint is when she jammed her weight into her knees while springing to second position in her variation. It always hurts to watch her do that.

The Corps de Ballet in Diamonds was the highlight of the evening. The lovely long arms of Lara Tong, Claire Kretzschmar, Megan Johnson, Emilie Gerrity, Emily Kikta and many others engaged in respectful, tidy port de bras was simply stunning. The gentlemen were all the most perfect and handsome cavaliers. Sara Mearns and Tyler Angle led with stylish splendor. Tyler had another particularly awesome technical evening. Some of Sara’s musical choices were questionable; we don’t see Diamonds as a work that benefits from abrupt phrasing. Other than that, we appreciated the rich quality of her movement and the brilliance in the final section.

The HH Pump Bump First Position trophy is awarded to the Diamonds Corps de Ballet for its unflawed clarity and brightness.