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Published on 5/15/08
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We tend to think that the best ballet companies come from major metropolises such as Paris and New York—and for the most part, that’s true. But a smaller ballet company from a smaller town doesn’t necessarily equal provincial quality. Case in point is Aspen Santa Fe Ballet. The company, which divides its time among its two namesake cities, makes its Chicago debut at the Harris on Saturday 17.
ASFB gathers a sophisticated repertory from high-quality choreographers such as Jorma Elo, whose work has been picked up by top companies internationally (including our own Hubbard Street Dance Chicago). With only ten versatile and athletic dancers, the troupe pulls a range of cutting-edge dances out of one tight package.
The high level of artistry displayed by this little engine is overseen by Jean-Philippe Malaty and Tom Mossbrucker, both of whom have roots in Chicago with the Joffrey Ballet. Mossbrucker looks forward to returning here, explaining that he’s always felt a kinship with Chicago.
For its Chicago debut, ASFB brings three distinct works: Sweet Fields by Twyla Tharp, Noir Blanc by Pilobolus cofounder Moses Pendleton and First Flash by Elo. Based on 18th- and 19th-century American religious themes with traditional Shaker hymns, Sweet Fields shows off the edgy Tharp’s softer side. With its moving depiction of a devotional community, it’s a work of heartfelt expression. In Pendleton’s Noir, the dancers float behind a scrim, bringing gravity-defying illusions to life under ultraviolet light. “It’s not supposed to fool you. It’s supposed to charm you,” Mossbrucker says.
First Flash, originally choreographed for Nederlands Dans Theater, shows off the individual talents of the ASFB dancers with detailed and challenging solo and duet work.
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