National Dance Company of Spain 2 performs at Annenberg Center
These young people can do anything, and they did it all - really well - Thursday night, when the National Dance Company of Spain 2 opened a three-day run at the Annenberg Center. Of course, it helped that what they "did" was three pieces by founder and artistic director Nacho Duato, generally regarded as Spain's most important non-flamenco choreographer.
Performances today at 2 and 8 p.m. at the Annenberg Center, 3680 Walnut St. Tickets: $32-$48. 215-898-3900 or www.pennpresents.
This supposedly "junior" company is now 10 years old and, as in its last Philadelphia appearance, in 2007, has a truly international roster: Five of the 16 dancers are Spanish, but the rest come from elsewhere in Europe, South America, Asia, and the Middle East. Continuing the global theme, the works were set to music by French, Austrian, and North African composers, all featuring Duato's achingly beautiful, seamlessly flowing, technically demanding, and unexpectedly witty steps. However, a programming change would have made both dancers and choreography look even better.
Every choreographer favors certain steps and combinations. But this program emphasized too many of the same signature elements (abruptly flexed feet, lifts involving interlocked elbows, women doing splits in all sorts of odd positions), which robbed them of their visual and emotional power. And a couple of costuming choices seemed very odd. I enjoy watching superbly toned men dance with their torsos bared. But when all three items on the program involve topless males, that thrill is significantly diminished. Likewise, the all-white costumes worn by the principal couple in the third piece looked so much like those worn by the dancers in the second piece that it became confusing.
The first item on the bill was absolutely stunning. Performed to excerpts from several pastoral pieces by Debussy (heavy on flute, harp, and viola), "Duende" suggested mischievous creatures gamboling through the woods. "Duende" also demonstrated Duato's uncanny ability to blend standard ballet leaps and turns with poses taken directly from the balance beam - to say nothing of his brilliant endings for the individual segments of every composition.
"Without Words," to Schubert's haunting piano-and-cello music, is slower, more stately, and serious. But the most exciting part of the evening was "Gnawa," inspired by traditional Moroccan music and rituals. Here, the performers obviously reveled in the chance to do hip circles, shoulder shimmies, and move to complex rhythms. While many parts were marvelous, the solo danced by Or Kahlon was a total knockout.
Performances today at 2 and 8 p.m. at the Annenberg Center, 3680 Walnut St. Tickets: $32-$48. 215-898-3900 or www.pennpresents.
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