By K.D. Norris
60-second Review
Ballet 5:8 premiere of “The Space in Between”, with “Four Seasons of the Soul”, Oct. 6, at Richard and Helen Devos Center for Arts & Worship, Grand Rapids, Mi.
The return of the Chicago-based Ballet 5:8 to Grand Rapids Christian High School’s DeVos Center for the Arts and Worship not only reinforced the modern ballet troupe’s technical prowess but also artistic director/choreographer Julianna Rubio Slager and dancer/costumer designer Lorianne Barclay’s bold ability to create emotional stage production’s that also carry moral and religious meaning.
With the world premiere of “The Space in Between” on Oct. 6, Slager successfully uses the full strength of her dancers — especially soloists Stephanie Joe, Brette Benedict, Lorianne Barclay and Antonio Rosario — as well as the thematic power of C.S. Lewis’ story “The Great Divorce” and the mesmerizing music of Phillip Glass.
The simplified storyline has lead dancers/story characters Frank and Sarah (Barclay and Sam Opsal), along with the narrator (Joe), traveling by bus and more otherworldly means to a place between heaven and hell. The section titles explain the journey as well as is possible: “Grey Town”, “Valley of the Shadow of Life” and “Heaven”.
While the program text went into great detail of the original and adapted storyline, and some in the audience may have needed it, the inner and worldly battles between good and evil were clear from the stage, via the solo and ensemble dances, even without additional explanation.
The journey on which the lead and supporting dancers take the audience on via “The Space in Between” also make clear that Slager and Barclay are not afraid to give lead dancers extensive starring rolls and not afraid to bring classic ballet dance into the modern world with very modish costume and music.
As far as Slager’s use of stage effects with her dancers, the moodiness of lighting and produced fog significantly adds to the overall affect, while a couple appearance of props representing the bus in question are less so.
But I quibble.
“The Space in Between” not only was a thing of thoughtful beauty but a powerful addition to Slager and Ballet 5:8’s catalogue. And we look forward to their continued annual visit to West Michigan.
May I have more, please?
The opening work of Ballet 5:8’s program was an older work by Slager, “Four Seasons of the Soul”, a work which should not be under-appreciated or under-performed.
The work, originally from 2014, takes inspiration from Biblical passage Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 — “… He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the who scope of God’s work from beginning to end.”
Slager’s choreography though the seasons is admirable, as was the unique costume design of Barclay — especially almost hypnotic sun-yellow attire in Summer — and the reworked music of Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” by Max Richter, with the high-point being the on-stage dance union of Benedict and Rosario in Summer and Joe’s solo in Fall.
For more information visit ballet58.org .
