American Ballet Theatre's Studio Company
American Ballet Theatre's Studio Company, now in its sixth year, is a classical company of 12 young dancers, ages 16 to 21. Under the outstanding artistic direction of John Meehan, it participates in a daily schedule of classes, rehearsals and performances with a focus on classical, modern and character techniques and performs in ABT's larger company works, as well. In addition to their annual two-day season at the Kaye Playhouse at Manhattan's Hunter College, the company performs throughout the United States in schools by way of its outreach program that extends to colleges and universities and collaborates in residencies, this year teaming up with 16 students from State University of New York (SUNY) at Purchase.
Three works were presented December 18 and 19 at Hunter. The program opened with "Long and Winding Road," choreographed by Australian Stanton Welch, a performer (1989) with The Australian Ballet and a choreographer thereafter, becoming one of Australian Ballet's two resident choreographers in 1995. He has created works for the San Francisco Ballet, Royal Danish, Birmingham, Houston, Bolshoi, Colorado and Atlanta ballets. In 2001, he created "Clear" for American Ballet Theatre. In the work for ABT II, combining the talents of the company and the Purchase College students, they appeared together in a seamless whole. The music by Peter Breiner based on popular songs from the era of the Beatles provided the proper bounce for the young dancers, especially Craig Salstein, who looked like a young Jerry Robbins. He was full of fun, energy and quirky movements on and against the music.
From the Purchase Dance Corps, Chellamar Bernar's classical line made him stand out as did his excellent partnering. No groping, adjustments or frowns here.
Julia Adam choreographed "The Shroud," to medieval songs and dances. Its theme, which seemed to be represented by a ritualistic use of white cloth of various lengths, was seen as a handkerchief, a headpiece, a long tapestry, and, for some funky reason, was wrapped on Salstein's foot as he romped around trying to get rid of it. That made no sense, neither did putting the girls in pointe shoes, while costumed in minimal covering that looked like a page from a current fashion ad. Canadian-born Adam is a principal dancer with the San Francisco Ballet and an award-winning choreographer. But you can't win them all. The six dancers in "The Shroud" moved sometimes trance-like, sometimes with more energy. It's a puzzling piece that needs more work.
Jessica Lang, like Welch, showed her dancers to best advantage in her "Six to a Bunch," the final work on the program. Music by Kenji Bunch used live accompaniment by five musicians, which seems to be a trend in last works at dance performances. It gives a more finale-like sound to the evening over the use of tape. The ballet required a high degree of technique but ended suddenly and seemed unfinished.
Important to mention is the staff of ABT II. In addition to Meehan, Gage Bush Englund as ballet mistress; Dana Bo, company manager; Brian Sciarra production manager; Mary Jo Ziesel, director of ABT II's education and training unit; all deserve bravos. Another important aspect of the Studio Company, in addition to encouraging new choreography, is that the members come from schools throughout the country and that many were enrolled in ABT's summer programs.
Outstanding in the cast of ABT II dancers were Jared Matthews, Ashley Ellis, Craig Salstein, and Yuriko Kajiya. Others in the cast were Tobin Eason, Sarawanee Tanatanit, Erin Ackert, Bo Busby, Brett Van Sickle and Patrick Ogle. •