Jeanne Ruddy's "Obsessions'

However engrossing Jeanne Ruddy’s Breathless may be, ultimately it fails to transcend its subject matter: murderous domestic abuse. Susanne Linke’s dazzling Quasi Normal, on the other hand, proves that even when a work is about nothing at all, audiences can find dance highly enjoyable and grasp it intuitively without an overload of explanation.

“Obsessions and Expressions”: Breathless, choreographed by Jeanne Ruddy, score by Ellen F

Jim Rutter

Apr 12, 2008 · Articles · 6 minute read

"Right to Spring' by Ballet X

Matthew Neenan has filled his high-energy Right to Spring with bold movements that require both classical precision and a rigorous athleticism. It’s a work capable of bridging modern dance and classical ballet.

Right to Spring. Choreography by Matthew Neenan; music by Matthew Pierce. Ballet X production through March 30, 2008 at Wilma Theater, 265 S. Broad St. (at Spruce). (215) 546-8824 or www.balletx.org.

Jim Rutter

Mar 29, 2008 · Articles · 4 minute read

Petukhov's "Carmen' ballet

Bizet’s Carmen as a modern Russian folk ballet, told from Don José’s perspective to a techno-music score? Yes, I too was skeptical. But Yuri Petukhov’s psychologically complex choreography and alterations to the text rendered the inner story of José’s deadly infatuation into something far more dark and haunting.

Carmen. Ballet choreographed by Yuri Petukhov; music from Bizet’s opera re-orchestrated by Igor Ponomazen

Jim Rutter

Mar 23, 2008 · Articles · 5 minute read

Pennsylvania Ballet's "Messiah' (2nd review)

So much of Robert Weiss’s Messiah rises and falls on the Messiah himself, and the audience couldn’t get enough of principal Sergio Torrado in the role.

Messiah. Ballet by Robert Weiss; music by George Frideric Handel. Pennsylvania Ballet production through March 9, 2008 at Academy of Music, Broad and Locust Sts. (215) 551-7000 or www.paballet.org.

Lewis Whittington

Mar 08, 2008 · Articles · 1 minute read

Pennsylvania Ballet's "Messiah'

If Christ and his disciples had looked and moved like Sergio Torrado and the Pennsylvania Ballet corps, Christianity would’ve been a no-brainer from the start, even for the Roman Centurions.

Messiah. Ballet by Robert Weiss; music by George Frideric Handel. Pennsylvania Ballet production through March 9, 2008 at Academy of Music, Broad and Locust Sts. (215) 551-7000 or www.paballet.org.

Jim Rutter

Mar 08, 2008 · Articles · 5 minute read

Merce Cunningham at Annenberg

Some choreographers work with composers; Merce Cunningham works with computers. However cerebral, his Biped presents a brave, fascinating new world of dance. And the conceptual experience of his eyeSpace is a triumph, even if the piece itself isn’t.

Merce Cunningham Dance Company: Biped and eyeSpace. February 28-29, 2008, at Annenberg Center, 3680 Walnut St. (215) 898-6701 or www.p

Jim Rutter

Mar 01, 2008 · Articles · 5 minute read

Shen Wei Dance Arts at Perelman Theater

Shen Wei, founder of China’s first modern dance company, is as much painter and designer as master choreographer. To watch his Map is to see the work of the artist under repressive regimes.

Shen Wei Dance Arts. February 15-17, 2008 at Perelman Theater, Kimmel Center. 215-893-1999 or www.kimmelcenter.org

Lewis Whittington

Mar 01, 2008 · Articles · 2 minute read

nEW Festival's winter installment

The winter installment of nEW Festival’s “Dancehouse” collective of works in development was a frisky, sleeker sampler with concepts and sketches trying to break through to actual performance.

nEW Festival winter festival. Produced by Melanie Stewart Dance Theatre Jan. 18-20, 2008 at UArts Drake Theater, 1512 Spruce St. (215) 359-7775 or www.nEWfestival.net.

Lewis Whittington

Feb 09, 2008 · Articles · 2 minute read

"M. Butterfly's' sword dancers

The sword dancers enlivened a lumbering first act.

M. Butterfly. Drama by David Henry Hwang; directed by Joe Calarco. Philadelphia Theatre Co. production through February 24, 2008 at Suzanne Roberts Theatre, Broad and Lombard Sts. (215) 985-0420 or www.philadelphiatheatrecompany.org.

Lewis Whittington

Feb 09, 2008 · Articles · less than a minute read

Paco PeÓ±a at Verizon Hall

People pound the rafters even after two and a half hours of authentic, undistilled, uncommercialized Spanish dance without any decoration.

Paco Peña Flamenco Ensemble. January 27, 2008 at Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center. (215) 893-1999 or www.kimmelcenter.org.

Lewis Whittington

Feb 09, 2008 · Articles · 1 minute read