The Belgian Ballet Company, based in Mechelen, produced in its short existence the first fully self-created show based on and with ballet. The previous performance in June last year, Most Wanted, was still a spin-off that was taken as an impetus to keep the new ballet company afloat.
This first fully original show was a combination of a postponed gala with a new production. The advantage? Many could present themselves briefly with choreography of their own or otherwise to the audience, and there was thus a chance of a small talent hunt. The disadvantage? The original show was quite short with a limited narrative and the evening ran too long.
As befits new organizations, there are teething problems. Starting too late, wrong lighting in the first part (very disturbing, you could barely see through the bright LED lamps on the stage because those lamps were shining straight into the eyes of the audience), sometimes the music cues faltered (very brave of the man behind the music, he jumped in totally unprepared because someone dropped out), the two intermissions took too long and the sound was too loud. It may be acceptable for amateurs, it actually shouldn't be acceptable for professionals. The Belgian Ballet Company is led professionally, but chooses the mix from beginning dancers around seven years old to mature dancers in their 50s who dance in turn and/or together with the professionals. For enthusiasts and young talent, being able to dance with 'real dancers' is a great encouragement to continue. A second strong motivator is that many received a short but certainly own solo where strong account was taken of everyone's boundaries. That deserves praise because that way it was always nice to watch without having to think 'what is that person doing?'.
In addition to the solos, several groups also danced together, such as ENcore from Kapellen and Compagnie Muzes, two strong ensembles!
Remarkable solos
Who do we mention then? The two oldest in reverse reckoning (those who bid goodbye to the 50 mark): Kristine Desager, pediatrician specializing in the lungs, who danced a very neat, calm, well-thought-out and detailed fine own choreography in solo. We would see her again on stage later. She stole the show in her own way, just like Lap Chi Tang, whom we saw in a pas de deux from The Nutcracker with Lidewij Elst. A well-matched pair where Elst took the lead. In solo, Lap Chi Tang would dance the love of his heart very gracefully.
The two other standouts to whom we wish great future as dancers, with much chance of real solo careers, are Chelsey Van Belle who, like Loeka Willems, received overwhelming applause for her two solos (a solo from Coppelia and one in choreography by Nina Plantefeve-Castryck). Chelsey Van Belle dances with rare grace for her 12 years. Technically ahead for her age and she can handle just about every genre. She has great maturity and that, combined with her technique and artistic sensibility, bodes well for a long career.
The also very young Loeka Willems, who worked out her solo herself together with Aki Nishio, also immediately stood out as a quality artist. A feast for the eyes to see her take command of the stage and shine. There is talent, for sure, because we also saw other standouts later in the Belgian Ballet Company show. The professional dancer couple of excellent level, Laetitia Vanderijst and Bachana Dogonaze, closed off the solo section. He also created the choreography for the short pas de deux. A better conclusion to this part could not have been imagined.
Angels & Devils
The third part of the evening was the actual show, and it was fairly short, also came late – it was already past 10 p.m. – which was tiring for the audience and the children who participated in the ballet show.
The script was created by Jeroen Selderslaghs, who danced the male lead role, and together with his former partner Aki Nishio, he worked out the choreography. The story is about evil that tempts man when he is in a weak position – the man who cheats on his wife with other women just when they are thinking of a child – until finally Good (angels) defeats Evil (devils) and after the man's wanderings everything falls back into place. You could call the story autobiographical with an ending that expresses hope for better.
Jeroen and Aki danced, as the only professionals, in this (too) short show, a miniballet that, if thoroughly developed, could come to the fore strongly. They dance to the overture of Tannhäuser (Richard Wagner) for almost the entire performance. Then you immediately know that this ballet doesn't last 20 minutes. In that short time, the best dancers get roles that fit them like a glove. So there's Cupid, 11-year-old Mees Pardon (the only boy in the company) who leads the way and gives character to his role. The boy clearly has willpower and wants it: the stage is his future life.
Also striking is the fine, elegant, charming dance of 13-year-old Laure de Raedt. Again there is the contribution of Lap Chi Tang as husband and later werewolf and Kristine Desager (baroness).
Beautiful ballet costumes, the little angels angelic, the devils devilish, an expensive lady as a baroness and a frightening werewolf: it made the short story into a whole from which we expect a follow-up that is worked out in more depth into a complete ballet evening or into a performance where two short stories form a whole.
- WHAT: Dance Gala with Angels & Devils
- WHO: Belgian Ballet Company and soloists
- WHERE & WHEN: Stadsschouwburg Mechelen, Friday 30 March 2018