Junior Ballet Antwerp, the pre-professional program in the form of a 'junior company', was back in action. During the two-year intensive training, work is done on the transition from student to professional, the dancers of the future. Taking into account all the difficulties of the past two years, here are strong characters, purposeful artists.
For this full-evening spectacle, the company settled into one of the most beautiful spots in Antwerpen, the neo-gothic space of the Handelsbeurs on the Meir. You are impressed by the beauty. Dancing can happen anywhere anyway, but each location has its advantages and disadvantages. The enclosed nature of a stage and the lighting in a theatre provide extra dimension and create magic. The Handelsbeurs is an immense space with a glass dome. We experience the longest days of the year, which means the performance took place almost entirely in daylight. The dancers could not disappear into the wings. The touch of magic was lacking, as was colour because the dancers only appeared in white and dark costumes.
The founder of Junior Ballet Antwerp, Alain Honorez, is explicitly building on the classical heritage, the foundation of dance. In his life partner Altea Nuñez, dancer and choreographer, he finds the ideal sparring partner. 'Metamorphosis' is a performance in line with their artistic mission: bringing young dancers into contact with international teachers and choreographers.
The work of two choreographers, and not just any choreographers, was danced: 'Alone / Together' by Nicolo Fonte and 'Metamorphosis' by British David Dawson, who accepted the artistic godparenthood of JBA. He works for the largest companies with the most renowned dancers. He also takes JBA under his wing so that young people can fly out with packages of experience to other places and companies.
Alone / Together – music Federico Albanese
On 11 and 12 May, the world premiere of ALONE/TOGETHER took place – an energetic creation for the full group of JBA dancers by American choreographer Nicolo Fonte. It was now resumed as a pre-programme and adapted to the space. Fonte is known for his bold and original vision of dance. During the creative process, he reflected on the consequences of the pandemic for young people and in particular for young dancers. This resulted in rhythmic complexity and translates the inner movements of the mind into physical movements. The body serves as a means of expression. He succeeded in framing the uncontrollable reality and making it comprehensible to the audience in a classicism infused with warmth and emotion. One dancer, Emilee Blake, takes the stage in a white outfit and slowly explores the space. Special about this work are the contorted movements with arms and torso. Slowly, the lonely figure is surrounded by dancers in a dark blue suit. There is great group dynamics alternated with solos, duos and trios. The choreography contains a neat series of configurations and motifs in a visual and auditory relationship. Towards the end, the dancers sit in a large circle with an exceptionally expressive dancer, Akihito Shimogata, in the centre expressing his emotions. The white figure wanders around the circle, an outsider. The beautifully chosen music by Frederico Albanese stimulates body movement.
Dancers: Emilee Blake, Marta Dias, Laura Flügel, Rinka Matsuura, Natsuki Nishiyama, Soazig Drion, Leonie De Ripainsel, Nanami Auwerkerken, Lara Wolter, Mafalda Preto, Maria Girardin, Josephine Bøttger, Akihito Shimogata, Lucas Bierlair, Daimu Nakayama
© Filip Van Roe © Filip Van Roe © Filip Van Roe
Metamorphosis – music Philip Glass – live piano Irene Russo
In November 2019, David Dawson and his assistant Rebecca Gladstone visited JBA. What was initially intended as a workshop to introduce JBA dancers to Dawson's repertoire and dance language, the transformation of classical ballet, grew into a creation after Covid paralyzed the entire process. He describes it himself as a 'vehicle of hope'. The whirlpool of life carries everyone along. Constant change is an aspect we all have to deal with. It is about persevering, not giving up, about the belief that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Not to be thrown off balance by unexpected things. The JBA dancers faced all difficulties head-on and held their own, have acquired the attitude and self-confident posture of professionals. They show this achievement with grandeur on a bare stage stripped of all glamour and show.
'Metamorphosis' consists of 5 fragments, based on Philip Glass's piano suite of the same name, performed live by Irene Rosso, starting with
Metamorphosis 1
A duet danced by Anna Yeh and Rin Isomura. Both have already left JBA and dispersed to the National Ballet Theater Brno, Czech Republic. A playful story of attraction and repulsion between two young people. They run towards or away from each other. Each other's energy is used in powerful lifts. Everything expected from a beautiful pas de deux is present.
© Filip Van Roe © Filip Van Roe © Filip Van Roe © Filip Van Roe © Filip Van Roe © Filip Van Roe
Matmorphosis 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
All dancers are dressed in white. The different sections flow seamlessly into one another in a blend of classical poses and contemporary dance. A choreography is like looking through a kaleidoscope where the pieces form a different image each time yet always create a beautiful, consistent whole. The female dancers outnumber the male dancers, with 12 compared to barely 4 male dancers. They command the stage. There is a lot of movement around the space. One disadvantage is that the dancers cannot disappear into the wings. Coming on, disappearing and reappearing on stage. In the Handelsbeurs, those who are not involved in the choreography for a moment must wait their turn at the side of the performance space. There are remarkably beautiful hand gestures, wrists together and hands spread horizontally like a minuscule altar or vertically as a stop gesture.
No further!
The collective movements proceed in perfect synchrony in an intricate weaving of formations that require flawless spatial positioning and timing, especially along the extended diagonal. Part 3 is somewhat more dynamic than the rest. Part 4 for three couples is a constant flow of movement. Part 5, the final fragment, is a solo, again danced by Emilee Blake. This clearly marks a beginning and ending point of the evening-long programme.
The dancers' skills and talent are certainly tapped, but what I missed a little was the opportunity to excel. To erupt in an explosion of dance. The result of this rigorous training gives up, setting aside my personal reservations, quite a lot of beauty.
Choreographers: Nicolo Fonte and David Dawson
Music: Federico Albanese and Philip Glass
Piano: Irene Rosso
ALONE / TOGETHER Dancers: Emilee Blake, Marta Dias, Laura Flügel, Rinka Matsuura, Natsuki Nishiyama, Soazig Drion, Leonie De Ripainsel, Nanami Auwerkerken, Lara Wolter, Mafalda Preto, Maria Girardin, Josephine Bøttger, Tove Lesterlin, Akihito Shimogata, Lucas Bierlair, Daimu Nakayama METAMORPHOSIS Dancers: Anna Yeh, Rin Isomura, Rinka Matsuura, Josephine Bøttger, Laura Flügel, Lara Wolter, Mafalda Preto, Lucas Bierlair, Daimu Nakayama, Soazig Drion, Marta Dias, Maria Girardin, Natsuki Nishiyama, Akihito Shimogata, Emilee Blake