Montgomert Ballet Branches out
Montgomery Ballet artistic director Elie Lazar is changing the area's idea of the company and striving to appeal to a broader audience one step at a time.
During its Golden Anniversary Celebration this weekend, the company will present two evening performances for a more mature audience and a family-friendly matinee.
The world premiere of Lazar's "Lost, the Story of Carmen" and the local premiere of "Jardin Annimé," an excerpt from the classical ballet "Le Corsaire," will be performed Friday and Saturday. "Sleeping Beauty" is the Sunday matinee.
Financially, producing three different ballets in one weekend is quite an undertaking, particularly when one of the ballets, "Sleeping Beauty," will only be performed one time, he said. But he feels it is important and will benefit the company in the long run.
"The evening performances are perfect for couples and those who are not accustomed to coming to the ballet," Lazar said. "Seeing "Carmen" will show that there is so much more to ballet than the tutus of 'Le Corsaire' and 'Sleeping Beauty.'"
The company's production of the famous fairytale ballet "Sleeping Beauty" features Marius Petipa's original choreography. Lazar said it is sure to delight both the young and the young at heart as they witness what happens from Princess Aurora's 16th birthday party to her happily-ever-after ending.
The excerpt from "Le Corsaire," a story about pirates who kidnap princesses and sell them off, is an example of the classical Russian school of dance, he said. Many ballet companies are reviving the full ballet, which was also originally choreographed by Petipa.
For "Lost, the Story of Carmen," Lazar has adapted a dramatic ballet from the well-known story of Carmen the gypsy girl who is killed by her jealous lover, Don José.
With Seay Earehart's new set designed to resemble crumbling structures, Lazar hopes to convey an important message: "We are born into this free space, but as we grow, we put ourselves behind walls, houses, et cetera. If these walls begin to crumble, we are exposed. We can't hide anymore."
Ginny Smith and Ian Morris, both in their first season with the Montgomery Ballet's professional company, will dance the roles of Carmen and Don José. They were cast in October and have spent the past few months developing their characters and preparing both mentally and physically for the roles.
Smith, who is from Brewton, has been preparing for such a role since she began dancing at age 7. From early on, she knew that this was what she wanted to do full time.
"The choreography is wonderful, but I have used the time to develop and make this character my own," she said. "Once I got all the steps down, I had to focus on her personality. Elie helped me find that and to really put myself in her shoes."
One of the nice things about working on this ballet is the chance to bond with the other professional company members, she said. Knowing the other dancers, working with them and being able to trust them is key. She and Morris work well together, and it comes across in their portrayals.
Morris is always eager to be part of ballets that involve acting. And Carmen's story is something everybody can relate to, he said.
"It's about the ups and downs of relationships, breaking up, wanting someone so intensely, but not being able to have them," said Morris, originally from Saratoga Springs, N.Y. "I think of relationships in my own life, those I have now and those in the past, and try to bring that to the role."
Lazar uses the triangle to symbolize relationships in both "Lost, the Story of Carmen" and in real life. It's never just a man and a woman or husband and wife or child and parent. There's always a third party, whether it's a past or current love, parents or others who are in the mix. In Carmen's case, there is Don José and her love interest, who makes Don José's blood boil.
"The more you watch this ballet, the more you can see in it," he said. "There are many things that represent life. I hope people will enjoy it, but really think about the message."
Lost, the story of carmen
Sunday, February 3, 2008
