Like other American giants in choreography, George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins, Twyla Tharp creates her most complex works for her company, but is best known by the general public for her theater and movie ventures. Broadway shows like Movin' Out or movies such as Hair made Tharp one of the most instantly recognizable names in American dance.
Seattle audiences can enjoy “pure” Tharp for one more weekend at Pacific Northwest Ballet, including two pieces created for the company by Tharp. Those who love the theater side of the choreographer should definitely check out her works, which have a theatrical sensibility that makes her dance highly accessible, even for those who aren’t sure that they want to spend a night at the ballet.
The first PNB commissioned piece is probably the most abstract, the light and lovely Opus 111 set to Brahms’ String Quintet No. 2 in G major. On opening night, the five musicians in the pit (Michale Jinsoo Lim, Ingrid Frederickson, Soctt Ligocki, Betty Agent, and Page Smith) received an equal and rightfully earned amount of applause as the twelve dancers.
While Opus 111 carries a wonderful freeform quality, at times seemingly a dancer lightly playing with the movement inspired by the music, Tharp’s Afternoon Ball creates more of a classic fable with a punk sensibility.
As the raggedy equivalent of a modern Little Matchstick Boy, Jonathan Porretta challenges and dances with a pair of outsiders: Chalnessa Eames looking like she should sport a dragon tattoo or two and a very twitchy, plaid-clad Olivier Weavers. Cutting through their world is an aloof and formal waltzing couple, Ariana Lallone and Jeffrey Stanton. Led into their world but ultimately shut out, Porretta is finally carried away by pale woman in glowing white.
The evening ends with Waterbaby Bagatelle, a series of dance “bagatelles” (short pieces) inspired by aquatic moment. If sea monkeys were as cool as described in the ads in comic books, they’d be these dashing girls in blue bathing caps and soaring boys in skirted shorts. Flipping in and out of the neon lights suggesting the fluorescent tubes hanging above an aquarium, the dancers cavort, twirl, compete for the attention of the opposite six, and swim away on a round of applause.
“All Tharp” continues through Nov. 14 at McCaw Hall. For more information, see Pacific Northwest Ballet’s website.
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