AGON (2 girls dance)

One of the rare times the Bolshoi Ballet danced Balanchine too fast! This was the opening night of AGON when I staged it for them in 2004. I don't know what got into their conductor that night; (especially for this number) but to be fair he did have a hard time with the orchestra playing this difficult Stravinsky score. I had to be VERY firm with him that even though it's a 12-tone score, it's still a "Dance" that Stravinsky and Balanchine had created. The dancers had to look like they're "dancing" and not just doing a series of "steps," the orchestra like-wise had to make "music" and not just get hung up on the "notes." I've seen so many AGONS where it's dry and boring because everyone forgets this. As I had literally danced every male role in this under Balanchine's direction...maybe the only man that has, (I did the Pas de Deux on many concerts with Allegra Kent), I have a very good memory of what Mr. B wanted. There are Russian style character steps, humor, jazz, some acrobatics, and it has an intensity like no other ballet before it. This had been staged for the Bolshoi 5 years earlier, and it bombed because they never really understood these things. I make it a rule to NOT just give the steps for a Balanchine ballet, but to give the subtext as well. Makes them come alive.

[@kxs7267]

Fascinating, thank you!

[@ruslan.denshaev]

Gaillarde ❤ Pure renaissance, so fragile and refined

[@markbeck8384]

The girls look good; but the music sounds a mess. Maybe it is the recording, but I don't think so. Thank you for posting. I appreciate you keeping the choreography as correctly interpreted as possible. Just a comment: I used to love your dancing when I got to see it.

[@jcliff26]

Thank you, but it’s not a recording. That’s the Bolshoi orchestra.

[@susannevollmer2347]

I agree!

[@kerrytakashi12]

They do look good though and look to be having a good time.

[@user-mv9tt4st9k]

I thought maybe the video was fast. 😂😂

[@dawnmaloney190]

They look great- agree- way to fast.