National Ballet of Japan: Faster and Carmina Burana

By Naomi Mori, 22 April 2014

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Reviewed at New National Theatre, Tokyo: Opera House, Tokyo on 19 April 2014

Carmina Burana: O Fortuna

Faster (Japan Première)

National Ballet of Japan

Johnny Loves Johann, unevenly at the Joyce Theater

Carla Escoda, 14th April

Acclaimed violinist and 2024 MacArthur Fellow Johnny Gandelsman invited four choreographers to join him on a marathon through Bach's six cello suites. His musicianship was the highlight of the evening.

***11

Drama/no drama from New York Theatre Ballet at Judson Church

Carla Escoda, 10th April

Anthony Tudor and Merce Cunningham provided the lighter fare in a mixed bill that featured two world premieres from Kevin Iega Jeff, a veteran of the Chicago dance scene, and Julian Donahue, a newer voice.

****1

Martha Graham Dance Company celebrates 100 years in New York

Ivy Lin, 8th April

In a tremendous triple bill at New York City Center, Martha Graham’s genius and Janet Elber’s stewardship of the company into the 21st century deserve to be celebrated, loudly.

*****

The Australian Ballet and Bangarra Dance Theatre in Flora

Katie Lawrence, 7th April

Flora unites the Australian Ballet with Bangarra Dance Theatre in a glorious collaboration that traces loss, renewal, resilience, cultural continuity and enduring vitality of the body.

****1

Pina Bausch’s Kontakthof – Echoes of ‘78: poignant reality

Graham Watts, 7th April

A reimagining of Pina Bausch's 1978 Kontakthof by Meryl Tankard brings together eight of the original cast members in a unique and poignant revival.

*****

La compagnie Hervé Koubi: spectacle and showmanship

Mark Vicente, 4th April

At Holland Dance Festival, La compagnie Hervé Koubi were put through their paces, showcasing a dizzying display of acrobatic abilities that would rival any act in a Cirque de Soleil show.

****1

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Naomi Mori

Naomi is a blogger living in Tokyo and travels frequently to see ballet. She is a law graduate of Waseda University and a former film publicist, film critic and IT business researcher/strategist. She blogs at La Dolce Vita in Japanese. She tweets about ballet as @naomip_86. and takes ballet class regularly

David Bintley's Faster and Carmina Burana, National Ballet of Japan