Smuin Launches 29th Season with a Striking World Premiere in “Dance Series 1”
By Darlene Jurow
The Smuin Contemporary Ballet recently kicked off its 29th season with “Dance Series 1” featuring a long-awaited World Premiere by brilliant Cuban choreographer Osnel Delgado, whose work Bay Area audiences were able to experience for the first time in ‘The Turntable.’ Set on Smuin company artists, this vibrant debut is inspired by the uncanny timing of life and is set to a sweeping percussive soundtrack including music from Latin American artists and composers. Also on the bill was Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s hit ‘Requiem for a Rose,’ which examines both the ephemeral nature of romance and the enduring devotion of love in a fabulous, pulsing ballet. Finally, the music of jazz legend Dave Brubeck came alive in ‘Take Five’ by former Company member Rex Wheeler (who recently gained international fame as the first runner-up on the 2022 season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”)
Smuin introduced Cuban choreographer Osnel Delgado to the Bay Area with the World Premiere of ‘The Turntable,’ a creation inspired by the timing of life and how it determines which paths cross — and which ones do not. In this performance, Delgado compares the phenomenon to a turntable: “The world turns while she remains on pause; static in the center of space, frozen like someone waiting for the perfect companion.” This is a most original and thought-provoking dance. The performers, each in their original, personal costumes depict life moving forward, while looking back… always searching for the perfect love.
Set to what many consider to be Schubert’s most romantic string adagio, from the Quintet in C, ‘Requiem for a Rose’ examines the fleeting nature of romance in comparison to the enduring devotion of everlasting love. With Franz Shubert music encouraging suspension of reality, one visualizes a myriad of roses floating in the breeze of a garden; the staccato beginning and ending solo adding sharp contrast to the life of the roses.
The music of jazz legend Dave Brubeck then comes alive in ‘Take Five,’ by former Company member Rex Wheeler. This exuberant tribute to the jazz icon, developed in Smuin’s own Choreography Showcase, offers a charming and colorful set of inventive and surprising movement to match the landmark jazz standard. Dave Brubeck’s always-enjoyable classic music drives this light-hearted, playful performance; bright and bouncy! The dancers personified musical notes dancing above each note; their joy and sense of whimsy were infectious!
For more than 25 years Smuin has pushed the boundaries of contemporary ballet within a distinctly American style, engaging and delighting audiences with uncommon physicality and expression.
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Photo caption: The Smuin Company presents the world premiere of Cuban choreographer Osnel Delgado’s ‘The Turntable’. The contemporary ballet is featured in Smuin’s “Dance Series 1” touring the Bay Area. (Photo credit: Chris Hardy)
