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Blog by PNB Dancer Cecilia Iliesiu.

I know I am biased, but PNB knocked New York’s socks off the last two days with the Balanchine ProgramHowever, they don’t know what is coming their way with the next program – Contemporary Innovators.

On the Program —

  • David Dawson’s A Million Kisses to my Skin (premiered in 2000)
  • William Forsythe’s The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude (premiered in 1996)
  • Crystal Pite’s Emergence (premiered in 2009)
Benjamin Griffiths and Carrie Imler in "The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude." Photo by Angela Sterling; choreography by William Forsythe.
Benjamin Griffiths and Carrie Imler in The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude. Photo © Angela Sterling; choreography by William Forsythe.
Leta Biasucci and Benjamin Griffiths in "The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude." Photo by Angela Sterling; choreography by William Forsythe.
Leta Biasucci and Benjamin Griffiths in The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude. Photo © Angela Sterling; choreography by William Forsythe.
Jonathan Porretta in "The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude." Photo by Angela Sterling; choreography by William Forsythe.
Jonathan Porretta in The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude. Photo © Angela Sterling; choreography by William Forsythe.

These three pieces are incredibly challenging for all elements of the performing arts — The choreography is intricately detailed, the dancers body’s are being pushed to their limits, the musicians are playing difficult scores, the backstage crew are transforming the stage into a bug’s nest and the stage manager is seamlessly making it happen. Our performances wouldn’t happen without the work of many talented individuals.

Since this is my first season with the company, I unfortunately missed on the opportunity to work on the William Forsythe and David Dawson repertoire last season. Both Vertiginous and Kisses (as we call them for short) are an absolutely thrill to watch and I am amazed the dancers don’t pass out after running the ballets. They are real killer.

Lindsi Dec in "A Million Kisses to My Skin." Photo by Angela Sterling; choreography by David Dawson.
Lindsi Dec in A Million Kisses to My Skin. Photo © Angela Sterling; choreography by David Dawson.
Emma Love Suddarth in "A Million Kisses to My Skin." Photo by Angela Sterling; choreography by David Dawson.
Emma Love Suddarth in A Million Kisses to My Skin. Photo © Angela Sterling; choreography by David Dawson.
Lesley Rausch and Batkhurel Bold  in "A Million Kisses to My Skin." Photo by Angela Sterling; choreography by David Dawson.
Lesley Rausch and Batkhurel Bold in A Million Kisses to My Skin. Photo © Angela Sterling; choreography by David Dawson.
Sarah Orza in "A Million Kisses to My Skin." Photo by Angela Sterling; choreography by David Dawson.
Sarah Richard Orza in A Million Kisses to My Skin. Photo © Angela Sterling; choreography by David Dawson.

This fall, I had the great honor to have worked with Crystal Pite (herself!) on Emergence, when the company performed it in Seattle last October. The amount of passion and insight that lady shared with us for the 48 hours she was with us in Seattle was priceless. Each movement in her ballet has a purpose and impetus.

Margaret Mullin and Joshua Grant in "Emergence." Photo by Angela Sterling; choreography by Crystal Pite.
Margaret Mullin and Joshua Grant in Emergence. Photo © Angela Sterling; choreography by Crystal Pite.
Emergence. Photo © Angelica Sterling; choreography by Crystal Pite.
Emergence. Photo © Angelica Sterling; choreography by Crystal Pite.
Laura Tisserand and Batkhurel Bold in "Emergence." Photo by Angela Sterling; choreography by Crystal Pite.
Laura Tisserand and Batkhurel Bold in Emergence. Photo © Angela Sterling; choreography by Crystal Pite.
"Emergence." Photo by Angelica Sterling; choreography by Crystal Pite.
Emergence. Photo © Angelica Sterling; choreography by Crystal Pite.
"Emergence." Photo by Angelica Sterling; choreography by Crystal Pite.
Emergence. Photo © Angelica Sterling; choreography by Crystal Pite.

PNB dancers, musicians, wardrobe and crew are ready to show NYC what we’ve got!


Featured photo: Sarah Pasch in A Million Kisses to My Skin. Photo © Angela Sterling; choreography by David Dawson.