Changing pace from full-length ballets to an evening of three short contemporary works, Texas Ballet Theater ends its season this weekend in Bass Performance Hall with First Looks: the world premiere of Val Caniparoli’s Without Borders; the Fort Worth premiere of Ohad Naharin’s Minus 16; and a revival of Glen Tetley’s Voluntaries.
Caniparoli has been resident choreographer of the San Francisco Ballet for many years. Without Borders, set to Yo-Yo Ma’s 2013 album A Playlist Without Borders, combines “dance vocabulary from funk to Fred Astaire,” TBT says, and is inspired by ethnic melodies from the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.
Israeli choreographer Naharin takes improvisational movement to new levels in Minus 16, with a dance technique he calls Gaga (no relation to the pop star) that pushes dancers to find new ways to express themselves to music ranging from Dean Martin to mambo, techno to traditional Israeli music.
Rounding out the eclectic program is Tetley’s Voluntaries, a full company ensemble set to the Poulenc Requiem. The ballet tests the skills of any group attempting to perform it, and TBT gave a rousing account of the ballet three years ago that brought down the house. –– Leonard Eureka
First Looks runs Fri-Sun at Bass Performance Hall, 555 Commerce St, FW. Tickets are $15-125. Call 817-731-0726.
