SAN JOSE
– Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley closes its 2002-03 Season, May
1 through 4 with
”
A Tribute to Choreographer Donald McKayle,
”
a program of three McKayle dances including the Company
premieres of
”
District Storyville
”
set to original recordings of early American jazz.
SAN JOSE – Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley closes its 2002-03 Season, May 1 through 4 with “A Tribute to Choreographer Donald McKayle,” a program of three McKayle dances including the Company premieres of “District Storyville” set to original recordings of early American jazz.
The program also includes “House of Tears” set to the Nuevo Tango music of Astor Piazzolla. All performances will be at San Jose Center for the Performing Arts.
Donald McKayle’s masterwork, “District Storyville,” is set to the original music of Dorothea Freitag and early 20th Century American jazz by Sidney Bechet, Duke Ellington and Jelly Roll Morton with a touch of traditional New Orleans funeral and parade music.
It is a bold and bawdy picture of the legendary turn-of-the-century New Orleans bordello district when the roots of jazz were forming and the horn was king.
The real Storyville district of New Orleans was closed by federal government mandate during WWI. The original buildings have been demolished and this renowned historic attraction has been lost forever, except in photos, tall tales and this wonderful piece of colorful choreography.
Magnussen’s New Age score engulfs the intense dancers who are clothed in costumes of blue ribbon that dangle from their twirling bodies like seaweed. “Death and Eros” has been performed only once, by Lula Washinton Dance Theatre at University of California Los Angeles in 2000. This remounting is a Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley Company premiere.
Tickets are $22 to $68 with discounts available for seniors, students and groups. For tickets and information call the Ballet Box Office at 288-2800 or visit the Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley website at www.balletsanjose.org.
