A Dancer’s Dream Sara Mearns and Amar Ramasar, New York City Ballet principals, in this Stravinsky program choreographed by Karole Armitage, with the New York Philharmonic at Avery Fisher Hall.
Richard Termine for The New York Times
On Saturday November 8th, New York City Ballet principal dancers Sara Mearns and Jared Angle performed in the Frances Daly Fergusson Dance Theater. The evening consisted of dancing and discussion. It was dynamic, made up of video showings, audience questions, and even confessions about the nature of email addresses by Mearns. There was a familiarity to the event as a whole that encouraged the audience to engage and approach the dancers, breaching the limits that usually outline artistic showcases.
Swan Lake II–Pas de Deux (choreography by George Balanchine) and Barber Violin Concerto (choreography by Peter Martins) comprised the program. Commentary by John Meehan, Chair of Dance, punctuated the event. During the interviews Mearns and Angle recalled anecdotes and spoke about their professional careers.
Mearns mentioned how her mother would drive her for hours so that she could receive formative ballet instruction. The ambition to be constantly growing as a performer remains. As a child, and now still, she regards Makarova as a role model. She says upon waking up, she goes through a list of what hurts; ‘I’m in it for the artistry,’ she says.
A member of the audience asked Angle what it was like to dance with an orchestra. He asserted that though for many dancers the tempo of an orchestra can be a matter of concern, he enjoys the unpredictability of it.
The stage, as well as their attire, were refreshingly simple. It was set like a rehearsal would be in any company, completely focused on the dexterity of the dancers themselves and obviating the complexity of costuming or set design.
The cadence and technique were magnificent, undeniably the result of years of work. Angle has been dancing since the age of six, and Mearns since the age of three. Both dancers were admitted into the School of American Ballet, and then started out as apprentices in the NYC Ballet before becoming principal dancers. However, the journey was everything but simple.
At one point, a video of Mearns in Swan Lake as a child was played. Partnered with her brother, she presented the very dance she showcased at the Fergusson Dance Theater that day. Though a stark contrast to the Sara Mearns we witnessed in person, her younger self was a reminder to how far work can take us. Seeing how serious she was about dancing, even in her early teens, allowed us as an audience to truly relate to her commitment and visualize her progress.
The evening of dance and conversation beautifully illustrated the life of dancers onstage as well as offstage. It depicted dance as a passionate profession, contributing to their role as athletes and artists.
Upcoming Fall ‘14 Performances include VRDT Final Showings: November 20th, 21st, and 22nd and Fly People: December 5th and 6th