Dominic's Thoughts.

A friend of ours was just promoted to “Etoile” at...

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 18:30:08 -0400

A friend of ours was just promoted to “Etoile” at Paris Opera Ballet! Here is a video of Eleonora Abbagnato with the legendary Manuel Legris in “Rubies.” She is so subtle and charming, it’s not an easy interrpretation to make.

She was dancing the title role of “Carmen” in Roland Petit’s version. I met her in 2006 while in Paris to see her debut of Swan Lake.

There is also a post below of another Petit ballet called “L’Arlesienne”, she’s brilliant in that too.

Congratulations Eleonora!!

One of the best parts of what I do has to do with the...

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 09:58:01 -0500

One of the best parts of what I do has to do with the fascinating people I find myself exchanging ideas with. In part, I measure my professional satisfaction by the interest level I hold toward the people/artists I meet and create with. A few years back I was asked to create a work for the Blaffer Gallery to works by Gabriel Kuri, now I’ve been commissioned to make a work in response to an exhibition by Geraldine Ondrizek, called The Sounds of Cells Dividing, Cellular, and Chromosome Painting. http://academic.reed.edu/art/faculty/ondrizek/

One aspect of the exhibit are sounds of human cells -some healthy, some dying- recorded through their vibrations. This spoke to me as an example of resonance and our innate knowledge and phycological understanding of clean and healthy sound, and how we react/feel about it and it’s absence.

One of my birthday traditions is to find an Italian church to spend time in. This year, I stumbled upon one where the organ was being tuned. It was an enormous instrument in a comparatively small church and the theme of sound’s resonance re-visited me. It’s a little like a musical cord is searching for it’s own purpose or vocation in the world of sound, falling out of balance, then finding it’s way back on track. It was simple experience, yet thought-provoking visit.

Photos are of us creating some of the work in the gallery at U of H Clear Lake.

The Nederlands Dans Theater distributed another film last Sunday...

Sun, 02 Dec 2012 23:05:57 -0500

The Nederlands Dans Theater distributed another film last Sunday (Nov. 25) and Tuesday (27th) in theaters across the country. It is a rare opportunity for those who cannot hop on a flight to Holland to see this amazing company in a live performance, so needless to say I’m grateful for these opportunities. It is not easy to film dance without loosing so much of it’s essence, but the videography and editing is very thoughtfully executed.

What I found profound was the impact of Kylian’s work from over 20 years ago; each choice of choreography and gesture, clearly made with a great deal of care and integrity. I never sensed a frivolous statement or a meaningless movement, and moreover, what came across from the artists performing the works, was nothing but sincerity and devotion to the work and to their craft. It was transcendent, poignant and purposeful.

Unfortunately, in the west, the identity of the craft is increasingly being whittled down to a perception through the eyes of a toddler. Marketing campaigns of many companies demonstrate an incessant need to be accessible to all, rather than upholding the great mysterious esoteric beauty it intrinsically holds. I fully understand our economic situation and the importance of keeping our companies going, but I feel more and more we are extracting it’s dignity and watering down the sophistication, as though these are the “problems” with dance.

I came away from the film uplifted, as though importance and purpose was once again bestowed on the craft through the maturity of the work and dancers. I saw the great deal of care used in each choice, and the sophisticated science accessed through their bodies. I saw the mind at work in dynamic, free and organized ways, demonstrating rich educated skills in dancing.

I felt similarly when seeing a week of performances by the Paris Opera Ballet in Chicago this summer. I share these thoughts only to inspire research. Humility is the flame that can reignite the motivation to continue searching on with ernest devotion. I’m humble and motivated…

Ballet. I Napoletani (Stabat Mater) Photo. Amitava Sarkar

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 22:26:00 -0500

Ballet. I Napoletani (Stabat Mater)

Photo. Amitava Sarkar

This is one of my favorite images of Domenico. There is...

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 22:23:11 -0500

This is one of my favorite images of Domenico. There is something about his open expression that wraps up the complexity of not only the elements of the poem and musical composition of Clair de Lune, but also his vast understanding and delivery of the subtle emotional content he displays in much of his work.

Tomorrow he will perform Clair de Lune and Without Words as part of the 200 year anniversary of the Teatro di San Carlo ballet school. I wish I could be there…

The opening section of I Napoletani to the score of Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater, is my little homage to Europe’s first ballet school. It all happens behind a black scrim with an image of the famous proscenium projected all around the scene. I always find the spirit of San Carlo similar to the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow. There are such abstract stories in the walls, dressing rooms and wings.

Photo - Gabriella Nissen

It will be wonderful to see how Danielle adapts to the title...

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 13:44:45 -0400

It will be wonderful to see how Danielle adapts to the title role in our Miller Theatre performance of Camille Claudel.

I’ve always thought she had great acting instincts, and this will certainly be an opportunity for her to utilize them.

It’s so rewarding for me to work with this whole cast for our Miller show. All such great artists and good people.

feeling grateful….

wonderful moments with baby Emily today…

Sat, 01 Sep 2012 21:38:27 -0400

wonderful moments with baby Emily today…

Bio-lin…It’s been years since I’ve seen this...

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 17:05:42 -0400

Bio-lin…It’s been years since I’ve seen this video. I have such great memories of this trip to Mexico, working on the debut of Bio-lin and the film version, before we opened the company in 2003.

I have always loved Mario’s esthetic of scenic design and choreographic composition wrapped in a theatrical experience that has the ability to transcend.

It’s a gem of a piece, I hope we can do it again in the near future…

It is rare that I see a ballet and it’s interpretation by...

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 13:58:08 -0400

It is rare that I see a ballet and it’s interpretation by the artist, that I fantasize getting up in a moment to dance it. This happened last week in Chicago where I saw the Paris Opera Ballet do L’Arlesienne by Roland Petit danced by the brilliant Jeremie Belingard and Isabelle Ciaravola. (this video is Eleonora Abbagnato who is divine as well).

In my opinion there are few dance/actors to the caliber of these great artists. I felt so lucky to be there and experience the live performances. Jeremie is my new hero.

See it if you can this week all my New York friends!

say goodbye to Bomar…

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 20:28:59 -0400

say goodbye to Bomar…

a day in the city with our goddaughter

Sat, 30 Jun 2012 16:52:42 -0400

a day in the city with our goddaughter

Wednesday night the Paris Opera Ballet made there Chicago debut...

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 11:28:00 -0400

Wednesday night the Paris Opera Ballet made there Chicago debut and there U.S. debut of the 1841 masterpiece, “Giselle”.

Isabelle Ciaravola danced the title role, with Mathieu Ganio as Albrecht and our great friend and DWDT’s 2009 “Firebird” guest artist Marie-Agnes Gillot as Myrtha.

With their deep, thoughtful and thorough understanding and demand over the classical technique, it is not a wonder that they too are able to the complex and demanding works by choreographers such as Pina Bausch, Mats Ek, Jiri Kylian, etc…

The articulation and organization of the body-footwork, separation from the top of the leg to the hip, opposition of the back- enables them to trust the legs will fulfill their duties, leaving vast space in the artistic mind and heart for essence….experience…authenticity… over all divinity…well though out phrasing aligned with experiential spontaneity - the very reason why we love the magic of this specific craft.

We have received a great gift this June in the U.S. We have been exposed to the real deal, the pixie dust of a sacred sport.

Missing our Aspen adventures…. (Taken with Instagram)

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 15:59:46 -0400

Missing our Aspen adventures…. (Taken with Instagram)

Photo

Fri, 22 Jun 2012 14:18:28 -0400

Opening Camille Claudel tonight in Aspen!

Wed, 20 Jun 2012 19:22:11 -0400

This has been a crazy week, but I have learned a tremendous amount about every element of this show and the theater we are in….I am making my production/stage manager/Lighting Designer debut!! Wish me luck…

Thank you to all the dancers. The production is growing and strengthening through your talent and generosity. Enjoy!!

In bocca al lupo!

Here we are in Aspen during our yoga practice. We arrived late...

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 10:35:09 -0400

Here we are in Aspen during our yoga practice. We arrived late Saturday night for two performances of Camille Claudel on Wednesday and Thursday. We are opening the Aspen Fringe Festival, a 5 day festival of theatre and dance.

We have arrived in a paradise here. We woke up yesterday to find that each view from the home’s windows was more breathtaking than the last.

Today I will be in the theater all day, then we will have a run at the Aspen/Santa fe Ballet studios in the evening. Then technical rehearsals and dress rehearsals tomorrow in preparation for the opening on Wed.

More pics to follow….

Last night we had our final run-thru of “Camille...

Fri, 15 Jun 2012 10:36:08 -0400

Last night we had our final run-thru of “Camille Claudel” before leaving for Aspen. The work is already taking on another layer of meaning, from the May performances, in almost every scene. It feels like a layer is thickening at the core, the reason for the movement and where the gestures are deriving from is what is becoming clearer and profound.

Thank you dancers for taking the journey into the work and treating the narrative with such care.

Fox valley Hall of Fame acceptance Speech. April 19th, 2012

Mon, 04 Jun 2012 22:06:23 -0400

Fox valley Hall of Fame acceptance Speech. April 19th, 2012

Over the years I have seen this video maybe 100 times. I...

Fri, 25 May 2012 22:10:08 -0400

Over the years I have seen this video maybe 100 times. I started dancing the year after this was filmed in 1976. What an amazing time for ballet in the U.S. It was an explosion of love and care for the craft. Just notice the care and attention to detail with the elasticity, pull and phrasing of the first tendus, perfectly phrased with the musical score. That is no accident. I love the breath and full interpretation of the steps with the music. Never early, never late, and never random.

Pure love and understanding of the craft.

We saw Houston Ballet on Opening Night yesterday in “Theme”, such a treat.

The acceptance speech….

Tue, 08 May 2012 16:16:42 -0400

The acceptance speech….