Review: THE BARRE PROJECT Perfectly Captures the Essence of Live Performance for the Screen

The past year has proven that creativity and resilience together is a force that bravely refuses to be silent even in the face of immeasurable hardships. But even as the artist community adapted and found new ways to share their art with the world, it has been difficult to capture the magic of what it feels like to be seated in a performance space, surrounded by people and energy and a palpable sense of anticipation. The Barre Project comes as close to achieving that inimitable experience as possible without actually being in a theater, witnessing a live performance. One could even say it was almost easy to forget that you weren't really watching The Barre Project live.

Virtual dance platform CLI Studios, New York City Ballet Principal Dancer Tiler Peck, and visionary choreographer William Forsythe's world premiere of The Barre Project (Blake Works II) was born from and created within the confines of a now-virtual world. However, it is a piece of work that was not just made simply to be viewed on screen, but a work tailored specifically for viewing through a screen. It does not lose its quality or electric spark through the virtual barrier; it takes advantage of the medium and makes the intangible tangible. From the moment that Tiler Peck takes her opening mark, and the theater lights are brought down, a thrill can be felt even through the screen.

The Barre Project is comprised of five segments, all centered on, or calling back to, the ballet barre as both a concept and a physical fixture. Set to the music of singer-songwriter James Blake, The Barre Project (Blake Works II) features, along with Peck, dancers Lex Ishimoto, Brooklyn Mack and Roman Mejia. Interspersed between the five dance segments are behind-the-scenes looks into rehearsals for the project, which are conducted between the dancers and Forsythe over Zoom. The viewers are brought not only into the creative process, but also given an understanding of the inner workings of Forsythe's mind, as Forsythe himself explains how he approaches music and movement.

Forsythe shares in the film that he prefers to live with a piece of music for around five years if time allows. While speaking about the repetition, mechanics, and feeling of creating a piece, he reveals, "What you're basically demonstrating is how you listen," and the specificity within the choreography for The Barre Project is astounding. It is interpreted masterfully by each of the dancers, who breathe life into every motion. Tiler Peck oftentimes serves as a focal point on stage and watching her dance is a singularly awe-inspiring experience.

The Barre project captures the familiar and exciting feeling of witnessing a live performance, while not only leaning into the new virtual way of creating and presenting art but using it to its advantage. The Barre Project, in its nature as part performance piece, part documentary, is a piece of work that while being unique to this time will certainly stand the test of time.

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The Barre Project premiered on Thursday, March 25 and will be presented again on Saturday, March 27, 2021 at 8 p.m. ET through two livestream events. CLI Studios will be accepting optional donations with 100% of proceeds benefiting the National Dance Education Organization.

To learn more about The Barre Project or register to view a free livestream premiere event visit https://go.clistudios.com/barreproject/.

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