Review: National Ballet of Canada's PROCESSION at the National Arts Centre

Experiencing the National Ballet of Canada's Procession at the National Arts Centre is like going on a journey. The show's title evokes events that occur as a part of every life; events where processions are commonplace. These events can be joyful, like weddings and graduations, or sombre, like funerals. All signify a transition of sorts. This is conveyed in Procession with the recurring visual of curtains opening and closing or rising and falling. The stark contrast of black and white is present everywhere, not only in the heavy black velvet drapery or bright white curtains, but in the costume choices made by Dana Osborne.

Choreographers Bobbi Jene Smith and Or Schraiber bring together a blend of methodical control and spontaneous energy, allowing the dancers to shift seamlessly between sombre, ritualistic sequences and lively, celebratory (and even sometimes chaotic) moments. The artists of the ballet's footwork is impressive, and sequences include breathtaking lifts and balancing feats that add drama and passion to the piece.

The cast, led by principal dancers Tirion Law, Chase O’Connell, Genevieve Penn Nabity, and Ben Rudisin, appear in formalwear, reinforcing the feeling of elegance and ritual. The addition of Coleman Itzkoff, solo cellist, and Alex Hetherington, mezzo-soprano, on stage in their finery, further embraces this ceremonial imagery.

The dancers embody a wide range of experiences, from mournful processions to jubilant celebrations. Smith and Schraiber’s choreography evokes deeply felt emotions, inviting us to reflect on both the joy and sadness inherent in our own processions through life.

Of course, as always with art, your interpretation may be different; as I recently lost a close family member, I saw the repeated inclusion of empty chairs off to the back and side of the stage as a symbol of those who are no longer with us. This symbolism was reinforced by a hearse being pushed across the stage, almost as though the dancers are trying to push away the inevitable. Later, as the hearse is driven offstage, it is followed by a line of solemn dancers that remind me of mourners at a Mexican funeral procession. It is absolutely gorgeous, at once mournful but celebratory.

But don’t worry; there is a balance of darkness and light. One scene is reminiscent of a wedding, with elements of Kozachok dancing that ends with the audience laughing out loud. There is a mob-style fight scene, as well as a scene with a line of male and female dancers facing each other, as if at a regency ball assessing potential mates, culminating in what can only be described as a dance-off.

The baroque influenced score conducted by David Briskin and performed by the NAC Orchestra, further adds to the formality of the show. Smith and Schraiber’s provocative choreography perfectly harmonizes the dancers' movements to music from a variety of composers, including Purcell, Vivaldi, Ravel, and Mahler.

Procession makes you feel like you have been cordially invited to attend a journey through a lifetime of emotions. This is a show not to be missed. Procession is on stage through April 25th; tickets are available at the link below. Click here to see what else NAC Dance has in store for audiences this season.