Review: Ballet And Cacti? Yes, Please! Houston Ballet Captivates With Spring Mixed Repertory Program

Spring has definitely sprung at the Wortham Center. From May 26 through June 5 Houston Ballet presents their Spring Mixed Repertory Program, a showcase that proves the technical excellence as well as the artistic versatility of the company. The program is a provocative mix with George Balanchine's Serenade, Sir Kenneth MacMillan's turbulent Gloria, and Alexander Ekman's quirky, comedic Cacti.

We begin with Balanchine's 1934 masterpiece Serenade, a ballet that celebrates cool precision and technical mastery. Set to Tchaikovsky's Serenade for Strings in C, Serenade is an homage to discipline and pristine formations in dance. It begins with dancers holding a simple pose, one arm extended. Icy blue tutus and a clean backdrop add to the clean aesthetic. The experience is almost like watching a ballet class, albeit a beautifully lit and costumed one. Houston Ballet infuses passion and panache into a piece that demands regimented sequencing and razor-sharp focus. As the piece progresses the choreography becomes increasingly interesting, with dancers forming shapes and formations that give a sense of a chain reaction happening. Principal dancer Karina González is a standout, with her lovely stage presence and impressively fluid turns.

The second selection of the night pays tribute to the "lost generation" of young soldiers who lost their lives in World War I. Gloria, created by Sir Kenneth MacMillan, is a unique performance experience with live choral music, theatrical elements, and dance. Soprano Lauren Snouffer serves to elevate this piece ever higher with her glorious voice, and the Houston Chamber Choir fills the hall with exultant blended vocals to match the choreography. Music by Francis Poulenc captures the many faces of war- loss, patriotism, love, and pain. Principal dancers Sara Webb and Connor Walsh deliver a duet that is transformative in its lyricism. Designer Andy Klunder creates a moody and moving experience with his simple yet ominous set and spare costuming. Inspired by Vera Brittain's poignant memoir "Testament of Youth", Gloria is a loving reflection of a painful time in United States history.

The concluding piece of the evening is Alexander Ekman's deliciously irreverent Cacti. This is Houston Ballet's premiere of this work and hopefully not it's last. Cacti is witty, childlike, and irrepressible. With its unconventional choreography (80's school dance gyrations? Polynesian-inspired hand clap routines? Yes!) and impish energy Cacti is the perfect counterpoint to the regality of Serenade and the melancholia of Gloria. With the Apollo Chamber Players meandering around the stage as they play, an ironic voiceover giving tongue-in-cheek commentary, and yes, cactus plants as props, this is art that grabs while tickling. Cacti is pure, unapologetic fun with its poke at pompous critics and its embrace of artistic vulnerability.

Houston Ballet proves to be a steady powerhouse, daring to deliver an eclectic collection of dance that awakens the imagination. Spring Mixed Repertory Program is exhilarating proof of the company's strength and versatility. Get your tickets soon.

For tickets: http://houstonballet.org

Spring Mixed Repertory Program will run May 26 through June 5 at The Wortham Center.

Photo Credits: Amitava Sarkar