Yossi

Yossi  (Israel, 2012)

הסיפור של יוסי

dir. Eytan Fox   איתן פוקס

rating:  ✭✭✭

The film is a sequel to the earlier Yossi & Jagger  (Israel, 2002) and spends a lot of time referring to the experience of a previous love between two soldiers. The principal, now a cardiologist, closeted and unhappy, by chance meets a soldier during a trip to Eilat and a relationship develops. It is a sentimental story that does little to explain the attraction of the older man to the gorgeous youth played by Oz Zehavi. 

I saw the film at TIFF Bell Lightbox, 30 March 2013.

                               עוז זהבי

David Hallberg

David Hallberg

Bolshoi Ballet

Балетная Труппа Большого Театра

American Ballet Theatre

Renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz recently shot this superb danseur for Vogue. Other wonderful images of him are appearing in CR Fashion, by photographer Bjorn Iooss. 

I shall reblog most of the photos at  http://emeritusblog.tumblr.com, a specialized site for male dance.

Emergence

Emergence
chor. Crystal Pite  (2009)

National Ballet of Canada
Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts
23 March 2013


With a cast of 38 dancers  who often swarm and cover the stage, the scene is primordial like the programmed life of insects. I still find the piece, which I have seen before, original, strange, and powerful, even electrifying. It is a different allegory on life, essentially insects, a wonderful challenge for much of the company.

The Four Seasons

The Four Seasons

chor. James Kudelka  (1997)

National Ballet of Canada

Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts

23 March 2013

with Guillaume Côté (The Man)

The choreography never excited me, and despite action on stage all four of Antonio Vivaldi’s  familiar  concerti can feel somewhat tedious. Certainly Guillaume performed well, and I liked him better than Rex Harrington, the original principal. My succinct comment on the piece is: 

Antonio Vivaldi's Le quattro stagioni (1723) — four concerti become in ballet a life journey from the vigour of youth to a troubled old age and ultimately death.

vernal equinox 2013

                                        vernal equinox 2013

                                        20 March 2013

                                        1102 UTC

                                        0702 EDST

                                        Stonehendge

Vaslav Nijinsky (1890-1950)

Nijinsky

chor. John Neumeier  (2000)

ballet based on the life of Vaslav Nijinsky (1890-1950)

National Ballet of Canada, Toronto, 2 - 8 March 2013

on 2 March 2013, evening

with Guillaume Côté (Vaslav Nijinsky) and Heather Ogden (Romola Pulszky)

The performance was moving, powerful, and polished, often with a large cast on stage. Guillaume Côté went through an astonishing array of movement and emotion as Vaslav, ranging from the euphoria of artistic achievement through depths of emotional despair and ultimately madness. Alter egos were ingenious reminders of Nijinsky's great performances and creations in Spectre of the Rose, Afternoon of a Faun, Petrushka, and more.  Heather Ogden was a wonderful support, reflecting Romola's love throughout. An innocent and bewildered Petrushka, portrayed with feeling by Aleksandar Antonijević, slumped at stage right in deepening shadow. A remarkable Dylan Tedaldi shadowed the principal's ultimate emotional and mental collapse. In Nijinsky John Neumeier has created a highly imaginative, nuanced work worthy of his subject.