Customer Reviews

Four by Kylian [VHS]

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
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it is difficult to thoroughly describe such intricate work with an economy of language... how to describe the high quality of this work without droning on and on? i think there are a few details about choreography that really separate out the works of the masters: movement invention, kinetic metaphor, and fearless experimentation. movement invention is what defines the "style" of a choreographer's work: what are the movements s/he creates? kylian uses superbly trained ballet dancers to create intriguing (sometimes wonderfully grotesque) variations on classical dance vocabulary. it is also enthralling to see how this altered ballet dancing takes on new meaning in kylian's work. i don't want to interpret the dances for you, but i will say that his stylization of ballet brings a freshness to the old canon, and adds layers of depth and emotion to a dance form that can easily become stale. the experimentation with the body is wonderful: the dancers fluidly transfer their weight on many surfaces of the limbs and "torso," and exciting images full of potential and realized energy spring out. if you are interested in modern dance, modern ballet forms, and/or choreography you really must become familiar with kylian's work. also check out william forsythe's cd rom for improvisation technologies.

I was so absorbed when I sat to watch this production in my ballet class at Rice University. Such intricate use of staging, dynamic layering of the company with the lead, and continuous entertainment.

it is difficult to thoroughly describe such intricate work with an economy of language... how to describe the high quality of this work without droning on and on? i think there are a few details about choreography that really separate out the works of the masters: movement invention, kinetic metaphor, and fearless experimentation. movement invention is what defines the "style" of a choreographer's work: what are the movements s/he creates? kylian uses superbly trained ballet dancers to create intriguing (sometimes wonderfully grotesque) variations on classical dance vocabulary. it is also enthralling to see how this altered ballet dancing takes on new meaning in kylian's work. i don't want to interpret the dances for you, but i will say that his stylization of ballet brings a freshness to the old canon, and adds layers of depth and emotion to a dance form that can easily become stale. the experimentation with the body is wonderful: the dancers fluidly transfer their weight on many surfaces of the limbs and "torso," and exciting images full of potential and realized energy spring out. if you are interested in modern dance, modern ballet forms, and/or choreography you really must become familiar with kylian's work. also check out william forsythe's cd rom for improvisation technologies.