BWW Reviews: BARK IN THE PARK Treats Young Audiences to Ballet

Ballet at its best connects the audience to the art of dance and succeeds in captivating them with a story or theme. Bark in the Park by The New York Theatre Ballet did just that with their debut performance at El Museo Del Barrio at 1230 Fifth Avenue in New York City on Tuesday, February 5th. Young and old alike were fascinated as NYTB dancers performed the story of the Tucker family who lose their beloved family dog, Mr. Benjamin, in Central Park.

The music and story are by composer and author Karen LeFrak, and the choreography is by Chase Brock who also choreographed Spider Man: Turn Off The Dark. The clever and elaborate costuming was designed by Sylvia Taalsohn Nolan who is the Resident Costume Designer at the Metropolitan Opera.

The charming tale starts happily with a family outing. The Tucker family enjoys the amenities of the park complete with a clever dance depicting a ride on the carousel. When Mr. Benjamin is lured away from the family by a mischievous squirrel, father, mother, son, and daughter search the park frantically while their wayward pup finds entertainment at the Central Park Zoo. There, the dancers perform charming animal scenes including Swimming Sea Lions, Monkey Business, and the Snow Leopards' Tango. To everyone's delight, the family dog is reunited in the park with his loved ones and there is a joyous ending. While the story is geared for a young audience, the expertise of the company succeeds elevating every audience member's appreciation of ballet.

Marina Kennedy writes articles on performance venues for Broadwayworld.com and is a reporter and columnist for The Alternative Press.com. Her interest in dance and theater stems from the many years she owned and operated a dance school, "Dance Unlimited" in New Jersey in late 70's and 80's. She has maintained her deep interest in the arts and enjoys writing about performances in New York and New Jersey.