BWW Reviews: Take a Historical Journey with Manhattan Youth Ballet's MADE IN AMERICA

Manhattan Youth Ballet's spring recital showcased a diverse array of American choreography, performed by students ages eight to eighteen. The evening was a an interesting historical journey, reminding the audience that the art form has, and will, continue to evolve.

The evening opened with classical dance numbers. The youngest students joyfully performed simple and clean choreography in light pink leotards and skirts. The older students demonstrated their elegance and maturity in a pas de deux. Preteens filled the stage, dancing to Vivaldi's Spring.

The first act concluded with a sequence from George Balanchine's Serenade, his first ballet choreographed in America. The student's excellent ballet technique-turn out, beautiful feet, clean lines and extension-was showcased in this iconic work. Serenade, at times reminiscent of the romanticism of Giselle, at others of the more modern approach that Balanchine was to introduce to American dance, served as a transition between the two acts of the performance.

The second act presented a diverse array of dances, much to the delight of the audience. Numbers such as Girls, Everybody Needs a Best Friend, and At the Station served as a reminder that ballet graced Broadway stages during World War II. Other works such as Polovtsian Dances and Fall recalled the influence of folk dance traditions.

The highlight of the evening and show stealer was the contemporary number, An Augury: Softly Spoken, choreographed by graduating senior, Charlotte Stickles. Four graceful and sophisticated seniors showcased their artistry and technique as they performed the hauntingly beautiful number. At times the seniors would dance independently, and at other times they would lean on one another for support. I couldn't help but think that the number mirrored their journey from childhood to adulthood as friends and dance students.

The beautiful evening reminded us that American ballet continues to captivate audiences, because it is an evolving art form with varied influences. As we move into the 21st century, we will be inundated with new and varied influences, although it is difficult to say at the present time just what they will be.

Pictured: Stavitskaya works with the students of Manhattan Youth Ballet at Manhattan Movement and Arts Center. Photo by Natalie Levich, Courtesy Stavitskaya/Dancemagazine.com.