Fall ballet filled with beautiful artistry

The first performance of the IU Ballet Theatre's fall program this past weekend was a huge accomplishment. The four pieces of repertoire performed showcased the dancers' skills, as well as the instructors' expertise.\n"Les Sylphides," the first piece of each evening, was absolutely beautiful. The dancers tackled Michel Fokine's choreography with enthusiasm, making it appear flowering and effortless. The corps de ballet was solid and controlled in their simple movements and lovely formations. It seemed every dancer was in perfect uniform.\nSenior Laurie Basloe and junior John Gluckman danced the pas de deux, demonstrating attractive lines and well-executed lifts. Every movement was clean, clear and light.\nIt wasn't just the moonlit set, airy white costumes and expressive music of Chopin that gave dancers what they needed to make this piece such a sensation. The impeccable staging of guest artist Anya Evans beamed through the dancing, making the piece polished and perfectly tuned with every neat and graceful pattern.\n"From Molly Again" was soft and fluid, yet energetically danced by the dancers. The new piece by Virginia Cesbron, chair of the IU ballet department, was pleasing to the eye. The simple blue set and costumes left the choreography exposed to the audience. The eye-catching lifts and structures were busy, yet kept the piece flowing to the romantic music of Tchaikovsky. \n"Concerto Barocco" was a very risky piece to choose for a college dance department. It is an extremely technically demanding piece very stylized in the fashion of its legendary neoclassical choreographer, the late George Balanchine of the New York City Ballet. The IU dance department proved it was no hardship for them. The entire ensemble, along with leads senior Marcie Campo, senior Melissa Nolen and sophomore Stefan Calka, rose to the occasion. They had a firm grasp of the choreography and executed each technical movement with ease. \nThe simple white costumes left nothing to hide and the dancers, indeed, had nothing to hide. The energy level of the piece was high and the dancing was first-class. Bach's music seemed to flow through the dancers. \n"Time Landscapes" ended the program with a visual feast of exciting dancing. Professor David Baker's music composed for the ballet was nothing short of extraordinary. The rhythmic music seemed to fuel the cast, setting the mood for exhilarating dance. The piece showed off a new side of the ballet department, straying from the classical collection of ballet they perform so well, into a realm of contemporary dance. \nThe piece began in darkness and silence before taking a life of its own. As the music began, the exotic choreography of Jacques Cesbron moved through the dancers, and the unique and almost provocative movements thrilled the audience.\nThe three movements of "Time Landscapes" were fiery, sensual and electrifying. Partners Amanda Callison, a junior, and Calka, and senior Melissa Bombardier and seniors Nicholas Pupillo showed well trained partnering with interesting lifts and lines.\nIt was a nice change to see several men dancing in this piece, having the chance to show what they're made of. \nStanding out in "Time Landscapes" was junior Lauren Fagone. The choreography did its part in allowing her to show off her beautiful extensions and clean technique. She filled the stage with movement and connected with the audience using her stage presence. Her dancing was breathtaking.\nThe fall program was a complete success. The four pieces chosen and performed made for an interesting array of dance and showed off the versatility of the dancers. Each individual piece was well staged and wonderfully danced.\nThe Ballet Theatre proved to be much more than a college dance department with this very professional program.