Stage Talk with Rick Koster
Where every show has something to say.
Ballet as you’ve never imagined it could be…
As a career dullard, I spent the majority of my life believing there was only ONE ballet: The Nutcracker. You know: “Dance of the Sugar Plum Mouse Lord” and all that.
Boy, was I wrong! Turns out, there’s a whole WORLD of ballet — composers, dance companies, the artists/acrobats/athletes who perform these works… Magical stuff.
And speaking of a “whole world of dance,” the Garde welcomes Les Ballets Africains for two performances on Feb. 27. As part of our Dominion Energy SchoolTime Performance Series — designed in part so Young People don’t grow up as culturally clueless as I did — the troupe takes the stage at 10 a.m. with a production designed to educate and enlighten children and their parents
Then, at 8 p.m., audiences will be treated to the full blown Les Ballets Africains experience. Renowned for their dazzling fusion of traditional West African dance, music and storytelling, Les Ballets Africains is recognized as the National Dance Company of the Republic of Guinea. Utilizing indigenous polyrhythms and costumes, and incorporating comedy and drama into the form, Les Ballets Africains expands our Western concepts in delightful and astonishing fashion.
The company was formed by Guinean choreographer Keita Fodeba in 1952 and has since served as global ambassadors for their artistic heritage and visionary approach to dance — sometimes touring for stretches as long as two years. Their Garde shows are guaranteed to mesmerize and delight children and adults alike.