By Robert Greskovic New York City Ballet’s slightly COVID-delayed spring season in late April began with a large-scale revival: The Goldberg Variations, Jerome Robbins’ 1971 90-minute showcase of classical dancing. The ambitious undertaking, involving dancers from all ranks of the company, shone impressively, as Robbins’ scheme goes from classroom-styled moves to a grand courtly display.
By Robert Greskovic American Ballet Theatre’s bus-and-truck travels over the summer, ABT Across America, was promoted as building on the troupe’s cross-country tours in the 1940s and 1950s. It culminated in late July when ABT returned home to New York City for two back-to-back performances at Rockefeller Center. The outdoor set-up, like those the company
Of Love and Rage, a co-production with American Ballet Theatre and the National Ballet of Canada, had its world premiere run with ABT in early March at Segerstrom Hall in Costa Mesa, California. The two-act ballet by Alexei Ratmansky — artist-in-residence at ABT — runs approximately two hours and 20 minutes including intermission, with music