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Russian Ballet’s Diaghilesque
A Merging of Modern Burlesque and Classic Ballet
The creations of Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballet Russes are being re-imagined by KineticArchitecture in Diaghilesque. KineticArchitecture plays homage to the distinguished ballets with a post-modern and burlesque twist in the new production opening at the Wild Project venue located in the East Village.
The Ballet Russes (Russian Ballets) was a dance company that became a sensation around the world at the beginning of the 20th century. It is regarded as one of the most influential dance troupes of the time due to the innovative collaborations of contemporary creators, artists and dancers. Diaghilesque, a word mash-up of Diaghilev and burlesque, aims to showcase and modernize the masterpieces of the Ballet Russe.
Founded in 1994, KineticArchitecture is non-profit dance company based in New York City. According to company mission, KineticArchitecture strives “to present work that is socially relevant, athletic, visually stunning and artistically progressive.” The group has a track record of successful performances that showcase the movement of the human form.
With the new original choreography by Artistic Director Rob Davidson, also known as Faux Pas, Diaghilesque merges the old classic ballet style with new and original dance techniques. Davidson is described by the company as “a dancer, choreographer, and drag/burlesque-queer-gender non conformist who explores cultural perceptions of what and who is ill-made and hideous.” His unique artistic style is showcased in Diaghilesque.
Several of the re-imagined and renamed performances include Morning After of a Faun, Le Spectre de la Mort de la Rose, and La Sylphide Dépouillé. The original Afternoon of a Faun was performed in Paris in 1912 and was met with a great deal of controversy following the opening performance. Newspaper editor Gaston Calmette said, “We have had a faun, incontinent, with vile movements of erotic bestiality and gestures of heavy shamelessness.” Following the negative reaction to the original show, Afternoon of a Faun was lost and forgotten until being rediscovered in the late 1980s and recreated from original dance photographs and notebooks. Diaghilesque follows in the footsteps of the classical ballet by not being afraid of stirring a little controversy.
Catch Diaghilesque at Wild Project June 16-18 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door. www.thewildproject.com/