Precious Gems Shine at Lincoln Center
Jewels Performance
“Emeralds,” “Rubies” and “Diamonds” will dazzle as never before as three of the world’s top dance companies share the stage for the first time to mark the 50th anniversary of “Jewels,” currently on stage at Lincoln Center.
Choreographer George Balanchine created Jewels in 1967; in three acts honoring the French, American and Russian styles that shaped his career. The ballet has been performed many times over since it’s debut.
Dorothée Gilbert of the Paris Opera Ballet in the “Emeralds” segment of “Jewels.”
For the anniversary performances at New York’s Lincoln Center, the Paris Opera Ballet will dance “Emeralds,” the New York City Ballet and the Bolshoi Ballet will alternate in both “Rubies” and “Diamonds”.
The three acts of the ballet are very distinct, much like the precious gems they are named for. Emeralds is described as a very pure dance. Refined & elegant movements are the hallmark of this act. Rubies, in contrast, is described as glamorous and powerful. There are multiple leads in Rubies, and the lead ballerina describes the performance as fast and hard-edged. Finally, Diamonds is a bold movement, which follows the formula of traditional ballets and focuses everything on the lead ballerina.
Rubies Rehearsal
“You might look at the ballerina as someone who is cold, but that is the way that diamonds shine, with a cold shine.”
Olga Smirnova, Bolshoi
When Balanchine was creating Jewels for the New York City Ballet 50 years ago, he revealed that he had been inspired by a visit to Van Cleef & Arpels and posed for pictures with ballerinas wearing gem-encrusted tiaras.
Source: NYTimes
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