Gallery: Los Angeles Ballet performs at Royce Hall
By Amy Dixon
March 10, 2019 12:27 p.m.
''Serenade'' was George Balanchine's first ballet he choreographed in America after leaving Russia. The curtain rises to a tableau of 17 stationary women with their right hands raised above their heads.
(Amy Dixon/Daily Bruin)
The dancers are dressed in long blue tulle dresses against a blue backdrop.
(Amy Dixon/Daily Bruin)
''Serenade'' is known for its geometric shapes and patterns shown throughout the ballet.
(Amy Dixon/Daily Bruin)
Like many of Balanchine's other works, ''Serenade'' has no narrative. The choreographer is known for his ballets that emphasize the dancing and music while omitting a plot line.
(Amy Dixon/Daily Bruin)
Balanchine incorporated real-life events into the ballet. When a dancer was late to rehearsal, he included a dancer running onstage to join the rest of the corps.
(Amy Dixon/Daily Bruin)
The pas de deux, danced by Bianca Bulle and Eric Nezha, marked the beginning of the second movement.
(LAB.ADX_22Amy Dixon/Daily Bruin)
The third movement begins with five girls linking hands as they entangle themselves together.
(Amy Dixon/Daily Bruin)
Balanchine created ''Serenade'' as an exercise to help his students understand the difference between practice and performance.
(Amy Dixon/Daily Bruin)
The corps de ballet is heavily featured in the ballet through near constant movement with few breaks in between.
(Amy Dixon/Daily Bruin)
Petra Conti, dancing as the Dark Angel, is spun on her pointe shoe by her leg as she holds an arabesque. The final movement, ''Elegy,'' features the Dark Angel, the Russian Girl and the Waltz Girl.
(Amy Dixon/Daily Bruin)
Balanchine continually revised his works even after their completion. More than 40 years after its premiere, Balanchine decided to have the soloists release their hair in the final movement.
(Amy Dixon/Daily Bruin)
The Dark Angel leads the man offstage as the Waltz Girl is left on the ground.
(Amy Dixon/Daily Bruin)
The Waltz Girl is lifted up and slowly walked across the stage as she bends back and the curtain drops.
(Amy Dixon/Daily Bruin)
The second feature ''La Sylphide'' marked the beginning of the Romantic era in ballet. Act I sets the scene in old Scotland with James, danced by Tigran Sargsyan, and the Sylph, danced by Petra Conti.
(Amy Dixon/Daily Bruin)
Wondering if the Sylph had just been a dream, James continues to prepare for his wedding with Effy, danced by Chelsea Paige Johnston.
(Amy Dixon/Daily Bruin)
The witch Madge, performed by Colleen Neary, appears in the middle of the festivities. James tries to make her leave.
(Amy Dixon/Daily Bruin)
Effy is left during the ceremony as James follows the Sylph to the forest.
(Amy Dixon/Daily Bruin)
Act II opens the scene to the forest where the Sylph and her sisters dance with James.
(Amy Dixon/Daily Bruin)
Madge tricks James into believing a magical scarf will help him capture the Sylph.
(Amy Dixon/Daily Bruin)
As James wraps the scarf around the Sylph, her wings start to fall away and she dies.
(Amy Dixon/Daily Bruin)
