westsidestory

Jerome Robbins, Ballet’s Mr.‘Take It Easy, Baby,’ at 100
Our chief dance critic on this great theater maker and his particularly American style of ballet, which weeded out artifice and embraced naturalism.

By ALASTAIR MACAULAY

Theater does not consist of words alone. And much of what can be sublime in theater goes beyond words. It is true that all the great choreographers are also among the great makers of theater — perhaps especially when they move furthest from words and narrative. But nobody has demonstrated this point more substantially than Jerome Robbins.
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Miami City Ballet delivers fierce, fresh ‘West Side Story Suite'

By Jordan Levin
jlevin@MiamiHerald.com


Fierce and fresh, Miami City Ballet claimed the vibrant territory of musical theater for its own Friday night with the company debut of West Side Story Suite at the Adrienne Arsht Center.

The dancers are not quite the proverbial Broadway triple threat, but the conviction, energy and aplomb of their dancing and overall performance made up for any shortcomings in acting and singing, making this suite of dances from Jerome Robbins’ legendary musical a satisfyingly rich experience.

Robbins staged WSS Suite to leave out the story, almost all the dialogue and many songs, so our sense of the ballet depends largely on knowing the original. Mental comparisons with the movie – the version most people know — are inevitable. But it’s still a thrill to see MCB’s dancers bring much of this show to life.
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Joe Simeone teaches Horizon High School the combination to "COOL" from West Side Story