Good Ballet Espagnol

in Paris

By Henning Høholt

PARIS/FRANCE: For the first time in Paris, the young Spanish company, led since 2011 by José Martinez, presents a program in his image, while diversity and dynamism, brilliantly illustrated through three French premieres.

A hot virtuose masculine opening with SUB, choreographer Itzik Galili photo Emmanuel Dorny.

It was a real pleasure to enjoy the young Spanish National Ballet at Theatre des Champs Elysees as a part of this seasons TransenDances Festival, which started in the autumn with the Norwegian National Ballet dancing Kylian, followed by a Nicolas Le Richeprogramme, and will continue this spring with other danse events.

Applause for 7 handsome young dancers in Sub by the Israelian choreographer Itzik Galili by Ballet Nationale Espaniole, Jose Martinez, in Paris Fotos Henning Høholt

It all opened with 7 handsome well dancing dancers in the first ballet, Sub by the Israelian choreographer Itzik Galili  is a piece for seven dancers, testosterone sip, strength and elegance, and sprinkled with a pinch of skilful capoeira. with high speed, a lot of good variations, to a creative repetitive and romantic music by Michael Gordon
. Sexy masculine costumes by Natasja Lansen

Extremely Close by Alejandro Cerrudo, Music by Philip Glass  Ballet Nationale Espagnole, Jose Martinez, in Paris Fotos Henning Høholt

This was folloved up by Extremely Close, a work that is both visual and conceptual by the Spanish choreograp-her Alejandro Cerrudo, draws its strength in the heart of the music of Philip Glass
. Where three sliding walls, that the dancers could move and hide by, which gave the choreographer new interedting posibilities.

Last but not least Mats Ek.

A beautiful pas de deux in CASI CASA by Mats Ek. Foto: Jesus Vallinas

Finally, Casi Casa by the Swedish choreographer Mats Ek, is an adaptation made especially for Jose Martinez and his Spanish company from Fluke and Apartment, two major pieces of the Swedish choreographer, to a haunting soundtrack by the Swedish band Fleshquartet.A choreographer that i have seen around in the ballet world through, (and also enjoyed many of his mother, Birgit Cullbergs works), however so far
.

Applause for Casi Casa by Mats Ek, Ballet Nationale Espaniole, Jose Martinez, in Paris Fotos Henning Høholt

Honestly, I have never really got familiar with Mats Eks choreographic works. This change by this piece Casi Casa
. Where he is combining a lot of pas de deux, trois and large ensembles, to a great pleasure. It was really good. It had a lot to di with the young dancers in the company, who put all their expression, virtuosity and beaty in to the work, and by these talented dancers it became a victory.

– Fleshquartet is a Swedish band
. Although they have five members, the name comes from the band consisting of an often electrical string quartet plus a percussionist. The name is inspired by classical ensemble Freskkvartetten

Sub (première française)
Itzik Galili chorégraphie
Michael Gordon musique
Natasja Lansen costumes
Yaron Abulafia lumières

Extremely close (première française)
Alejandro Cerrudo chorégraphie
Philip Glass, Dustin Ohalloran musiques
Alejandro Cerrudo décors
Tanja Rühl lumières
Tom Visser staging

From EXTREMELY CLOSE foto Emmanuel Dorny

Casi Casa (première française)
Mats Ek chorégraphie
Fleshquartet musique
Peder Freiij décors
Erik Berglund lumières