Photos: Civic Ballet Holds ‘Summer Selections’

August 12, 2015

The Bermuda Civic Ballet recently held its Summer Selections event, featuring music and dance from a variety of genres and styles.

The evening started with an energetic and humorous hip-hop number by Angelina Hayward Simas, to “It’s a Hard Knock Life”, followed by the graceful “Chopin”, choreographed by Coral Waddell. Then came Alexis Richens’ “Up in the Air”, a modern piece featuring five skilled dancers, and that was followed by “Together We Stand”, by Nikia Manders, a moving gospel-style declaration of strength in unity, with references to Ferguson.

The first half concluded with “Don Quixote Pas de Deux”, danced by visiting ballerina Nancy Osbaldeston and Bermudian professional dancer James Waddell. Mr. Waddell’s technique was faultless, and he had a perfect partner in Miss Osbaldeston.

The second half began with “Bluebird Pas de Deux” from Tchaikovsky’s “Sleeping Beauty”, danced by Ballet Flanders’ Laurie McSherry-Gray and Nancy Osbaldeston.

Malachi Simmons’ piece, “Who Are We”, followed, providing a strong constrast. Featuring Malachi himself, along with Adrian Kawaley-Lathan, Rikkai Scott, and Marcus Smith, the number started the four hiding behind their loud, banal social masks, and developed into something much darker, involving a number of modern dance forms, including elements of breakdancing.

“Me Within US”, choreographed by RIOULT’s Marianna Tsartolia, was a modern piece which demonstrated how well the company’s corps has developed over the years.

The last number, “Piaf”, choreographed by Pascal Rioult, was a series of scenes, conjuring up the air of the boulevards of Paris. The audience was then granted a further opportunity to see Laurie McSherry-Gray, Nancy Osbaldeston, and James Waddell, this time in a modern dance, and the number segued into the finale, involving the whole cast.

A spokesperson said, “This year’s show saw the return of dance students Eryn Beach and Marcus Bean, and the newly-graduated Alexis Richens, as well as Malachi, Rikkai and Adrian, which reminds us that the main reason Civic was created in 1973 was to give an opportunity for dance students to come home and show what they have learnt.

“It was a great pleasure to welcome them back. Long may they help enrich our summer presentations.”

Photos by Two & Quarter, click to enlarge: