Ballet West's Jewels

I usually prefer more traditional full-length ballets but I was very intrigued by the premise of Ballet West's current production, Jewels, which includes three pieces choreographed by George Balanchine each featuring a gemstone that embodies a particular theme.  I decided to get a ticket and I thoroughly enjoyed myself last night.  The first piece is Emeralds and features the music of Gabriel Faure.  It is meant to evoke the elegance, romance, and intrigue of 18th century France.  The main choreography features a central couple, Christopher Ruud and Arolyn Williams, gliding through intricate patterns performed by a female ensemble and it is stunning.  Ruud is one of my favorite dancers in the company and I was thrilled that he was in a featured role last night.  He is an amazing dancer and the pas de deux with Williams is so graceful.  The second piece is Rubies and features the music of Igor Stravinsky.  It is meant to evoke the Jazz Age in America in the 1920s and the choreography is whimsical and playful.  There is a featured couple, Christopher Sellars and Katherine Lawrence, a female soloist, Olivia Gusti, along with a male and female ensemble who all use their bodies to create unique and innovate shapes.  The speed and intensity keeps increasing until the dramatic conclusion.  The final piece, Diamonds, is probably my favorite because it features the music of Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky and evokes the grandeur of imperial Russia.  The choreography is very traditional and classical and features an incredibly romantic pas de deux between Rex Tilton and Emily Adams (he kisses her hand at the end of it!).  There is also a section which features a male ensemble performing athletic leaps and spins and it is spectacular! The ballet continues with a staggering number of couples dancing on stage and it brought to mind what I imagine a stately ball at the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg would be like.  I loved it!  The green, red, and white costumes sparkle with emeralds, rubies, and diamonds and the minimal set features a chandelier which is reconfigured for each ballet with the appropriate colored lights.  It is a beautiful production and I highly recommend getting a ticket (go here) for one of the four remaining performances.