The mixed-bill program with Tharp's Nine Sinatra Songs and Peter Martins' The Waltz Project has been rounded out with a new ballet, "11:11," by Matthew Neenan to music by Rufus Wainwright. See:

http://www.paballet.org/season/production.aspx?id=2&src=l

Neenan is a member of the corps de ballet, took part in NYCB's Choreographic Institute and Phrenic New Ballet. Has anybody seen his work?

I have seen a few of Matt Neenan's works for PABallet and he is extremely talented. "Le Travail" was commissioned to honor the very special Degas exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art in February of 2003. His piece was more than a mere novelty parallel. His staging of Dega like creatures gave an interesting perspective of the class-driven society of 19th century Paris. The colors and designs he painted were abstracted and somewhat distant. I liked his movement choices as he seems able to stay within his classical training but departs with his own inventiveness of design and phrasing. In last years "The Crossed Line" Matt gave a more personal and intimate showing of modern relationships in love and friendships. Again, his movement was unique and enhanced his thematic material with interesting and lovely movement ideas. His work is always pleasing to me and I seem to grasp where he is going and enjoy the journey. Other strengths to these pieces were the designs of costumes, sets and lighting. They set up the visuals nicely for each work. However, the music in "Le Travail" was too austere and severe for me. In "The Crossed Line", Chopin worked well with the intimacy but went on too long and should have been edited IMO.

I look forward to seeing Matt's newest ballet entitled " 11:11" And I can say that the PABallet dancers always shine when dancing his choreography! And I do think Matty is a choreographer to watch for......

Thank you, socalgal, for the information on Neenan. Here's the official release:

Pennsylvania Ballet Presents the Company Premiere of Twyla Tharp's Nine Sinatra Songs
January 3, 2005

PENNSYLVANIA BALLET SWOONS TO THE HITS OF OL’ BLUE EYES
IN THE COMPANY PREMIERE OF TWYLA THARP’S NINE SINATRA SONGS

Program includes Peter Martin’s The Waltz Project and
the world premiere of 11:11 by Pennsylvania Ballet member Matthew Neenan

February 2 – 6 at the Merriam Theater

Pennsylvania Ballet presents the Company premiere of Nine Sinatra Songs, choreographed by Tony Award winner Twyla Tharp, on a program that includes Peter Martin’s The Waltz Project and the world premiere 11:11 by Pennsylvania Ballet member Matthew Neenan February 2 through 6 at the Merriam Theatre.
Single tickets, priced $18.50 to $70.50, are available beginning January 4 by calling 215-336-2000 or by visiting www.paballet.org. Groups of 10 or more can purchase discounted tickets by calling 215-551-7000, extension 1219 or 1212.

Nine Sinatra Songs is a show-stopping tribute to Frank Sinatra, with classic ballroom dance moves and costumes originally designed by Oscar de la Renta. Couples explore the complexities of the male-female bond as they dance to hits like “Strangers in the Night,” “That’s Life” and “My Way.” Each one of the nine songs has its own musical and dance/theater character, ranging from a close couple in late-night rapport to a couple engrossed in a battle of wits and maneuvers. First performed by Twyla Tharp Dance in 1982, this Company premiere is the first piece by Ms. Tharp to be added to Pennsylvania Ballet’s repertoire.

Peter Martin’s The Waltz Project, which was originally choreographed for New York City Ballet and was staged by New York City Ballet Assistant Ballet Master Russell Kaiser (brother of Pennsylvania Ballet Artistic Director Roy Kaiser), is based on a group of waltzes published in 1978 and recorded in 1981 by composers Robert Moran (a Philadelphian) and Robert Helps. Each of the 10 sequences used in this ballet are short, like the waltzes, and display jazzy and acrobatic moments interwoven with classic pointe work and ballet steps. The ambience is moody and reminiscent of Jerome Robbins. Pennsylvania Ballet first performed The Waltz Project in March 2002 to glowing reviews.

The program will also include the world premiere of 11:11 by Pennsylvania Ballet member Matthew Neenan, choreographed to the music of popular singer/songwriter Rufus Wainwright. With earth-tone costumes designed by Principal Dancer Martha Chamberlain, the six-song work will be performed with a cast of 20 to such songs as “Vibrate,” “Poses” and “Oh What a World.”

The presentation of this ballet was made possible through the generosity of Penny and Bob Fox.
Founded in 1963 by Balanchine student Barbara Weisberger, Pennsylvania Ballet is one of the nation’s leading ballet companies. Headquartered in Philadelphia, the Company’s annual local season features six productions of classic favorites and new works, including the Philadelphia holiday tradition, The Nutcracker. For more information, call 215-551-7000 or visit www.paballet.org.

Second Program of the 2004-2005 Season:
Nine Sinatra Songs (Twyla Tharp, choreographer; Music: Songs sung by Frank Sinatra)
The Waltz Project (Peter Martins, choreographer; Music by various composers)
11:11 (Matthew Neenan, choreographer; Music by Rufus Wainwright)
Merriam Theater
Wednesday, February 2 at 8 p.m.
Thursday, February 3 at 8 p.m.
Friday, February 4 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, February 5 at 2 and 8 p.m.
Sunday, February 6 at 2 p.m.
Single tickets, priced $18.50 to $70.50, are available beginning January 4 by calling 215-336-2000 or by visiting www.paballet.org. Groups of 10 or more can purchase discounted tickets by calling 215-551-7000, extension 1212.

I'm curious... who is setting 9 Sinatra Songs? Any chance that Jennita Russo has a hand in it? She danced it countless times after she left Penn Ballet and joined Hubbard Street.

From what I have been told, it will be set by Elaine Kudo (sp.?) This is the first time this wonderful Tharp piece has been performed at PABallet. I remember seeing Kudo perform it with Baryshnikov for ABT. Didn't she also dance with Twyla Tharp's own company at one time?

According to Twyla Tharp's website, Kudo joined Twyla Tharp's company in 1987. To see the reference on the TT site, click the 1980-1988 link, and she'll be sixth from the bottom, just above Gil Boggs.

I am not familiar with Nine Sinatra Songs so am very excited to see this ballet. In the meantime, can anyone give me some ideas of what to expect? I hear that it features nine different Sinatra songs but are they all pas de deux dances or are their groups dances and solos as well?

They are all ppd, but there may be an opening and finale that is a group dance - don't remember that. Each ppd is about an aspect of love or the male female relationship.

My favorite has always been "That's Life" - a kind of apache dance that ends in an unbelievable catch. It has to be seen to be believed. It was always spectacularly performed by Tom Rawe in the early.

You leave the theatre happy after this piece and I love the de la Renta cocktail dress costumes.

Liebs, thanks for the info. I am anxious to see the ballet now.

Is the Nine Sinatra Songs still danced with the women in black cocktail dresses and the men in tuxes? I love this ballet also but it has been a number of years since I last saw it performed by Twyla's company.

ABT did it with different colored gowns for each of the women, but for the bright red and the shocking pink, it's the image of Elaine Kudo in black that lingers.

Hubbard Street did it with the colored De La Renta gowns.

The two "group" sections come, if I remember, in the middle and at the end, and they're not so much "group" as multiple pas de deux on stage. They come to the "I Did It My Way" song, which frankly, I could live without ever hearing again. The apache dance that is the last PDD is exciting, but there are some other nice pas in the work as well.

Thanks for all the info, Amy, Carbro and Hockeyfan! It will be interesting to see how the ballet will play now as many of these old Sinatra tunes having been over-used for various commercial venues. It was so fresh when I first encountered this piece....and the partnering in the pdd's was thrilling. Not sure if I will be catching this PAB showing, so I hope that those of you who do will report here!

I hope to catch this program. It looks like all these ballets are for comparatively large casts. That's great as I usually can't go to more than one performance and I enjoy the PA Ballet dancers so much.

9 Sinatra Songs will be interesting because it showcases so many partnerships... I wanted to mention to Purely Ballet that there are no pointe shoes in these pas de deux.

I hope to hear reviews of Matthew Neenan's new work. He's been given a lot of exposure by PA Ballet. They would seem to think we have a new ballet choreographer worth nurturing in him.

I'd love to see a documentary on the new ballet choreographer talent out there. If only PBS were living up to it's potential!

Here's some promotions related to this program:

Special Nine Sinatra Songs Events and Promotions
January 11, 2005


Skate with Sinatra at the Blue Cross RiverRink
Saturday, January 22, 6-8 p.m.

Join us under the stars for a spin around the rink to the romantic music of the "Chairman of the Board." You could go home with a special Nine Sintra Songs prize pack containing two tickets to see Pennsylvania Ballet's production of Twyla Tharps' Nine Sinatra Songs, dinner for two at the Capital Grille and some other great items.

Admission is $6 and skate rental is $3. For more information call 215-925-7465 or visit www.riverrink.com.

National Wear Red Day
Friday, February 4, 8 p.m.

Pennsylvania Ballet partners with the American Heart Association to raise awareness about heart disease. We invite audience members to wear red to this performance to show their support for the cause. Audience members spotted wearing red will be chosen at random to receive prizes.

For more information on how you can prevent heart disease, please visit the American Heart Association www.americanheart.org.

Amy, I could not agree with you more....PBS could be doing so much more in their coverage of dance and the new talent....

Does anyone know if casting has been posted for this series yet?

No, it hasn't.

The casting is online now. See http://www.paballet.org/season/production.aspx?id=2&src=l
and click at the right (pdf file).

The casting appears to be the same for all performances. And Lorenzo is back!

Francis Veyette is back????!!!! Mid-season???? Anyone see anything in the press about that? (I, for one, am very excited!)

I understand that it was opening night last night for the Nine Sinatra Songs series. Unfortunately I was unable to make it out to Philly, so can anyone fill me in????

So John Rockwell of the NYTimes came to Philly to review this program.......what an interesting surprise! Although unable to attend this show, I was given a far clearer picture from the Kraus review than from Rockwell's. Did anyone else see the show or is anyone going this weekend? Would love to hear more......it seems that Neenan's 11:11 was a wonderful success!

Well that's a strike in Rockwell's favor! It used to be just about impossible to get the NY Times out to review PA B.

I saw this program on Sat eve., Feb 5, and it was a delightful evening. All the ballets were new to me; actually, all the choreographers were too. I'm sorry that no-one else here was able to catch this program, as I'd like to know what the more knowledgable posters thought.
My main impression was that the entire evening was about real people - no gods and goddesses or fairy princesses here - just real people beautifully dancing real ballet.
The only complaint I have about this evening is that the order of the ballets was switched without any notice!! so Peter Martins' The Waltz Project opened instead of being the second ballet. Notwithstanding, I think I wouldn't have enjoyed The Waltz Project in any case. It was boring. The choreography was very pose-y (as opposed to flowing) - like a collection of stretches and positions that dancers like to do in the studio while they're waiting for their turn to do something else. Also, the audience knows that the dancers have good turn-out, we don't need this to be proved by displaying the ladies' crotches all the time. More than anything else though, there was an inexplicable aggressive nature to many of the duets, as if some kind of "Battle of the Sexes" was going on but for no good reason.?
The second ballet, 11:11, used music which is very much of the moment. Contemporary alt-pop music which obviously spoke to many in the audience, myself included, and although I enjoyed this ballet very much, I do wonder how I would react if this type of music was not part of the fabric of my daily life (as The Waltz Project music is not). The relationships in this ballet were not as starkly contrasted or as sterotypical as they were in the other ballets of the evening - for instance, in a trio of two men and a woman, the woman and one of the men did the same steps and were partnered by the other man - but also a little anonymous. This ballet gave me the feel of watching a good episode of a series like Party of Five or Everwood. I saw a very distinct generational difference between Martins and Tharp, who are of my parent's generation and Matthew Neenan, who is probably my age or a little younger.
The evening closed with Nine Sinatra Songs, which was just a ball - witty, inventive, funny, sad, effervescent (sp?). This ballet too comments on relationships- these relationships are more silver screen than TV, but they're still real people and not Hollywood goddesses. The dancers handled what seemed to be very tricky partnering with incredible grace. Oddly enough, the only couple that seemed to be struggling a little with the partnering were Arantxha Ochoa and Thomas Baltrushunas in "One for my Baby", but perhaps they were supposed to be struggling?? Julie Diana has a lovely serene mature presence in everything she dances - here she was partnered by Francis Veyette. Someone asked about him - he is listed in the Corps, but his picture doesn't appear in the Playbill. I especially liked Laura Bowman and Philip Colucci in "Somethin' Stupid" - they were heartbreakingly young and funny. They were also featured in 11:11 - looks like they're PA Ballet's up and coming couple.

GWTW, thank you for your overview on these ballets. I am so sorry that I was uanble to attend, but am excited that I will be in town to see La Fille. If anyone else can shed any light on these past performances, I would love to hear what you thought.

Thanks for the detailed report, GWTW --

We in SanFrancisco really are eager for word on Julie Diana, whem we really miss for her musicality and tenderness; she's an old-fashioned girl, was our best Juliet, her Giselle had dimensions to I had NEVER seen before... when she saw Bathilde's dress, it was..... we could feel her response as if from hte inside. SHe really has an imagination.

I think One more for my baby is meant to have some struggle in it -- I saw it in Berkeley 10 years ago with Tharps own company, and herself in that role -- and it was almost "Show me the way to go home", a hilarious drunken mime scene as much as a dance....

It's not politically correct to do comic drunk-acts any more, but ten years ago that wasn't so fierce; Thapr was off balance most of the time, if I remember right, and at one point I think she fell off his back (ormaybe she was just about to -- I can't remember the detail, just that it bowled me over). Was there any of this quality to it? As I recall, when ABT did the ballet the very next year it had lost most of its detail.