I have always had a passion for dance – especially ballet – and have seen performances by many of the world’s premiere ballet companies. Therefore, one of my big disappointments when moving to Guadalajara in 2008 was the fact that professional dance seemed to be ignored here.
I was hopeful when the Classical and Neoclassical Dance Company of Jalisco was formed in 2009. That company, however, was disbanded soon after the elections in 2012. Thankfully, a new company under the direction of Dariusz Blajer, the Polish-born former dancer and director of the National Ballet Company in Mexico City, was created in August 2013.
Having attended almost every program the Joven Ballet of Jalisco has presented, I have been excited to see the individual dancers develop their techniques, as the troupe takes shape as a truly professional company. They have performed contemporary as well as classical ballets with an extremely high level of talent and professionalism, including innovative works by young international choreographers. One of these, a completely new version of “Sherazade,” was presented last month at the Degollado Theater in a world premiere. The exciting George Balanchine ballet “Who Cares?” required one the Balanchine Trust’s own choreographers to come to Guadalajara and ensure that the work was performed to the Trust’s high standards.
Last week, I had the pleasure of watching both a company class and a rehearsal for the Joven Ballet’s upcoming performance of “The Nutcracker” (December, 19, 20, 21) and see, in person, why this company is well on its way to becoming a world-class dance group.
A 90-minute class was in session when I arrived. Teaching that day was Blajer, who rotates in taking the daily classes along with his two ballet masters, Slauka Ladewig and Aldo Katton.
Blajer was extremely demanding in the barre and center combinations he put the dancers through. He often stopped the music to offer both group and individual corrections and suggestions in a tone that was both humorous and encouraging. Even though I was seeing the company “up close” for the first time, it was obvious to me that these corrections were well received by all the dancers.
After a short break, Katton accompanied Blajer to rehearse some of the major solos and company dances to be performed in “The Nutcracker.”
Later, Ladewig – a former solo dancer with the National Ballet in Mexico City and a native of Guadalajara in spite of her Slavic/Germanic name – took over the rehearsal before telling me about some of the dancers who had recently joined the company, including a young female from Texas. She also pointed out dancers from Cuba, Guatemala, Colombia and Italy, as well as other states in Mexico, and informed me that they were still auditioning new dancers.
When I asked her why there were three groups of performers rehearsing each of the major parts, she explained that these were not just alternates in case one of the dancers was unable to perform, but that they had a system of trying out dancers to give them the opportunity to perform leading roles. This attempt to “spotlight” an individual dancer’s strengths has been apparent in earlier performances that have focused on “excerpts” from a number of ballets presenting solos and pas de deux.
My interesting visit to the company class and rehearsal has shown me that this is a company to be watched. Hopefully, their prospects of becoming a world-class company will not be thwarted by any future changes in government and, like the Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra, they will be allowed to develop into a permanent professional organization that will entertain audiences, not only in Guadalajara, but throughout Mexico and the rest of the world.