Published: Wednesday, April 13, 2011
OBT'S fresh, new look to launch this weekend
‘Coppelia' preview showcases incoming artistic directors Vinson and Gorboulev
Anxieties were laid to rest when retiring artistic director Helen Wilkins handed the reins over to husband-and-wife successors Oleg Gorboulev and Mara Vinson last Saturday at Olympic Ballet's studios in Edmonds.
Going in, the questions in the air were: how will Vinson and Gorboulev be received? Are they a fit? What will they do with the Wilkins' legacy? What direction will they take with OBT?
Coming out, the answer was: OBT will remain OBT but with a fresh, new look.
No one doubted the couple's credentials.
Gorboulev cut his teeth at the Ballet School of Uzbekistan, danced for the Moscow Classical Ballet, soloed for Pacific NW Ballet, has taught and directed at Emerald Ballet Theatre and performs nationally and regionally.
To help with a congenital hip condition, Vinson put on the slippers at Southern California's Palos Verdes Ballet. The promise she showed when she danced got her into the prestigious Kirov Academy, and from there she apprenticed at PNB in 1999. By 2007 she was a PNB principal.
But background is one thing. Seeing is believing.
A brisk, lively en pointe style with Vinson dancing Coppellia from the upcoming “Coppellia” previewed the fresh, contemporary accent to look forward to.
OBT students in motion showed the clean, clear body lines that pointed to “ballet is meeting hard work straight on”: Be assured, the Wilkins' dictum that will carry on.
Sets, costumes and choreography by Vinson and Gorboulev for “Coppellia” will all be new.
The preview was short and to the point. The reception afterwards was a fond farewell to Helen Wilkins and open welcome to Vinson, Gorboulev and their young son.
All there left satisfied: OBT will remain OBT, classical but with a fresh, new look.
Reactions? Comments? E-mail Dale Burrows at entopinion@heraldnet.com or grayghost7@comcast.net
Going in, the questions in the air were: how will Vinson and Gorboulev be received? Are they a fit? What will they do with the Wilkins' legacy? What direction will they take with OBT?
Coming out, the answer was: OBT will remain OBT but with a fresh, new look.
No one doubted the couple's credentials.
Gorboulev cut his teeth at the Ballet School of Uzbekistan, danced for the Moscow Classical Ballet, soloed for Pacific NW Ballet, has taught and directed at Emerald Ballet Theatre and performs nationally and regionally.
To help with a congenital hip condition, Vinson put on the slippers at Southern California's Palos Verdes Ballet. The promise she showed when she danced got her into the prestigious Kirov Academy, and from there she apprenticed at PNB in 1999. By 2007 she was a PNB principal.
But background is one thing. Seeing is believing.
A brisk, lively en pointe style with Vinson dancing Coppellia from the upcoming “Coppellia” previewed the fresh, contemporary accent to look forward to.
OBT students in motion showed the clean, clear body lines that pointed to “ballet is meeting hard work straight on”: Be assured, the Wilkins' dictum that will carry on.
Sets, costumes and choreography by Vinson and Gorboulev for “Coppellia” will all be new.
The preview was short and to the point. The reception afterwards was a fond farewell to Helen Wilkins and open welcome to Vinson, Gorboulev and their young son.
All there left satisfied: OBT will remain OBT, classical but with a fresh, new look.
Reactions? Comments? E-mail Dale Burrows at entopinion@heraldnet.com or grayghost7@comcast.net