Choreographer Val Caniparoli.

RB sat in on a run-thru of Val Caniparoli’s world premiere for Joffrey Ballet this afternoon. Incantations is a whirlwind of movement from start to finish. As lead dancer Matthew Adamczyk* said, “It’s like being shot out of a cannon.”  The full-costume run (men shirtless in nude tights w/ sanscrit verse, women in nude leotards with spirals and lines) showed off dancers still a week out from the premiere, but at the top of their game.  This work is difficult and non-stop, yet some of the dancers were smiling as if they were delighted (or perhaps delirious) with performing it.  Solo passes garnered applause from the dancers watching.  Duets are dramatic and fast, with a few partnering moves reminiscent of Mr. A’s Light Rain and William Forsythe’s works.  A brief male duet featuring Adamczyk and Rory Hohenstein is…hot!  In fact, every dancer in the piece looks great – a tribute to the choreographer.

Caniparoli’s Incantations is joined by Edwaard Liang’s Age of Innocence and Jerome Robbins’ In the Night on the Spring Desire program.  Fantastic news!  RB also learned that Miguel Angel  Blanco, who was sidelined with an Achilles tendon injury last season requiring two surgeries, will be performing a piece on opening night.  Welcome back.

Joffrey Ballet Spring Desire runs April 25 – May 6 at the Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Congress Pkwy.  Tickets:  800.982.2787 or visit ticketmaster.com.

*Click here to read my preview of Incantations in Windy City Times.