Ailey Citigroup Theater, New York, NY.
March 21, 2025.
Pointeworks, the San Diego-based ballet firm, introduced its second season to the Ailey Citigroup Theater in late March 2025. Based in 2023, by Creative Director Sophie Williams, the corporate’s mission is two-fold: to carry world-class dance to Southern California, and to raise the voices of feminine choreographers and dance management. The NYC performances introduced dancers from Texas Ballet Theater, Dance Theater of Harlem and New York Metropolis Ballet (NYCB) collectively to carry out seven works, six of which have been created by feminine artists. The opening night time present I attended was to an virtually full home, crammed with a who’s who of the NYC ballet group.
There’s a real enjoyment of watching distinctive ballet – and all of the dancers within the firm are definitely that. The Aliey Citigroup Theater is a small home, and the entrance row of seats is about six inches from the stage, so each step is seen up shut. In a giant theater, little wobbles or hops aren’t seen, however from a couple of toes away, the obscuring present of distance doesn’t exist. Nevertheless, in piece after piece, the impeccable strategy of the dancers was each a deal with and schooling in excellence.
All of the items have been beautiful to look at, however Press Play (Caili Quan) and Chasing Shadows (Laine Habony) left the longest enduring impressions. Press Play was initially commissioned for BalletX, and harkens to a time throughout Covid lockdown when dancers labored over Zoom and the need to assemble and dance collectively was at its highest premium. Costumed in purple, white, blue and black fits, the dancers exuded pleasure, play and pure vitality. It was entertaining to look at, and a reminder that prime high quality ballet may also be completely enjoyable!
Chasing Shadows was particular for a particular cause; it was the primary time that three sisters (Claire, Emma and Nicole Von Enck) carried out collectively as skilled dancers. I don’t know what it’s like to bounce with my sister (she stop ballet round age 4), however we do share the shared pursuit of huge working targets, and having that have is deeply significant. The exceptional success and exhausting work it takes for 3 sisters to get into corporations like NYCB and Texas Ballet Theater is uncommon, and to have them come collectively dancing as a trio, much more so. The end result made me really feel like a bit woman once more, when magic was nonetheless actual and goals unmarred by actuality. It jogged my memory of when my sister and I might discover little patches of moss and create tiny fairy worlds out of actual sticks, leaves and rocks, however needed to think about the precise fairies. The Von Enck sisters, dancing the charming choreography of Habony, turned these fairies to me.
Pointeworks introduced considerate, sturdy, intentional dance to NYC, and confirmed that female-driven corporations, female-driven choreography, female-driven composition, and female-driven costume design is making a agency stance within the ballet world. Buckle up and benefit from the experience, as a result of it’s a terrific one.
By Emily Sarkissian of Dance Informa.
