Grand Rapids Ballet’s ‘In The Upper Room’ celebrates the beauty and artistry of dance
By Adrienne Warber
“In The Upper Room.” Choreography by Twyla Tharp. © Twyla Tharp. Photo by Scott Rasmussen. Photo courtesy of Grand Rapids Ballet.
Grand Rapids Ballet ends their 2023-24 Season with an exceptional production of Twyla Tharp’s “In The Upper Room” and George Balanchine’s “Serenade.” Michigan’s only professional classical ballet company gave a performance that encompassed the legendary beauty of the clever choreographies by Balanchine and Tharp on their opening night last Friday, April 26. Grand Rapids Ballet’s “In The Upper Room” runs for two weekends, April 26-28 and May 3-5. The show provides a fitting end to their successful season and gives a glimpse of the high level of dance the West Michigan dance community can expect in the future.
Combining Balanchine and Tharp Creates a Show of Endless Dance Possibilities
Grand Rapids Ballet Artistic Director James Sofranko brought the choreographies of two dance legends to show the many inventive possibilities of classical ballet. George Balanchine’s “Serenade” and Twyla Tharp’s “In The Upper Room” use a classical ballet foundation to build works that showcase the many ways to dance ballet. Both “Serenade” and “In The Upper Room” include challenging dance combinations that require a dancer to exhibit both a high degree of technique and athleticism during performance. Combined in one show, these two pieces provide a sumptuous feast of high dance art.
“In The Upper Room.” Choreography by Twyla Tharp. © Twyla Tharp. Photo by Scott Rasmussen. Phot courtesy of Grand Rapids Ballet.
George Balanchine’s “Serenade” is a lovely classical ballet work filled with complicated pointe work and traditional combinations set to music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Balanchine choreographed the piece on School of American Ballet students, with the students premiering the work in 1934, followed by the professional American Ballet (later known as New York City Ballet) premiere in 1935. “Serenade” is often used as a teaching tool by many dance companies because the choreography can strengthen a dancers’ technique. The work is considered a classical ballet masterpiece that demonstrates the magic of ballet technique.
Twyla Tharp’s “In The Upper Room” premiered in 1986 by Twyla Tharp Dance ©. The choreography combines classical ballet with other movements, such as tap and yoga. Set to music by Philip Glass, the production is critically acclaimed and performed around the world by major dance companies. It is a visual delight of dance taking many unexpected forms and expressions. Tharp’s inventive choreography shows the beauty, strength, and many possible artistic expressions of dance.
Grand Rapids Ballet dancers give an exceptional performance of these two major works. The current cast has amazing talent, which shines in these two challenging choreographies. This excellent production keeps the audience entertained and eager for the 2024-25 Season.
George Balanchine’s “Serenade.” Photo by Rebecca Humes Photography. Photo Courtesy of Grand Rapids Ballet.
Balanchine’s “Serenade” Brings out the Beauty and Complexity of Classical Ballet
Lovers of classical ballet beauty will be in heaven when watching George Balanchine’s “Serenade.” At the opening night performance, the pairing of Balanchine’s gorgeous choreography with Tchaikovsky’s lovely music created a blissful experience. The corps de ballet, who danced just as often as the principal dancers, performed some of the most memorable moments. Both the corps de ballet and principal dancers showed expert classical ballet technique and emotion that flowed in every movement. The cast created a masterpiece the captured the heart of Balanchine’s choreography with their precise technique and well-crafted movement.
It was obvious the audience was in awe of this breathtaking performance. A young child in the audience sat on the edge of her seat, completely mesmerized by the magic of the dancing. The cast received a standing ovation. During intermission, many people were commenting on how much they enjoyed the performance.
George Balanchine’s “Serenade.” Photo by Rebecca Humes Photography. Photo Courtesy of Grand Rapids Ballet
Tharp’s “In The Upper Room” Is a Glorious Creative Exploration of Movement
It is understandable why Twyla Tharp’s “In The Upper Room” is so critically acclaimed and frequently added to the repertoire of the world’s leading dance companies. The production captures the imagination with the lively, inventive choreography. Fans of both classical ballet and contemporary movement will find something in the piece to enjoy.
The opening night performance of Tharp’s “In The Upper Room” was a master work of artistic movement, athleticism, and dance exploration. The choreography had some dancers performing classical ballet technique in both ballet and pointe shoes, while other dancers, known as “stompers,” danced contemporary movements in sneakers. Both the ballet and contemporary movements were high energy and full of athleticism, creating stunning artistic forms.
The Grand Rapids Ballet dancers did an excellent job in “The Upper Room,” dancing with a high level of technique and personality at the opening night show. Their performance captured the spirit of Tharp’s brilliant choreography, which showcased their talent. The show was entertaining and exciting, showing the multifaceted possibilities of dance art.
“In The Upper Room.” Choreography by Twyla Tharp. © Twyla Tharp. Photo by Scott Rasmussen. Photo courtesy of Grand Rapids Ballet.
‘In the Upper Room’ Show Times and Ticket Information
You still have a chance to see Grand Rapids Ballet’s “In The Upper Room” next weekend, May 3-5. Grand Rapids Ballet will perform three more performances of “In The Upper Room” on Friday, May 3 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, May 4 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, May 5 at 2 p.m. To purchase tickets, please visit Ticketmaster, Grand Rapids Ballet’s website or call Grand Rapids Ballet Box Office at (616) 454-4771, ext. 110.
“In The Upper Room.” Choreography by Twyla Tharp. © Twyla Tharp. Photo by Scott Rasmussen. Photo courtesy of Grand Rapids Ballet.