K-Ballet Company (Winter Tour'99 Japan)

　K-Ballet Company,Tetsuya Kumakawa and other members, performed
22times stages from 13th November to 22th December in this winter.
These were called "K-Ballet Company Japan Tour'99 Winter ".

　This time was the second tour in Japan and maybe the audiences
had hoped something new, and more passionate stage than the Spring
Tour. Kumakawa and the other members replied for that hope
greatly and let us see the more splended stages!

　Fortunately I could have seen the stage several times.
Anytime I went to see, there were something New on the stage.
"Birds and the Bs" has an original meaning of "flirt with"(man and woman),
but I thought it was not all about that performance.
Of cource, the very comical roles were performed by Avis and other
men and women (birds and the bees),used by rolling chairs and charming
costume(designed by Trevitt), and jestures of courting.
But I thought they also expressed " the seasons of nature" contained
human beings. Maybe we human beings were born by the parents and
that was like a flower sprang from a seed.
In the perfomance, they expressed that theory with a humor and deep
humanity. As a flower comes out and returns to earth, all lives have
thier seasons and we also met many situations of life with joy or sorrow.
For example, love and romance, courting, breaking heart, marriage,
pergnancy, birth and death,and so on.
I could see that especially anything else from this piece and felt like
some feelings which other people and other nature might have.

　"Symphonic Variations" was so elegant and graceful, also fulled with
joy　for Ballet and a silent energy of life.
Kumakawa was standing on the middle of stage showed his back to the
audience. Michael and Trevitt posed ot the right and left showed their
front. And Durante, Sakakibara and Tokui(or Schofierld)were standing
by their partner. Their starting position had already very classical and
holy impression that was never sacred.

　I heard this performance had a very historic meaning especially
for the Royal Ballet. And as Ms.Nagano(ballet critic)said on the
pamphlet, that was a declaration for them that their foundation was
nothing but "Ballet". Of cource,it was an important work for them, but
I believe they would like to dance not only for fans or audiences but also
for themselves because they sincerely love "Ballet".
I could imagine gods appeared from Greek mythology like "Apollo".
And the spirit of snow or the Symphony itself.
The background(scenery) was created by the very warm color (lemon
yellow and light green) and there were "lines" on it (like a melody line).
By their perfectly controlled movements, we could see "the Symphony"
itself on the stage. Especially, Kumakawa and Durante's
partnership was excellent. Durante was dancing gracefully as she was
lightly singing. Kumakawa surpported Durante very gently
and reliably, smiled each other, they were very hamonized and brilliant
on the stage.

　"The Barons Cafe" was a very passionate and exciting stage!
On the melody of TANGO(Astor Piazzola etc.), Ryota Komatu and his
band "the Tangists" played live music through the Tour.
I heard every place where they performed, Mr.Komatu's BAND-NEON
sounds were livening up the stage more and more.
And Kumakawa and other members' solo performances were of cource
enegetic and thrilling. Durante(or Tokui)were espacially sexy,and
Sayo Kitamura danced very fresh and attractive dance with Dibble.
Other female dancers also performed very well,sometimes cute,
sometimes sexy,thier dance were very suitable at the Cafe's scene.
Reflected the mirror, we could also see their dance from the backside.
And the posters "SOLD OUT" were put on it. They said "Baron's Cafe"
were the place where they had talked about a vision of "K-Ballet Company".
Now from the Cafe, they were surely taking off!!

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