The tango is a colorful, fiery display of passion and movement, with ballet being its more classical, astute and refined cousin. Now, imagine the two together, and toss some mariachi music into the mix. The Washington Ballet’s ¡Noche Latina! does just that, combining the classical, floating movements of ballet with the energy and boldness of tango. Not just a dance show, the night includes live music, including Mariachi Los Amigos, who come in through the front door just like the rest of the audience. The Washington Ballet’s Artistic Director, Septime Webre, notes at the beginning of the night that the show is a “celebration of fusion,” and that fusion creates depth. It’s a daring show in that respect, but the result is dazzling.
The show marks the premiere of Paul Taylor’s formidable tango Piazzola Caldera, in addition to Nacho Duato’s Na Floresta and Septime Webre’s Juanita y Alicia. The Washington Ballet Company displayed excellent technique, as well as the boldness to take chances with fusing these different types of dance. Piazzola Caldera is tango-based, with a hint of ballet and modern influences. The snewy, more fluid movements contrasted with the normally pronounced moves of tango. There was more spinning, twirling, and acrobatics than one would normally see in a tango show. It was powerful, sensual and bold. Na Floresta, which captures the beauty of the Amazon rainforest, is heavily influenced by ballet and provided a fine juxtaposition to traditional Latin dances.
Juanita y Alicia is based on Webre’s mother’s memories growing up in Cuba, with influences of his own Cuban-French (he’s American born) background. All is emblematic of his own noche Latinas, be it dancing with his “exuberant” family or embracing his own neither-here-nor-there culture. Fine technique comprised of truly energetic and directed moves as well as creative costumes threaded together all of the pieces.
Peppering the dance performances, the live music itself is all about fusion as well. Sin Miedo, led by a Frenchman, is a Cuban band, while Mariachi Los Amigos is headed up by an American, and the musician Celso Duarte is a Paraguayan harpist who leads the Celso Duarte Quartet, which brings together African, jazz and baroque rhythm and influences, all to create some awesome music. Intermission brought about the Mystic Warriors, an Andean music group, who pulled together the ancient sound of the Incas with modern beats.
As I was leaving the theatre, I heard a woman proclaim “I feel like taking a tango class!” Indeed, ¡Noche Latina! leaves you feeling ready to shake your hips, or at least more open to the idea of creative interpretation and passionate expression.
Washington Ballet’s ¡Noche Latina! is playing at the Kennedy Center, with its final performance at 2:30pm on Februrary 4th.
