Paquita, The Legend of Roksanda, Refracted Light

DANCERS FACE DEMANDING TASKS

Review by Judith Hughey

The Queensland Ballet Theatre certainly chose a testing program for its performances last night at the Twelfth Night Theatre. The company has selected three ballets for performances this week.

Last night the dancers worked hard. They had two major works and a modern sequence to tackle. Large casts were restricted in limited space – a little more freedom of movement would have improved the performance.

The first ballet, ‘Paquita’, was the work of composer Alois Minkus, the Viennese-born composer who died in 1917. His ballet ‘Paquita’ is busy. The movements are difficult and challenging even for a professional company.

The ballet theatre’s second ‘act’, ‘The Legend of Roksanda’, was more suited, though again dancers needed more space. The lively choruses, the dances of the evil spirits and the search through forests for the heroine worked well. It was in this ballet particularly that the company’s costume and set designers excelled.

Brisbane choreographer Sandra Breen brought a refreshing touch to the night with ‘Refracted Light’. It worked well with a ‘Goldfinger’ mood and unusual dance variations. The theatre did well to choose a modern work. Performances continue tonight, tomorrow and Saturday.

The Courier Mail, 22 April 1982