'Carmen' and 'Solo for Two' share stage in Ballet Opera performance

Europe's two most talked-about productions will be making their regional debut at the Power Center tomorrow as the Lyon Opera Ballet performs "Carmen" and "Solo for Two."

"They have an incredible reputation for being very cutting edge. This is not an event to be missed," said Eastern Michigan University dance prof. Sherry Jerome, who will be participating in a master class with the Lyon Opera Ballet tomorrow morning. The most well-traveled troupe in France, the Lyon Opera Ballet will be returning to the United States after having performed at the American Dance Festival and the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival in 1997. The 30-member troupe made its debut in this country with a new interpretation of "Cinderella" in 1987 at City Center in New York, instantly thrilling American audiences. Since then, the Lyon Opera Ballet has made many US appearances, including inaugurating Lincoln Center's summer festival with an opening night event in 1996.

This weekend's performance, sponsored by the University Musical Society, will feature two works by choreographer Mats Ek, critically regarded as one of the most original and theatrically stunning artist working in Europe today.

"I know he's done some wild things in the past, almost rock and rollish," said dance department Chair Gay Delanghe. " It's going to be outrageous."

Ek's "Solo for Two," which is noted for including nudity, will feature two dancers exploring human existence and its contradictions over a gentle piano solo. The work is known to be exemplary of Ek's provocative style, through unusual setting and ever-present humor and irony.

"Carmen" is a modern-day version of the famous Bizet opera, with new music interpreted by Russian composer Rodion Shchedrin. Eks uses the cinematic effect of flashback to tell the story of 'Carmen,' as stunning dance solos take the place of arias. Incorporating both classical and modern techniques, the Lyon Opera Ballet is expected to create a few hard-to-forget images this weekend with their contemporary, cigar-smoking version of "Carmen."

"I expect it to be very dark, very expressionistic," Delanghe said. She also added that it's important for American audiences to take the opportunity to be exposed to these performances from Europe and learn from them. "There is more dance in Europe than here because the citizens support it," she said.

Jerome also noted the international aspect of Lyon Opera Ballet's Michigan debut. "Europe has a lot of cutting-edge art going on because they have government funding. It's created such a hot bed of talent - Americans look to that."

When asked about tomorrow's advanced-level master class with the Lyon troupe's artistic director Yorgos Loukos, Jerome mentioned that it is very difficult, if not impossible to arrange such opportunities with visiting companies.

"A lot of companies say they do not have the time for master classes. The Lyon Opera Ballet was very willing to do this - I think that says a lot," Jerome said.

This weekend will also feature an educational event, "Drawn to Dance," sponsored by the Ann Arbor Art Center, where visual artists will have a chance to sit in on the troupe's dress rehearsal tomorrow and sketch live, moving models.

"These dancers have such great physiques. It'll be a wonderful opportunity to have them as models", said the Art Center's Education Director Juliet Feibel. "The choreography in particular - the gestures are very stark and dramatic, it's great for visual artists as well."

"This is the kind of thing that makes Ann Arbor such a wonderful place. There is such a wonderful collaboration of artists," said Feibel.

There will also be a pre-performance talk given by Yorgos Loukos in the Michigan League, as well as a 'Meet the Artist' post-performance dialogue from the stage tomorrow night.

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