I went to see Copellia by Ballet AZ recently. I have been away from their performances for a some time. I had a bad experience as a volunteer. I had hear there had been some major changes in the company and how things were being staged. That is the truth.
The performance was nice, what I would expect from a regional company, not as strong as I had come to expect. This is not the companies fault. They did as well as they could be expected to. The dancers are hard workers and it showed. It seems though there are a few pieces missing.
They have lost so many of their strong dancers. It is going to take take time to build up to what they were. I have to ask what happened that so many of their core people and up and coming dancers left? With time and attrition, a certain amount can be expected but this many? Younger dancers benefit from interacting with more experienced performers. If it isn't there, it will just take longer. What is going to happen for if they need a more mature male for a lead. Makeup can do a certain amount but the depth and strength of maturity of a strong dancer comes with time.
I also understand that people who regularly came over from Europe (Denmark and others) to stage performances aren't coming over any longer. it gave the dancers a certain experience that only comes from working with people like this. It allowed us, the audience, to see things that reflected world trends in Ballet.. The artistic director can't be all things to all people, can they.
There are going to be people who are thinking that this review is to degrade what the Ballet AZ is doing these days; quite the opposite actually. I got over my own bad experience to come and watch Ballet AZ as it is today. I just didn't expect what I have come to. There have been changes. You might say why four stars instead of three if that is the case. The dancers work hard and I honor that! When a situation exists like this is a time when they need our support the most.