National Ballet of Canada Mixed Program – Jorma Elo's Pur ti Miro

Reviewed by Paula Citron

Jorma Elo’s world premiere Pur ti Miro for the National Ballet demonstrates why he is one of the most exciting choreographers in the world.

Elo’s speed style is a dizzying whirl of not just bodies in motion, but every part of the body in motion, not to mention unpredictable placements and some very dangerous partnering. But there is also a slow Elo, where the dancers exhibit brilliantly crafted gestural movement and body isolations.

The title Pur ti Miro is the rapturous final duet from Monteverdi’s opera The Coronation of Poppea. Patrick Lavoie and Sonia Rodriguez are the stately couple who perform an exquisite pas de deux representing love. The other four couples represent youth and hormones raging.

Elo rivets the eye, and the company looks sensational.

Also on this mixed bill are Jerome Robbins’ Opus 19/The Dreamer and West Side Story Suite which the company performs with panache.

The National Ballet mixed bill of Elo and Robbins continues at the Four Seasons Centre until Jun. 13.

Pur ti Miro
Opus 19/The Dreamer
West Side Story Suite
National Ballet of Canada
Four Seasons Centre, Jun. 4 to 13, 2010