If you've followed dance in West Michigan for any period of time, you know better than to assume that ballet is a boring exhibition of dancers in tutus and leotards.
You can thank Grand Rapids artistic director Gordon Peirce Schmidt for that.
Flickers is another Schmidt original ballet, one that challenges conceptions of ballet and, in keeping with the mission of the Grand Rapids Ballet, it "goes beyond." As Jack the Ripper recently demonstrated, ballet is not dull or pretentious; in fact, it can be laugh-out-loud funny.
"It's fun to go to the ballet and laugh," says Associate Artistic Director Laura Berman.
What makes this production different is that it is centered on Charlie Chaplin, the beloved star of dozens of films in the early to mid 1900s. Grand Rapids Ballet veteran Attila Mosolygo was chosen to recreate Chaplin on stage, as he is known to be "a master of movement," much like Chaplin, Berman said.
The reproduction of the slapstick and pathos-infused humor as a ballet remains every bit a disciplined art.
"[The company] is so well trained, and the theatrical and comic timing is just dead on," said Berman.
Though the pantomimes are meant to appear accidental as Charlie wanders into the sets of backstage Hollywood, every movement is planned and carefully practiced, even the scene on roller skates. The dancers, for example, were coached on how to fall properly.
"Their intent in their movement and style of how they execute a step...[is] part of who they are as professional dancers," Berman says. "It's a challenge that they love."
Flickers is a composite of various vignettes starring Chaplin from his many silent films. The soundtrack is in the style of early Duke Ellington and is not live.
"It is recorded with the intention to give it that sense of that era; some of the recordings have to have a scratchy feeling to invoke a particular sense of a movie set," said Berman.
The sound effects, though, are live with percussionists onstage providing classic reactions, such as the sliding whistle.
Performance goers "are going to get a lot for their ticket price," Berman assures.
Audience interaction will also add to the fun.
"There is so much depth and meat; it really shows you what the art form of dance can do when executed well."
Flickers
Peter Martin Wege Theatre, Grand Rapids
Jan. 29-30, Feb. 5-6 at 7:30 p.m., Jan. 31 and Feb. 7 at 2 p.m.
$20-$30
grballet.com, (616) 454-4771
