By JESSICA NEU
Concluding their 2024-25 season, Pittsburgh Dance Council welcomed the Malandain Ballet Biarritz and their Les Saisons (Four Seasons) production last night at the Byham Theater.
Les Saisons showcases Antonio Vivaldi’s famous piece, “Four Seasons,” and incorporates elements of Giovanni Antonio Guido’s “Le Quattro Stagioni dell’anno” (The Four Seasons of the Year). The number four indicates not only the four seasons of the year, but choreographer Thierry Malandain notes that the number four is “closely linked to creation, balance, and harmony…The number four is also associated with the Earth and the wheel of life which does not always turn smoothy, if not completely askew…”
The French neoclassical ballet company attacked Malandain’s choreography, which is intended to abstractly represent the relationship between nature and humankind. Twenty-two dancers adorned simple costumes, including nude leotards with black wings, simple black dresses and bodysuits, and occasional colorful accents (Veronique Murat, Charlotte Margnoux, and Anais Abel). They danced amongst an equally simple backdrop of hanging black leaves in front of a screen that subtly changed colors.
Malandain’s choreography, paired with both pieces of music, highlights this notion of an interconnectedness that is constant but not always smooth. The dancers transitioned between movements reminiscent of seventeenth-century Baroque dance, ballroom-esque steps, and classical ballet. The dancers flawlessly matched the orchestral variations and tempo changes, which featured intricate string arrangements (violin and harpsichord). Just like Vivaldi’s arrangement, Malandain’s choreography proved exciting, demanding, and unpredictable. Punctuated by clean lines, promenades, extensions, and hints of celebratory playfulness, the dancers flowed throughout the stage like wind on a Spring Day. Malandain created a sense of physical connectedness as the dancers often linked together in motion, creating a sense of fluidity and drama uncommon in other ballet performances. The dancers also shined in pairs as duet partners. Male dancers lifted their female partners while in motion, allowing the ladies to extend through the air like flowers blooming in early May.
Malandain’s Les Saisons transcended the typical technique repertoire that is standard in professional ballet. Yes, there were perfect relevels, arabesques, and turnouts. But there was also a sense of liquidity in movement that transcended beyond gracefulness or agility. The dancers showcased movement that extended through their fingertips and toes and continued beyond their bodies to fill the entire stage. A palpable sense of trust among the dancers gave way to an authentic yet intense performance that audiences were fortunate to witness.
The next Pittsburgh Cultural Trust‘s / Pittsburgh Dance Council presentation is Compagnie Hervé KOUBI – on Saturday September 20th, 2025, for more information visit: https://trustarts.org/production/101594/compagnie-herve-koubi
Read our 2025 / 2026 Pittsburgh Dance Council Season Preview here: https://onstagepittsburgh.com/2025/04/25/pittsburgh-cultural-trusts-2025-2026-pittsburgh-dance-council-series-announced/
Categories: Arts and Ideas, Reviews
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