A Fiery Revue: La Pasión de España

Taylor Swantek as Carmen. – Photo by Beth Deck

Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre’s ‘Carmen’ and ‘Don Quixote’ Mashup

By Courtney Blackburn

Deep crimson curtains rise. A woman is silhouetted. Her back arches, she swivels on pointe, and Carmen is now facing the audience at El Portal Theatre with what can only be described as a man-eating grin. Her hair is pulled into a tight bun, but a curl escapes by her ear. Her eyes gleam ferociously and her lips are red, red, red. She beckons, and starts to dance.

A clash of love, death, and comedy, Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre’s “La Pasión de España” had arrived in North Hollywood. Running only two performances, this event combined the fiery, seductive Carmen – based on the opera of the same name – and the romantically comedic Don Quixote into a night of “neoclassical ballet, flamenco, and theatrical drama” as promised.

Carmen came and left with true Spanish flair, indelibly marked by Taylor Swantek’s passionate, violently sensual, lovely Carmen. The debuting star of the ballet, she conquered the stage in her black toe shoes. The original choreography fit her like a glove. Crafted anew by Natasha Middleton, Artistic Director of PBDT, this Carmen told the story of love, obsession, and betrayal without a single word. Some truly wonderful new dances were performed to the music of Bizet/Shchedrin, notably the “Chair Dance,” “Bolero,” and pulse-pounding “Smuggler’s Camp” scene, complete with flamenco. Professional ballroom dancers Duo Loparevi showed their quick-footed action in “Dance of the Toreador and Spanish Girl,” and Grigori Arakelyan was masterful in his portrayal of Carmen’s spurned Don José.

Irina Gharibyan and Edgar Nikolyan in Don Quixote. – Photo by Beth Deck

After a brief intermission where guests could hit the snack bar and enjoy the El Portal’s art exhibition featuring artists Gordon Goodman and Marjorie Sarnat, it was time to head back to the stadium-styled seats for the second half of “La Pasión de España”: Don Quixote, Act I.

One hopeless romantic, a foppish suitor, and two flirty lovebirds combined with chuckle-worthy savoir flair. Irina Gharibyan’s nubile Kitri flounced and spun with breathtaking speed while sending mixed signals to her beloved Basilio, Edgar Nikolyan. But Basilio was more than capable of playing hard to get, and his impressive leaps and a la seconde turns caused spontaneous clapping from the audience, followed by cheering as he winked and grinned in an amiable “Aren’t I hot stuff?” fashion. A foppish suitor (Philippe Leibzig), gallant Don Quixote (Craig Dickens), and amazingly agile Sancho Panza (Susan DiGiulio) added to the romance with slapstick physical comedy. It was a delightful send-off for what had been a thoroughly enjoyable Hollywood night out.

Live theater is an experience as well as a visual treat, and PBDT’s “La Pasión de España” was a one-of-a-kind interaction with talented dancers, stunning choreography, bold classical music, and stories of love and jealousy celebrating Spanish culture.

See what PBDT is doing next at www.pacificballetdancetheatre.com or www.facebook.com/pages/Pacific-Ballet-Dance-Theatre/86766326286.

Alexander Fost in Don Quixote. – Photo by Beth Deck

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