ARTS & LEISURE PAGE 22 — THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 2011 LOCALSOURCE.COM UNION COUNTY LOCALSOURCE Ballet leaves audience at Kean wanting more New Jersey Ballet Company produces the classic ballet 'Swan Lake1 before an appreciative audience By Bea Smith tle Swan in the first act, along with Kotoe Kojima- Staff Writer Noa, Christina Theryoung-Neira and Teele Ude, with Natalie Portman was awarded the Oscar Sunday variety of 12 more future ballerinas all appear to be evening in Hollywood as best actress in "Black dancing their hearts out. They are magnificent. Swan," and Gabriella Noa-Pierson rewarded an Following intermission, Ana Luiza Luizi and Teix- appreciative audience Saturday evening in Union in eira performed an extremely enticing pas de deux, her winning performance of Odile in the New Jersey simulating intimacy called "Meditation." Ballet Company's "Black Swan." The pas de deux was choreographed for a former And while the Academy Award audience applaud- principal New Jersey Ballet dancer, Andrei Jouravlev, ed the young motion picture actress, the Wilkins The- by his mentor, Vladimir Salimbaev. ater audience at Kean University abounded with a The fascinating "Meditation," Jouravlev and Sal- resounding reaction to its excellent ballerina. Appre- imbaev, all won medals in Russia. Its music is from ciation even reached out to more than a dozen little "Thais" by Jules Massanet. children, dressed in costume apparel, slippers and all, A continuation of "Black Swan," followed, this as these little ballerina wanabees applauded the loud- time with Noa-Pierson as Odile, whose sorcerer- est. father, disguises her as the Swan Queen; she is Carolyn Clark, artistic director of the New Jersey dressed in black. However, the Prince, this time, Ballet Company, which is located in Livingston, real- handsomely performed by Raetnan Kilfoil, is fooled ly outdid herself Saturday night in her presentation of and dances with Odile, believing her to be-Odette. "A Repertory Concert," featuring "Swan Lake Act The enthusiastic audience nearly went wild over II." this performance, with whistles and cheers and shouts Under the umbrella of Peter Tchaikovsky's of "Brava" and "Bravo," and it took a while to prepare extraordinarily beautiful music, piped in backstage itself for "Faust." with violins, sobbing with emotion, and with chore- This practically full-length production, by ography after Petipa-Ivanov, the first part of "Swan Walpurgiesnacht, was choreographed by Leonid Lake" Act II is reenacted by an exceptional cast. Mari Layrosky, staged by Alexander Boitsov, with music Sugawa portrays Odette, the Swan Queen, dressed in by Charles Gounod and costume designs by Paul H. white, who had been transformed from a human to a McRae, assistant artistic director. swan by an evil sorcerer. She and her followers are It was thrilling to witness the variety of ballet num- humans by night and swans by day. And when the bers and fascinating dances by Kojima-Noa, Albert prince falls in love with Odette, she is forced to leave Davydov, Vitaly Verterich, Yuuki Yamamoto, Christi- him by turning into a swan. na Theryoung-Neira and the ensemble performing Sugawa dances beautifully with Vladimir Roje, satyrs and nymphs. who appears as Prince Siegfried. He makes a won- It appeared, that the audience on Saturday night derful partner for her in their turns and twists. Junio hesitated at the conclusion, hungry for more; which Teixeira is properly haunting as Von Rothbart, the only goes to show how important cultural entertain- Vladimir Roje as the hapless prince and Mari Sug- sorcerer. ment is to the residents of New Jersey. awa as the tragic Swan Queen dance together in the The Big Swans, Elise Toro Frank and Yuka Omori, Bea Smith can be reached at 908-686-7700, ext. 'Swan Lake' ballet at Wilkins Theater at Kean Uni- and the Little Swans, with Noa-Pierson, seen as a Lit- 118, or [email protected]. versity in Union. Filmmakers Symposium presents festival in UC Imagine seeing a festival-winning gem participants. "The program will always be explained Rose. For information or to regis- with Keira Knightley, Sam Worthington, before public release, then the lights come flexible in order to take advantage of oppor- ter, call 732-870-6012. director Massy Tadjedin; "Margin Call" with up, and there in front of you are the creators tunities as they arise," said festival director The festival is open to anyone, but seating Kevin Spacey, Paul Bettany, director J.C. of the film, ready to answer questions and Chuck Rose. "Wonderful surprises and fan- is limited, so early enrollment is advised. Chandor; "Meek's Cutoff' with Paul Dano, discuss their work. tastic celebrities can pop up out of nowhere, Discounts will be available for early registra- Michelle Williams, director Kelly Reichardt; Starting Monday, Filmmakers Sympo- so we try to keep the schedule as fluid as pos- tion. Also being offered is a 'Bring Your "The Names of Love" with Sara Forestier, sium's Arthouse Film Festival will run for 10 sible. Friends' special: for each friend, or new sub- Jacques Gamblin, director Michel Leclerc; weeks at two New Jersey theatres: AMC "In 2010, we premiered 33 films that scriber, who signs up with you, you get $50 "Potiche" with Catherine Deneuve, Gerard Loews Mountainside and AMC Loews Mon- earned a total of 13 Spirit Award, 24 British off your subscription for 10 weeks or bring Depardieu, director Francois Ozon; "Project rnouth Mall. The festival has hosted 1,427 Academy Award, and 20 Oscar nominations. four friends and your subscription is free. Nim" with Nim, Reagan Leonard, director movie premieres with 942 live guest appear- We screened 'The King's Speech,' '127 Confirmed films and those under consid- James Marsh; "Queen to Play" with Sandrine ances over the past 20 years. Hours,' 'Rabbit Hole' and 'The Company eration for the upcoming festival include Bonnaire, Kevin Kline, director Caroline Oscar winners and nominees Danny Aiel- Men' well before they were released. "Bill Cunningham New York" with Bill Cun- Bottaro; "Sarah's Key" with Kristin Scott lo, Alan Arkin, Frank Darabont, Jesse Eisen- "Since launching 20 years ago, we have ningham, Tom Wolfe, director Richard Press; Thomas, Melusine Mayance, director Gilles berg, Ethan Hawke, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, worked to create an international VIP net- "Bride Flight" with Karina Smulders, Walde- Paquet-Brenner; "Soul Surfer" with Dennis Melissa Leo, Viggo Mortensen, Chazz work of filmmakers, actors, journalists, crit- mar Torenstra, director Ben Sombogaart; Quaid, AnnaSophia Robb, director Sean Palminteri, John Sayles, Aaron Sorkin, Marc ics and film industry pros whose jobs involve "The Conspirator" with Robin Wright, James McNamera; "Terri" with John C. Reilly, Shaiman, Howard Shore, Fisher Stevens and finding and evaluating the cream of Sun- McAvoy, director Robert Redford; "The Jacob Wysocki, director Azazel Jacobs; David Strathairn have joined Dylan Baker, dance, Cannes, Toronto, Venice, Berlin, Double Hour" with Flippo Timi, Kseniya "There Be Dragons" with Wes Bentley, Famke Janssen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Del- Tribeca and the other important film festi- Rappoport, director Giuseppe Capotondi; Dougray Scott, director Roland Joffe; "Tree roy Lindo, Derek Luke, Mary Stuart Master- vals. "The First Grader" with Naomie Harris, of Life" with Brad Pitt, Sean Penn, director son, David Morse, Connie Nielsen, Joe Pan- We also work to ferret out potential hits in Oliver Litondo, director Justin Chadwick; Terrence Malick and "Win Win" with Paul toliano and Kevin Smith will be guest speak- the development and production stages so we "The Happy Poet" with Donny Mars, Chris Giamatti, Amy Ryan, director Tom ers who will share their insights with festival are ready to pounce on the best films first," Doubek, director Paul Gordon; "Last Night" McCarthy.