Enjoying ultimate freedom

Elia Powers

Her instructions were simple and intentionally open-ended.

“This is a time for you to do what you want to be doing,” director

Molly Lynch told a room full of artists three weeks ago. “Don’t worry

about putting together a complete piece. We’ll show what you’ve done

so far.”

In her opening remarks to four choreographers and 15 ballet

dancers, Lynch framed the philosophy behind the National

Choreographers Initiative, a three-week program culminating with a

performance Saturday at Irvine Barclay Theatre.

This arrangement is unique because it brings together a disparate

group of dancers and choreographers, few of whom have ever worked

together.

Individually, the artists have performed and designed dances that

reached audiences across the world, from New York to Paris to St.

Petersburg.

But on July 5, the first day of the program, everyone began anew.

Dancers demonstrated their range of moves, and choreographers

divided them up among themselves. Together they began rehearsing for

the final performance, which would be a debut of four new ballets.

The artists have had just three weeks to design and execute the

pieces.

“The movements didn’t take shape until the dancers were in place,”

said Lynch, who works independently throughout the year. “This is a

chance for the choreographers to develop work of their own choosing.”

About 600 people watched the culminating performance last summer,

the first year of the National Choreographers Initiative.

Lynch came up with the concept for an experimental dance program

while she was artistic director of Ballet Pacifica. She resigned in

2003, but wanted to continue the initiative.

With support from Orange County residents, UC Irvine’s Claire

Trevor School of the Arts Department of Dance and the Irvine Barclay

Theatre, her idea became a reality.

For this year’s performance, the cast of characters is different.

Lynch said she was able to choose from a larger pool of candidates.

Among those involved is Costa Mesa resident Francisco Gella, who

worked with Lynch at Ballet Pacifica and now dances with the

California Ballet Company in San Diego.

“It’s such an amazing experience working in this intense format,”

Gella said. “Since it’s more of an experimental workshop, we all have

so much freedom, and that makes it challenging for us.”

Each choreographer is in charge of his own ballet, but they often

work in pairs during rehearsals. Gella has worked with choreographers

Luca Veggetti and Christopher d’Amboise.

“Everything is about balance and adapting,” Gella said. “It’s a

physically and mentally demanding process.”

Lynch has spent the last few weeks observing the rehearsals. She

said it’s interesting to take note of the choreographer’s varying

styles. Some stop dancers mid-move to make a suggestion, while others

take a more hands-off approach, she said.

Lynch said she couldn’t predict the look of the final product.

At the show, each choreographer will introduce his piece.

All four and Lynch will remain on stage afterward to gauge the

audience’s reaction and hear comments.

Lynch said since the four new ballets are likely works in

progress, the comments will be vital to the experience.

“I’m open to seeing what happens in the end,” Lynch said. “I try

to give everyone ultimate freedom.

“It’s my hope that something new will come out that could be a

breakthrough.”