Delighted to have their own professional ballet company once more, Corkonians gave a well-deserved standing ovation to Cork City Ballet in the Opera House last week, though inevitably the highlights came from the guests. The incomparable Elena Koulagina from the Russian State Ballet of Perm gave us a moving Dying Swan and, excellently partnered by Alexander Volkov, a supernaturally light Act 2 Giselle, a glittering Black Swan and the virtuoso lifts and leaps of the late, great Asaf Messerer's Spring Waters.
It was an appropriate occasion to welcome back Patricia Crosby, who performed her own Eva, using her beautiful hands and arms in fluid, spiralling movement to Van Morrison's Have I Told You Lately That I Love You? And she was not the only reminder of Irish National Ballet, for the company performed Royston Maldoom's Celebrations and Charles Czarny's Schubert Impromptu, reproduced by Katherine Lewis.
As for Monica Loughman, she positively sparkled in the Odalisque Pas de Trois from Le Corsaire and the Petipa/ Minkus Paquita Suite, which brought cheers for her fouetes. She also shone with Alan Foley, whose partnering and presentation are now impeccable, in the pas de deux from La Bayadere.
Jane Kellaghan's Femme, to the music of Portishead, provided a nice contrast in style, while the welcome revival of Andrew Wilson's Zoku, was reproduced and danced by Alan Foley, with Anika Hendrikx and Rahman Enathally. I missed Kodo's drumming live on stage, but the piece worked, though surely it was conceived for three men? Its doorway was the sole setting, all else being acceptably presented before a cyclorama, well-lit by Paul Denby. An excellent start for the new professional company.
At the Town Hall Theatre, Galway, tonight
