VivieneTriad is a coming of age story choreographed by Kenneth MacMillan with music by Sergei Prokofiev. The bond between two brothers is tested when a girl comes between them. With the help of her gang, she is able to lure the older brother away while the gang beats up the younger brother. Eventually the older brother defends the younger one, but he ultimately succumbs to the girl’s charm. The climax comes with all three dancers at the end. What seems to start as a pas de deux turns into a pas de trois as the younger brother tries to intervene. There is some powerful imagery of the younger brother pushing himself between the two lovers, reminiscence of a child’s jealousy. We are left with the formidable image of the older brother and the girl laying together lovingly while the younger brother cries over them, mourning the loss of his childhood companion. This juxtaposition the beginning when it seemed like the older brother was in sorrow.
The stage was utilized thoroughly. I enjoyed how the stage was darker in the back which added an ominous depth and made the dancers seem like they were coming out of nowhere. Although there were some modern moves I feel as if the choreography is based in classical training, which is clear to see in the dancer’s technique. The legs were always straight and pointed. I saw a lot of piqué into turns and men plié -ing before giant jetés. Watching men partner with other men is a refreshing take because instead of just showing off the girls, the men must take on the challenge of keeping the audience entertained. Their dancing is more allegro compared to the woman’s more elegant, adagio movement. The men seem to interact with each other more by utilizing each other for balance.
Overall Triad is an enjoyable, emotional performance. As a beginner, it’s nice to see preconceived notions of ballet being changed. I used to think ballet as just dancing but now it’s clear that it’s an expression of emotion or story told through dancing.
