BalletNEXT’s endeavor, ‘Between the Strings’ at the Rose Wagner Leona Black Box, presents a curious case. Not a gala, certainly, lacking the step-and-repeat red and requisite gala black, but a performance nonetheless. Michele Wiles, formerly of the American Ballet Theatre—a pedigree that carries weight, even this far west—has curated a program built upon layers of ‘transformation and growth,’ as if that weren’t mandatory for any artist attempting relevance. The inclusion of Falling In Reverse on the playlist, however, strikes a discordant note; one anticipates a more austere palette of flute-glass gold for a balletic setting. One suspects the audience will be primarily comprised of BalletNEXT’s dedicated subscribers, and perhaps a few curious souls venturing from the Kimball Art Center, seeking respite from gallery white walls. The reliance on past works—revisiting ‘Translucent Materials’ and ‘Between the Two’—suggests a certain…conservatism. And the involvement of Sienna Hopper from the Olympic Ballet Theatre, linking back to Wiles’ Kirov Academy days, speaks volumes about the insularity of the dance world. Though the promise of a live harpist performing Philip Glass is intriguing, the whole affair feels…contained. Not a place to be seen, precisely, but a respectable expenditure of an evening.
Verdict: Send a check but stay home.