NBT’s techniques examined in ‘Class’

Friday, March 26, 2004 | 8:25 a.m.

The production is among Nevada Ballet Theatre's three-part program "Classic Crossings" opening tonight at Judy Bayley Theatre on the UNLV campus.

"Classic Crossings" is a mix of contemporary and original works by Steivel, the company's artistic director, and Korean choreographer James Jeon from the innovative Seoul Ballet Theatre in South Korea.

Principal dancers Tess Hooley (who performed as Blanche in "A Streetcar Named Desire") and Zeb Nole are featured in "Line of Life," and Natalia Chapourskaya and Baris Erhan dance the pas d'action from Marius Petipa's classical ballet, "La Bayadere."

The production's highlight will be Jeon's "Variations for Twelve," inspired by composer Arnold Schoenberg's "Variations for Orchestra."

"This program is going to show the diversity in the dancers," Steivel said. "They stretch on the classical side and the physical. Technique-wise, it's very difficult for dancers."

Jeon, creator of the rock ballets "Being I," "Being II" and "Being III," worked with Nevada Ballet Theatre in 2002, when he presented "Inner Moves."

Steivel met Jeon eight years ago when he was former director of the Universal Ballet in Korea.

"He's a very musical choreographer," Steivel said. "Variations of Twelve," he said, is "very powerful, very strong."

"Classic Crossings" follows the contemporary production "A Streetcar Named Desire" choreographed by Mark Diamond.

Steivel created a piece similar to the class as a recital for the Nevada Ballet Theatre Academy, but this is the first time he's presented the production for general audiences.

"Basically, it's bits and pieces of what they do every day, stretches, excercises and jumps," Steivel said. "It just builds up and shows how a dancer progresses during the day."