Ballet Taos channels the summer zeitgeist with 'ATOMIC'

Debbie Harry, the lead singer for the American rockers Blondie and the 80s song "Atomic" from her fourth studio album, inspired an outpouring of new work from Jock Soto, principal dancer New York City Ballet (NYCB), Eagle Nest resident and Ballet Taos guest faculty member. Harry is an old friend of Soto’s from his big city days, even attending his marriage to Luis Fuentes. Soto is “inspired fun” full immersion this summer — exploring and challenging Ballet Taos dancers with moving contemporary music and edgy choreography never shared before now.

Atomic

Oh-oh, atomic

Oh-oh

Ballet Taos’s artistic director Megan Yackovich revealed the timing of "ATOMIC" premiering within weeks of the opening of "Oppenheimer," a film about American scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer and his role in the development of the atomic bomb — is just Ballet Taos channelling the summer zeitgeist. “It is an intriguing collision, no pun. We don’t split atoms on stage.” (Or do they?)

Split is an opportunity to experience classical and contemporary ballet in one show.

“Part I: ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ is a hilarious ballet based on Shakespeare’s comedy about romantic adventures, quarrels, and the reuniting of two pairs of mortal lovers. Part II: ‘ATOMIC,’ is the world debut of Jock Soto’s new ballet, full of 80s nostalgia, radical technique and gnarly choreography.”

Yackovich forwarded Tempo exclusive footage of the stripped down rehearsals performed in a small room with Marley floors and a boombox feel — Billy Idol’s "Eyes without a Face" and Annie Lennox’s "Why" juxtaposed with choreography so poignant it catapults the vintage vinyl into the ethereal realm. Casting aside notions of reining in the emotional potency of the lyrics. Rich with context — the dancers step up.

This is the book I never read

These are the words I never said

This is the path I'll never tread

These are the dreams I'll dream instead

Why

And "Eyes Without a Face," Soto revealed, is autobiographical, a moving montage, scintillating, spiraling through the emotionally transactional vacuum of the New York City gay bar scene.

(Les yeux sans visage)

Eyes without a face

Got no human grace

Once the youngest principal in the history of the New York City Ballet, Soto is a legend in the ballet world and he’s eager to share his midnight epiphanies, not resting on his laurels, creating at a feverish pace, teaching nonstop, and pushing the edge of what is possible. In his final performance with New York City Ballet, a creative crucible for the artist for nearly a quarter of a century, Soto danced a suite of five ballets by five visionary choreographers, from Balanchine to Robbins — Full circle, Atomic Split is a deeply personal journey with no off ramps. With "ATOMIC," Soto has become a visionary.

Ballet Taos Summer Company Project is supported by The National Endowment for the Arts, NMArts, and the Taos community.

Here are opportunities this summer to see "ATOMIC Split."

SIDEBAR

The Ballet Taos Summer Company Performance Schedule:

Thursday Aug. 3 at 6 p.m. at Taos Community Auditorium (TCA) 145 Paseo del Pueblo Norte. Excerpts from "ATOMIC" will be performed to launch the Taos Gay Pride Film Festival.

Friday morning, Aug. 4, marks the final in a series of morning classes with Nikoloz Makhatelli from 10 a.m. to noon. Open to advanced level dancers.

Sunday, August 6

Free classes for the community followed by a free performance of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and "ATOMIC." All day at Moving Arts Española, 368 Eagle Drive, Ohkay Owingeh.

Wednesday, Aug. 9 Ballet Taos Annual Benefit

And the summer’s grand finale is the Ballet Taos Annual Benefit. Wednesday Aug. 9 at 6 p.m. at the Wildflower Playhouse, 1339 Paseo del Pueblo Sur — It is a frolicking fun evening of live 70s and 80s music, dance and film. And culinary delights and libations prepared by Chefs Luis Fuentes and Rhea Fullbright. Yackovich revealed the event helps "eliminate income barriers to the arts and ensure the future of dance in Northern New Mexico. Ballet Taos is a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Performing Arts Organization that boasts a professional company and pre-professional training academy serving our communities through live performance, dance education and outreach initiatives in our schools. Join us for our annual fundraising performance and celebration to benefit Ballet Taos. MOVE and be moved! Your ticket purchase helps to fund our noncompetitive financial need-based scholarships and our 2023-24 performance season."

The benefit is an opportunity to come dressed in your 80s best. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. to the gallery space of the Wildflower Playhouse for a pre-prom cocktail hour with hors d'oeuvres prepared by Chef Luis Fuentes, an open dance floor, and DJ Luna rocking the house. Extraordinary dance photography prints and canvases of Ballet Taos professionals will be on display for purchase through a silent auction. At 6:45 p.m., guests will gather in the theater for a live performance of excerpts from Jock’s new contemporary ballet "ATOMIC," performed by Ballet Taos professional guest artists. Following the performances, a short film, a behind the scenes look at Ballet Taos Summer Company Project 2023, and a Q&A with host Jock Soto.

For tickets and information details, visit ballettaos.com.

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