Sarasota Ballet switches things up with ‘Moving Identities’

The Sarasota Ballet’s first program of 2018 is titled “Moving Identities.” The title’s significance isn’t immediately apparent from the selection of pieces in the performances: Paul Taylor’s modern classic “Airs,” Robert North’s acclaimed “Troy Game” and “Valsinhas,” a 2015 work by the ballet’s resident choreographer, Ricardo Graziano.

The evening’s title refers more to the way two of the three pieces are performed. “Valsinhas” and “Troy Games” are each being staged with two different casts. All-male casts and all-female casts will alternate performances. The choreography is the same, but the feeling and even the meaning of the two pieces should be drastically different depending on which performance you see. (Of course, the people at the ballet are hoping you’ll be intrigued enough to see a couple of performances to see that difference.)

“Airs,” the one dance on the program that will have the same cast for all six performances, is a modern dance work, and one of Taylor’s most-revered pieces. It is set to music by George Frideric Handel.

The Graziano piece premiered at the Sarasota Ballet’s 2015 “Theatre of Dreams” program. The balletic work has music by Franz Schubert performed by on-stage musicians.

“Troy Game” premiered in 1980, performed by London Contemporary Dance Theatre. It is known as an energetic and lighthearted but substantial piece that requires virtuosic dance. It is set to Brazilian-flavored music by Bob Downes.

Details: Jan. 26-29, Mertz Theatre at the FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 7:30 p.m. Friday and Monday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. $30-$120. 941-359-0099, sarasotaballet.org.

This story was originally published January 24, 2018 at 5:20 PM with the headline "Sarasota Ballet switches things up with ‘Moving Identities’."