Nevada Ballet off to delightful start

The whirlwind of energy of "Timeless Innovation," Nevada Ballet Theatre's season premiere, left the audience at UNLV's Artemus Ham Hall intrigued and entranced.

George Balanchine's "Rubies," set to Igor Stravinsky's "Capriccio," was a treatise in jazzy eloquence. It is part of Balanchine's "Jewels," which premiered in 1967 and was groundbreaking at the time. It still feels that way.

The sparkling red costumes enhanced the fast-paced dancing. The stage exploded with a flurry of arms at angles, wrists twisting, legs kicking and bodies bouncing.

Artistic director James Canfield's "Coco," the second ballet on the program, was the highlight of the afternoon. The music of Edith Piaf helped to create the illusion of Paris as her captivating voice aptly underscored famed fashion designer Coco Chanel's life. Rebecca Brimhall danced the role with stunning grace. Her bearing and talent made her the perfect Coco.

Canfield understands the emotional joy of the familiar classics of ballet. And he wisely brings the same drama, longing and fantasy into his own innovative work. But "Coco" ended too soon.

The final piece, Canfield's pulse-throbbing "Jungle," was a dramatic contrast. Striking costumes and a startling rich backdrop by Tom Cramer, intense world beat rhythms by innovative British music group Future Sound of London and breathtaking dancing meshed into a dazzling portrait of jungle life. The solos were powerful, with each gesture portraying strength and mystery.

In its 38th season, Nevada Ballet Theatre took a great risk as it explored new vistas of dance. Fortunately, the company proved it has the skill and professionalism to pull it off. Innovation is timeless when it is delightful.