Orpheum Theater: Complexions Contemporary Ballet: Love Rocks

 I very much enjoyed the ballet of Contemporary Ballet and its love dances.  It is based on music by Lenny Kravitz.  There is early on a version of Amazing Grace which is very well done.  The singing was in a very low register.  There was a dancer who began the entire dance with an a'capella introduction, but his dance was very powerful throughout.  The last song was Lenny Kravitz' "Here to Love."  The combination of music and dance was very effective.  There were eight men and six women, so a couple times men were partnered with men.

Sugar Skull at Orpheum Theater

Sugar Skull tells the story of a young woman who has had enough of Day of the dead and would rather just celebrate Halloween.  Her mother is disappointed with her lack of preparations of the ofrenda, but the dead help her.  This includes Sugar Skull who becomes her guide.  She is looking for her abuela to add the final touches and to teach her how to confront the Coco monster.  

I enjoyed the relationship between the girl and her mother.  Coco turned out to be a big puppet controlled with two sticks and then something to hold the middle.  I also really enjoyed the Viejito dance which I had practiced the day before.  However the actors had much more energy and skill that I.  The climax is when the young woman finally meets her grandmother.  She hopes to learn how to defeat Coco, and grandmother tells her the key is to not fear death.  Sugar Skull actually is death.

I had a great time.