May 20, 2010: Black & White at the Boston Ballet

>> Emily: AND A VERY LIMITED RUN
LAST YEAR, BOSTON BALLET
PRESENTED THE U.S. PREMIERE OF A
CONTEMPORARY DANCE PROGRAM
CALLED "BLACK AND WHITE."
IT WAS MET WITH RAVE REVIEWS.
NOW, IN A RARE MOVE THE COMPANY
HAS BROUGHT IT BACK FOR A
TWO-WEEK ENGAGEMENT BEGINNING
TONIGHT.
JARED BOWEN REPORTS.
>> Reporter: CONSIDER IT A
SKETCH BOOK, WE ARE LEFT TO DRAW
OUR OWN IMPRESSIONS.
>> I'D LIKE TO THINK THAT THE
AUDIENCE SHOULD LET THEIR
IMAGINATION RUN FREELY.
ßß
>> IT GIVES YOU MUCH MORE
LIBERTY IN I GUESS THE
SELF-DISCOVERY WITHIN THE WORK.
>> Reporter: A CONTEMPORARY
WORK, "BLACK AND WHITE," IS
RADICALLY DIFFERENT FROM THE
CLASSICAL PROGRAMMING.
THERE IS NO STORY LINE.
NO SET.
IT'S JUST RIGOROUS, FRESH DANCE.
ßß
>> I DIDN'T KNOW HOW PEOPLE ARE
GOING TO REACT.
THIS IS NOT YOUR EVERYDAY STUFF.
IT'S QUITE EXTREME.
>> Reporter: A FIVE-BALLET
PROGRAM, IT MOVES FROM THE
EROTIC TO THE COMEDIC, TO THE
FLUID, TO THE FORCEFUL.
>> ONE PIECE IS ABOUT WHAT
HAPPENS WHEN THERE'S A MAN AND A
WOMAN AND THINGS TAKE PLACE AND
THE INITIAL PIECE IS VERY MUCH
LIKE ANIMALISTIC PART.
ßß
>> IT'S ABOUT SENSUALITY.
IT'S ABOUT EROTICISM, BUT IN A
VERY SUBTLE WAY.
THE TITLE ITSELF MEANS LITTLE
DEATH, WHICH IS A EUPHEMISM FOR
ORGASM.
>> Reporter: "BLACK AND WHITE"
IS THE CREATION OF EVER PROLIFIC
CZECH CHOREOGRAPHER, A MAN THAT
IS CONSIDERED AMONG THE GREATEST
CONTEMPORARY DANCE ARTISTS.
>> HE'S TOUCHING THE HEAVENS,
YOU KNOW, IN SUCH A BEAUTIFUL
WAY.
IT'S GREAT HONOR TO LIVE AT THE
SAME TIME.
ßß
>> Reporter: KILLIAN IS FIERCELY
PROTECTIVE OF HIS WORK WHICH IS
WHY IT'S A TRIUMPH FOR BOSTON
BALLET TO SHOW IT.
BOSTON IS THE ONLY COMPANY
OUTSIDE OF KILLIAN'S OWN IN THE
NETHERLANDS TO STAGE "BLACK AND
WHITE."
HIS COLLEAGUE, ROSALYN ANDERSON
SAYS THAT THE COMPANY EARNED IT.
>> GREAT, GREAT QUALITY.
GREAT QUALITY.
GREAT DANCERS.
EVERYTHING -- EVERYTHING THAT
SURROUNDS THE PRODUCTION
ELEMENTS HAS BEEN EXQUISITE.
>> Reporter: FOR DANCERS LIKE
SOLOIST JOHN LAMB IT IS MORE OF
A CHALLENGE.
BUT A WELCOME ONE SINCE THE WORK
PUSHES THE BOUNDS OF EXPERIENCE
AND HIS OWN.
>> THE EXPECTATION IS JUST SO
MUCH HIGHER NOW.
EVERY YEAR IT JUST OUTBIDS
ITSELF.
IT'S LIKE HIGHER LEGS, MORE --
HIGHER JUMPS, MORE TURNS.
ßß
I HAVE NEVER TRIED TO DANCE THE
KIND OF REPERTOIRE THAT WE HAVE.
SO THEY ARE GETTING SPOILED, BUT
THEY ARE GETTING HONED.
I EXPOSE MY AUDIENCE TO WORKS
BUT I EXPERIENCE THE DANCERS
THROUGH THE WORKS.
>> Reporter: AND IT'S A MODERN
PORTRAIT.
>> Emily: "BLACK AND WHITE" IS
PLAYING THROUGH THE 30th AT THE
OPERA HOUSE.
THAT IT IS FOR "GREATER BOSTON".