The Boston Ballet

Close to Chuck Part 2

by Kaylynn Lum

March 5, 2014 

            What do you have when you mix ballet, modern, grey walls on wheels, and two pianos?

You have the second part of the ballet Close to Chuck. I’ve never seen anything like it. The entire performance was absolutely captivating. It drew you in closer to see all of the surprises hidden behind grey walls.

            This piece made you look for the next appearance, watch out for who was disappearing. It left dancers alone and lost. They had to look for their partner or just a friend. The piece was soft and light. It had a certain fluidity, as if water was passing threw one dancer to the next. The emotions were being poured into the dancers and flowing out onto the stage.

            The lights cast several shadows per dancer. There were dancers that weren’t on stage, but still seen because of the lighting. The music of this piece also, had fluidity and went well with the piece. The partner dances were amazing and strong. Each dancer knew where they fell and had great chemistry. The props used were the grey walls that they moved to reveal and conceal different people.

            The performance leaves us wondering. What we wonder depends on what you understood about the piece. Even if you think you know about every part of the dance, the chances are that you do not. There are so many complications and thoughts about what the dancers are trying to show. It’s up to the audience to find the meaning.