Dance’s ‘Tour de Force III,’ at the Segerstrom on Saturday, certainly is that
To mark its 30th year, the Segerstrom Center for the Arts will welcome the world’s top dancers and choreographers.
The dance show known as “Tour de Force III” will be presented at Segerstrom Hall on Saturday night — in honor of the center’s dance program — and will feature performances by leading principal dancers Natalia Osipova, Marcelo Gomes, Joaquin de Luz, Denis Matvienko, Philipp Stepin, Friedemann Vogel and Sergei Polunin.
“In the beginning, we weren’t sure if there was an audience for dance in Orange County,” said Judy Morr, Segerstrom Center’s executive vice president and principal dance programmer.
“Thirty years ago, it was very new and it began as a small introduction to dance, but as years passed, we felt comfortable adding tried-and-true and more experimental works,” Morr said. “It’s our responsibility to change with the community and present works that are of interest and received by everyone.”
“Tour de Force III” — the first show started in 2009 and the second in 2011 — will open with Vladimir Varnava’s “Clay,” which marked its world premiere in March 2015 at Russia’s Mariinsky Theatre.
Following that will be “Tristesse,” a dance that depicts, through movement, the emotional highs and lows of male friendships. Its choreographer, Marcelo Gomes, has appeared at the Segerstrom Center many times, most notably with the recent world premiere of American Ballet Theatre’s new production of “The Sleeping Beauty.”
Gomes, a principal dancer with ABT, has performed in every full-length classical ballet in the company’s repertoire, including “Romeo and Juliet,” “Swan Lake” and “Don Quixote.”
“The work Marcelo Gomes is doing began when he was here a couple years ago with the company,” Morr said. “It was so much fun to watch it. It’s like watching a child grow up.”
The program will showcase choreographer Maxim Petrov’s “Le Divertissement du Roi,” a ballet with a baroque theme that features members of the Mariinsky Ballet, led by Phillip Stepin in the role of King Louis XIV.
The evening will close with Royal Ballet’s Natalia Osipova and Sergei Polunin headlining British choreographer Russell Maliphant’s “Silent Echo,” a preview of a complete program titled “Natalia Osipova and Artists,” which will be premiered at New York City Center in November.
Polunin, who will mark his West Coast debut, and Osipova have been called dance’s “golden couple” by critics. The two danced the world premiere of British choreographer Russell Maliphant’s “Silent Echo” in June at the Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London.
Osipova has performed at the Segerstrom Center many times, including in Tour de Force I and II and the shows “Solo for Two” and “Reflections” — which was created by the center and Ardani Artists, a New York-based producing agency, to showcase leading prima ballerinas who trained with the Bolshoi Ballet.
“It’s one of my favorite places in the world,” Osipova, 30, said of the center.
When performing, Osipova said she is trying to communicate her feelings and relationship with her roles. Today, she is more interested in modern and contemporary choreography, feeling that it offers a greater means of conveying emotions to the audience.
She is not finished with classical ballet, she said, but there is room for a new passion.
“You get more mature, more experienced and always able to bring new feelings into old roles,” Osipova said.
The dance gala is going through a few casting changes. Edward Watson, who was scheduled to dance with Osipova in Alastair Marriott’s “Zeitgeist,” was unable to perform.
Diana Vishneva, who was to perform the role of The King in “Le Divertissement du Roi,” withdrew from the series because of an injury. Mariinksy Ballet soloist Philipp Stepin will take her place.
“It’s a great night of fun,” Morr said. “The pieces showcase incredible athletic abilities, and it is challenging and exciting but an honor to be apart of it.”
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If You Go
What: “Tour de Force III”
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa
Cost: Tickets start at $29
Information: (714) 556-2787 or visit scfta.org
Twitter: @KathleenLuppi
