Ghostly Presence
Olga Smirnova and Daniel Camargo, with American Ballet Theatre
After Giselle, with Olga Smirnova and Daniel Camargo, at ABT. A beautiful, very pure performance. Their connection was very touching—they seemed quite absorbed in one another. And then they took this connection to an even deeper level in the second act pdd, where it became almost depersonalized, as if they were swimming in the same ocean. Also, an excellent supporting cast: elegant, light, precise Léa Fleytoux and Jake Roxander in the peasant pas; Joseph Markey as Hilarion (touching! why is he always the jilted one?); Susan Jones as Berthe, full of warmth; Sierra Armstrong as Zulma (musical, assured); and Chloe Misseldine as Myrtha, still, cold, authoritative and somehow ethereal at the same time. I plan to think and write about this more for the Hudson Review.
I was there last night too. Smirnova was beautiful to watch - she just flowed. Daniel Camargwo as solid. What you write about Misseldine caught my attention: "Chloe Misseldine as Myrtha, still, cold, authoritative and somehow ethereal at the same time." I made a point to see her in Swan Lake 2 or so weeks ago. She is extremely talented but between her Swan Lake performance and last night's, I left the Met wondering if those qualities in her dancing that make me feel the way you described, can change over time? I wonder if dancers can 'warm up' as they mature throughout these critical years, or if life is somewhat cruel, as in classical music, where you either have 'it' or you don't. Is it the Vaganova training from an early age that demands a different kind of emotional training? (Nature vs nurture?) I hope the ABT continues to bring in guest dancers of this caliber. It seemed to ignite the company.