Art Smitten: Reviews - 2016

Guernica is a two-act ballet inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, set against the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War in the nineteen-thirties. The Melbourne Ballet Company’s resident choreographer Simon Hoy brought his unique style of contemporary ballet combined with Prokofiev’s powerful original score. Guernica is part of the Company’s 2016 Premiere Season Intention and Desire. The body of work was inspired by the messages within Picasso’s famous mural of the same name.   You will not get a cheap version of mainstream productions with the Melbourne Ballet Company. All of the dancers, handpicked by the directors, developed their skills with the likes of the Paris Opera Ballet, Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet New York, West Australian Ballet and the Australian Ballet School. The Company’s newest dancer and leading lady Gemma Pearse was a highlight on opening night. Her portrayal of Juanita, a young Basque woman, delivered on the youthful innocence of the original