American Contemporary Ballet's THE RITE

Written by Jesus Figueroa @ThisFunktional

American Contemporary Ballet take audiences through a journey of sacrifice in “The Rite and Burlesque,” performances going on now through October28.

Ballet does not usually inspire fear, ACB and Director Lincoln Jones bring a bewitching performance of “The Rite” ballet and a Lynchian burlesque show to Los Angeles starting on October6.

“The Rite,” ACB’s adaptation of Igor Stravinsky's “The Rite of Spring,” hopes to inspire a frightening performance straight through as it immerses the audience in a world inhabited by bewitching young women – one chosen, one sacrificed – and the scorethatcausedariotin1913Paris.

As the start to the three short performances, and the longest of the three, “The Rite” enchants attendees as they are immersed into the plot of rituals and sacrifice.

“Plot with ballet is a difficult thing, ” Jones said. “It becomes more difficult in the fact that ballet’s subject matter is dancing. Plot can be sort of an uncomfortable partner there,” Unlike with different elements of film, conveying everything successfully through just movement can be limiting.

Creating storyline through more symbolic means in ballet have not been explored too much traditionally. For Jones, the Lynchian style lends itself to bringing out story elements using this film style.

“‘The Rite,’ is based on ‘The Rite of Spring,’ it has a really good plot device which is that it’s based on the human sacrifice,” Jones said. “You know what is going to happen essentially and the audiences is already there.”

With elements of the story already in the mind of the audience, the ballet can play upon how it happens.

For the most part, most of the dancers have been training with ACB for years and have been working together with directors and choreographers giving everyone trust in each other.

“[One of] the first thing created in a ballet generally is the music,” Jones said. “Everyone responds to music differently. What I see in my mind when I hear this score and I think of the idea of sacrifice and what is interesting to me is it’s natural that this work is different.”

“The Rite” brought forth a witch vibe to enhance the mood during this spooky season production.

It took a short time to develop choreography and pre production for “The Rite,” but allowing flexibility to adapt depending on how the vision of the director and the look of the physical dancers came together.

“My idea with the October performances has always been to have multiple performances, like a double feature,” Jones said.

Composer Charles Wuorinen helped inspire how the different components came together.

The first two are intense in different manners that play with the expectations of the audience.

“The Rite” and “Burlesque” balance each other while playing with the unknown.

A third performance finishes up the night which is sure to surprise those in attendance.

American Contemporary Ballet presents "The Rite & Burlesque:" October6-28

Tickets: $65-$140; opening night champagne reception Performance Venue: Two California Plaza 350 S. Grand Ave., 28th Floor, LosAngeles,CA90071

For more information on American Contemporary Ballet or to buy tickets to “TheRite” go to ACBDances.com