For better or worse, Ravel’s “Boléro,” with its churning swell of sound, has stirred the imagination of artists over time, among them the choreographer Maurice Béjart and the ice dancing team of Torvill and Dean.
She takes revenge by transforming into a snake and chasing him until he perishes, burning to death as he tries to escape to the bell of the Dojoji temple.
Genkuro coaxes out the sinister notes of the score in a deranged but good way.
If you have to watch another dance to “Boléro,” this one, at least, is full of drama, danger and brittle, seething anger.
As the music builds so does Kiyohime’s rage, which Tokuyo illuminates with icy solemnity as the fire of passion is turned into despair and, ultimately, revenge.
Persons:
“, Maurice Béjart, Bo Derek —, Blake Edwards, Nihon, ”, Boléro, Hanayagi Genkuro, Azuma Tokuyo, Nakamura Kazutaro, Genkuro coaxes
Organizations:
Japan Society
Locations:
Dean, ”