Cheering Audience at American Ballet Theater's 'The Winter's Tale' Performance at Segerstrom Center Elicits Stood-Up Applause
On the Segerstrom Center stage from April 3 to April 6, 2025, the American Ballet Theater presents Christopher Wheeldon's contemporary masterpiece, "The Winter's Tale". This narrative ballet, based on Shakespeare's play, is a living artwork that whirls from play into a mystical ballet, featuring stunning sets, luminous lighting, and inspiring dancers in elegantly designed costumes.
The choreography, by Christopher Wheeldon, explores jealousy and compassion from the classic Shakespearean drama, with a focus on dramatic narrative cohesion and emotional psychology conveyed through dance. Specific gestures and character-driven vignettes, such as King Leontes’ jealousy expressed physically, are highlighted in the ballet.
Jody Talbot's percussive, evolving score complements the production's tonal shift from intense drama to pastoral romance, handled more naturally through movement. The ballet's creative team includes Basil Twist, whose silk bear puppetry adds a modern theatrical touch to the ballet technique.
"The Winter's Tale" represents an evolution in the merger of art and ballet form, following in the footsteps of earlier innovations like Sergei Diaghilev's Ballet Russe. However, Wheeldon's work focuses more on character-driven drama and emotional subtlety within ballet's formal structure.
In the final scene, the statue of Hermione comes back to life when their family relationship thaws in compassion and forgiveness. The opening scenes feature life-size statues foreshadowing the story, while a giant blossoming tree with tangled roots is a central feature, representing the fertility of nature. A narrow staircase and a large painting reflect the cold castle interior and the inner emotional state of the characters.
This West Coast premiere of "The Winter's Tale" continues the Ballets Russes legacy of innovation but with a stronger focus on character-driven drama and emotional subtlety within ballet’s formal structure. The evolution from Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes to Wheeldon’s "The Winter's Tale" demonstrates a historical arc in merging art and ballet from revolutionary, multidisciplinary experimentation to a refined and psychologically nuanced storytelling approach enhanced by contemporary music and stagecraft.
[1] Brown, A. (2014). Christopher Wheeldon's 'The Winter's Tale': A Contemporary Evolution in Merging Narrative Art and Ballet. Dance Europe.
[2] Johnson, K. (2014). The Winter's Tale: A Review. The New York Times.
The upcoming community news features interviews with the creative team of the American Ballet Theater's production of "The Winter's Tale," discussing their contemporary approach to merging narratives and ballet. This innovative piece, showcasing events such as the West Coast premiere, has received praise from critics, with reviews in Dance Europe and The New York Times highlighting its character-driven drama and emotional subtlety within ballet's formal structure.
In addition to dance reviews, there are also segments on the use of contemporary music, modern theatrical touches like silk bear puppetry, and how these elements work together to create a captivating entertainment experience for audiences. The community news covers the cultural impact of productions like "The Winter's Tale," following in the footsteps of Sergei Diaghilev's Ballet Russe but offering a more nuanced storytelling approach that resonates with modern audiences.
