Paris Opera Ballet's "Red Carpet" Falls Flat Under Disneyfied Glamour

The Paris Opera Ballet's touring production of "Red Carpet" at New York City Center offered a jarring blend of classic French style and over-the-top, commercial dance spectacle. Choreographed by Hofesh Shechter, the work aimed to capture the raw energy of a rock concert but ultimately landed in a place of slick, monotonous predictability. The 75-minute performance was marked by an uneven development of choreography, with early sections of high-energy movement giving way to stagnant, stilted sequences. The show's themes of glamour and decay were reduced to a shallow, watered-down cabaret experience, with the dancers ultimately worshiping the centerpiece of the stage: a giant chandelier.

Key Takeaways:

• The Paris Opera Ballet's touring production of "Red Carpet" at New York City Center combined classic French style with commercial dance spectacle, resulting in a disjointed and monotonous experience.
• Choreographed by Hofesh Shechter, the work aimed to capture the raw energy of a rock concert but failed to deliver, instead landing in a place of slick, predictable movement.
• The 75-minute performance was marked by uneven development of choreography, with early sections of energetic movement giving way to stagnant, stilted sequences.
• The show's themes of glamour and decay were reduced to a shallow, watered-down cabaret experience, with the dancers worshiping the centerpiece of the stage: a giant chandelier.
• The Paris Opera Ballet's performance was notable for its lavish costumes by Chanel, which were in stark contrast to the more subdued, classic French style of the company.
• Hofesh Shechter's set and music design for "Red Carpet" were integral to the work, but ultimately failed to elevate the overall experience.
• The Paris Opera Ballet's decision to perform in socks rather than pointe shoes added a touch of informality to the evening, but ultimately felt forced and out of place.

Statistics:

• The Paris Opera Ballet's touring production of "Red Carpet" played for 75 minutes.
• The performance included a cast of 13 dancers, along with an onstage quartet and musicians.
• The set and music were designed by Hofesh Shechter, with lighting by Tom Visser.
• The lavish costumes were designed by Chanel, featuring sequins and other eye-catching details.
• The performance was notable for its emphasis on raw energy and spectacle, rather than traditional ballet technique.

Sources:

• The New York Times, October 2023
• Paris Opera Ballet official website
• Hofesh Shechter official website