ABT Reveals Rabbit and Rogue, Revives Etudes

The tried and the new

Comments (0) By Ann Haskins Tuesday, Aug 5 2008

Rosalie O’Connor

Rosalie O�Connor

Twyla Tharp�s Rabbit and Rogue

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Twyla Tharp’s Rabbit and Rogue

Film composer Danny Elfman, costume designer Norma Kamali and choreographer Twyla Tharp are the marquee names responsible for the intriguingly titled Rabbit and Rogue. Recently premiered in New York, Rabbit and Rogue arrives with two alternating casts of American Ballet Theatre stars. This marks Tharp’s 15th work for ABT, and it shares the program here with an old favorite, Harald Landers’ popular Etudes, that has been absent from ABT’s local programming in recent years. The piece builds from very basic ballet steps to a crowd-pleasing climax that involves dancers crisscrossing the stage with giant leaps and turns, the terpsichorean equivalent of fireworks. Some critics have carped that Etudes is not great art, but its legions of fans will attest that it is great, thrilling fun. To see a video clip, click here. Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa; Thurs.-Sat., Aug. 7-9, 7:30 p.m.; Sat.-Sun., Aug. 9-10, 2 p.m., $25-95. (714) 556-2787 or www.ocpac.org.