INTERVIEW: Tolstoy’s ‘Anna Karenina’ inspires new dance work
Leo Tolstoy’s classic work Anna Karenina has been celebrated in literary form for more than 100 years, and now it is set to hit the dance stage thanks to Dusan Týnek Dance Theatre. The choreographer, in collaboration with City University of New York Dance Initiative and John Jay College, will present Anna Feb. 16 and 17 at 7:30 p.m. at the Gerald Lynch Theater at John Jay College in Midtown Manhattan.
The evening-length piece is billed as an exploration of love and infidelity that focuses on the themes of the novel rather than specific plot points. Aleksandra Vrebalov offers an original composition for the piece, and Roderick Murray has designed the lighting.
Týnek is an accomplished choreographer who blends humanism, theatricality and musicality. His company is celebrating its 15th anniversary this season, and in that time, the dance-maker has choreographed more than 25 major dances.
Recently, Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with Týnek. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
What prompted you to use Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina as inspiration for Anna?
The initial idea came from a meeting with the composer Aleksandra Vrebalov about six years ago. We had already created a number of shorter pieces, but our common goal was to create a full evening-length dance together. We both loved the novel and felt that its story and characters were relatable and timely and could serve as the starting point for an intriguing original work.
Did your choreography come before or after Aleksandra Vrebalov’s original composition was created?
This was a departure from our previous collaborations as the choreography preceded the musical score. We have had ongoing dialogue for years where we worked out the structure and feel of the dance and its individual sections. We have been constantly sending each other material and trying to adjust our creations, so all parts can work together seamlessly.
Did you cut many stories or characters from the novel?
The dance is not a literal interpretation of the novel, so it is not a question of leaving out stories or characters. We tried to distill the essence of the novel and the relationships between men and women in particular. Some of the main characters like Anna, Kitty, Vronsky, Karenin and Levin and their interactions informed some of the structure of the dance. There are hints of the narrative, but for those who are not familiar with the novel, the narrative and drama of the dance can still be enjoyed.
Do you hope to tour Anna after is world-premiere engagement at John Jay College?
Actually, we are taking the dance to Florida a couple of days after the premiere and hope there will be many other opportunities to tour it elsewhere.
How challenging is the piece from the dancer’s perspective? Is it very physical?
In general, my work is very physical, technical and always a great challenge to perform. Since I don’t have a large ballet company at my disposal, my dancers all get a lot of stage time.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Anna will play Feb. 16-17 at the Gerald Lynch Theater at John Jay College in Midtown Manhattan. Click here for more information and tickets.
