October 9, 2002

Oakland Ballet
Fri/11-Sun/13, Paramount Theatre

TRADITIONALLY, ONE of Oakland Ballet's pillars has been its commitment to historical American ballets (in addition to its much-better-known devotion to Diaghilev-era repertoire). With the performance of Lew Christensen's dark 1942 Jinx last month, artistic director Karen Brown signaled that though she's pushing the company in new directions, she is also aware of its heritage. This concert features Agnes de Mille's rarely performed 1941 Three Virgins and a Devil, a piece that takes on religious hypocrisy. The devil will be danced by one of the Bay Area's great character dancers, Dennis Nahat – also known as the artistic director of Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley. Another coup in this week's program is Glory Fugue, a world premiere by one of today's hottest choreographers, Dwight Rhoden. Fugue is set to a medley of music by Mahalia Jackson, Nina Simone, and others. Completing this intriguing program is another world premiere, Dei sogni piacevoli, this one by the company's new ballet master, Luc de Lairesse, and set to baroque music, and Opus 45 (set to Béla Bartók), by Mexican choreographer Gloria Contreras – whom Balanchine encouraged to follow a choreographic career back in the 1960s when she was a wide-eyed ballerina. Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m., 2025 Broadway, Oakl. $15-$49. (510) 625-8947. (Rita Felciano)