Twyla Tharp's Sinatra Suite: Marcelo Gomes and Luciana Paris

I'm so excited to begin sharing some of my favorite things with you: hope you enjoy this first installment!

This is the Sinatra Suite, created by prominent American dancer and choreographer Twyla Tharp in April 1984. Marcelo Gomes, American Ballet Theatre (ABT) principal, and Luciana Paris, ABT corps de ballet member, are dancing this particular performance at the 2008 Kennedy Center Honors, in which Tharp was an honoree.

In this particular performance, the suite is cut from five to three songs, due, I assume to time restraints and other issues that accompany television broadcasts. It's a shame, but I find the performance remains logical as far as the storyline goes. Most importantly, it feels to me in no way incomplete as a piece of both art and storytelling.

For some ballet connoisseurs, you may be wondering why I didn't choose the ever-so-famous Baryshnikov-Kudo performance. While I love that as well, it was this particular performance and video that introduced me to the fabulous Frank Sinatra. I can't help but show a childlike preference to the first performance I've seen for this particular suite, especially now that it has fond memories (I credit my love of Sinatra to this very YouTube video!) attached. Also, although I promise I do see Baryshnikov and Kudo's brilliance, I do enjoy the more modern style Gomes and Paris perform with here. I take a stronger liking to Gomes and Paris's acting as well: I appreciate especially Paris's incredible performance and expressions that are so appropriate to this work.

I adore this performance and the brilliance that Twyla Tharp, Marcelo Gomes, and Luciana Paris have created here. Once again, this performance is where I discovered Frank Sinatra, so, perhaps sillily, it holds a special place in my heart! I've fallen in love with the ballet/ballroom/modern style of dance showcased here, that brings us so lovingly back to the Sinatra era. Additionally, I love the effort Tharp committed to focusing on a single couple and their experience in life together. As I watch the performance for maybe the hundredth time, I still can't help but to be awed by Sinatra's unique voice and remarkable diction, as well as the distinct brilliance of Tharp's choreography. That, combined with Gomes and Paris's unforgettable performance, creates a thrilling work of art that never fails to take my breath away.

Whether this is a familiar performance or suite to you, or if you have never heard Frank Sinatra or seen anything even close to this style of dance, I hope you enjoy this as much as I did! Please click on the words at the top of the video to see it slightly larger in a new window!

Sources and Further Reading:
http://www.abt.org/dancers/default.asp
http://www.twylatharp.org/archive/dance_page.asp?danceSelected=82#
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twyla_Tharp