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Nov. 23, 2007
Mixing genres for the ballet
Avichai Scher is performing in Ballet B.C.'s Elemental Brubeck.
JULIA NAIM-SCHRIVER
At six years of age, Ballet British Columbia's guest dancer and choreographer, Avichai Scher, was told that he had talent. At the age of seven, he auditioned for the London School of Ballet and was accepted.
Scher was born in New York City yet spent his primary school years growing up in Israel, in Orthodox surroundings. Although the young dancer received little encouragement from the Orthodox community, he did receive praise and encouragement from his teachers and parents, and attributes his South African dance teacher in Israel with providing him a good foundation in dance.
"In Israel, I was the special thing," said Scher. "It was a good way to start my career, by feeling unique and very encouraged by the people around me. When I went back to New York, I was confronted with this huge school and tons of talented dancers. Being in Israel was good for me because even though it wasn't the norm for a boy to dance ballet, especially not in the Orthodox community, it didn't deter me. It taught me that doing what you want to do doesn't come easily."
Scher will be performing in Ballet B.C.'s Canadian première of Elemental Brubeck this month at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. This accomplished and talented young dancer has been performing professionally since the age of 18. The eight different ballet companies
Scher has danced for include the Chicago-based Joffrey Ballet, the Washington Ballet and the Los Angeles Ballet. Just recently, Scher toured the United Kingdom and Ireland for three months with the European Ballet and he performed the lead role of Franz in Coppélia.
A former student of the School of American Ballet located at New York City's Lincoln Centre, Scher has choreographed more than two-dozen pieces, many of them performed by the American Ballet Studio Co. in New York, the San Francisco Ballet School, the New York Choreographic Institute, as well as the Washington Ballet.
His choreographic talent was lauded by Dance Magazine in 2005 when they named him one of the "25 to Watch" – an annual forecasting list that names artists who display the potential required to become dance's next idols. This 22- year-old dancer and choreographer has created more than 20 ballets, in a career he began at the tender age of 16, when he put together his first work for the School of American Ballet.
Lar Lubovitch, the American choreographer of Elemental Brubeck, in which Scher is currently performing, has been greatly influenced by Broadway musicals and combines aspects of bebop and early 20th-century American dance. The musical beat has received promising reviews as being modern, lively and contemporary. This enthusiastic display evokes memories of some of the greatest moments of American dance on film, celebrated by dancers such as Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly and Bob Fosse.
The musical choice for Elemental Brubeck makes a statement about the ballet's content. The choreographer wanted to set his ballet to jazz music.
"Jazz is so American and I wanted to make an American statement," said Lubovitch. Most of the ballet consists of a series of solos that blend bebop, contemporary dance movement, funky jazz moves, lyrical passages, balletic leaps, bold athleticism and sheer sexiness.
Scher said he really enjoys the music: "It's very upbeat, very fun, it's easy. The music pulls you along."
When asked about his future, Scher admitted that, as a dancer, it is hard to plan more than six months ahead and that anything is possible. Scher has no immediate plans to return to Israel, but admits it might be nice to go back one day and work with the Batsheva Dance Co. Scher is in Vancouver for the remainder of the ballet season, which runs to the end of April.
Ballet B.C. was established in 1986. The company performs throughout the year at numerous venues, including tours to communities throughout Metro Vancouver, around the province, as well as nationally. The company retains 18 full-time professional dancers, led by artistic director John Alleyne. Ballet B.C. dedicates the performance of Elemental Brubeck to the Canada Council for the Arts in honor of its 50th anniversary.
Julia Naim-Schriver is a Vancouver freelance writer.
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