The Joffrey Lavishly, Passionately Dances “Anna Karenina”

By D’Arcy Mies with Wes Hessel

Chicago’s own world-class dance troupe presents another magnificent production, this time an adaptation of the Tolstoy novel “Anna Karenina” by Yuri Possokhov. Debuted in 2019 to significant critical acclaim, Mr. Possokhov’s work is given the full passion and grandeur as only The Joffrey can. And the location of the Civic Opera House is just magical, with the grand staircases, vaulted ceilings, and ornate detailing – you are in another world the moment you cross the threshold.

The show starts with a single dancer onstage, swinging a lantern in the dark.  The lantern becomes a train, and the stage transforms into a busy train station, site of the tragic accident which begins the story. The costumes are lush and lavish, very much capturing the mood and period: mostly dark, with pops of color. Most of the stage dressing is done very inventively with scrims and frames of different sizes, combined with great use of projections, silhouettes, and other lighting.

As one would expect, the movement is so strong and graceful, while also clearly telling the story, dance and drama working hand-in-hand. The dancer who portrays the title character has a very unique style, so limber and lithe, moving in a way that shows she fully inhabits the role. This show also has a lot of masculine energy, with many roles for men – the soldiers getting ready for their day, and the farmers raking hay are particularly enjoyable.

The orchestra plays divinely; the opera singer as the voice of Anna is haunting and unforgettable. Even though it is a heavy story, a secondary relationship in the ballet allows it to end on a high note of pastoral agrarian bliss, similar to a happy marriage at the end of a Shakespeare comedy. “Anna Karenina” is one not to miss – it leaves an impression that will not soon be forgotten: emotional, lyrical, and nuanced. Joffrey does state their support for the Ukraine and a Ukrainian orchestral piece was played at the beginning of the show. This production only runs until February 26th, so please visit www.joffrey.org for tickets or more information.

Category: Articles, Community News, In Case You Missed It, Open Forum, Opinions, This and That, Uncategorized