Congratulations to Caulfield School of Dance alumnus Ben Freemantle for his rave review inspiring performances with the San Fransisco Ballet Company this week at the Kennedy Center.
Sarah L. Kaufman, the Dance critic for The Washington Post praised the company: “while the San Francisco Ballet’s creative ambition and confidence are unmatched, it’s the sheer excellence of its dancers that makes the strongest statement,” and of all the dancers she singled Ben out for notice:
“McIntyre’s piece, “Your Flesh Shall Be a Great Poem,” stood apart in inviting lingering contemplation. A program note describes McIntyre’s fantasy of meeting his grandfather as a young man. An image of a solar eclipse introduced the idea of a portal through time, a bridge to the imagined past. This was echoed in the dancers’ floating quality, and there were many moments where I caught my breath. In one, lead dancer Benjamin Freemantle bounded into the air, and as his arms lagged compared with the speed of his descent, he seemed to fall through water….
“… and finally Freemantle tangled with a wooden footstool in a curious but oddly moving solo, in his boxers, with the moon looming behind him. Aging, solitude and grace were gathered gently together, with an exquisitely light touch, and the effect was like vapors in an updraft.”
Good luck for your remaining performances at the Kennedy Center, Ben!