Choreographer Donna Greenberg brings the beauty and complexity of Johann Sebastian Bach’s music to life through an intricate and sensual ballet danced by members of Ballet Espressivo. The superbly executed dancing is a stunning representation of the genius of Johann Sebastian Bach’s The Art of the Fugue: Contrapunctus No. 6 f and portrays the soul of his music. The brilliantly executed film allows the viewer an intimacy with the dancers that is impossible in a live performance and a greater appreciation of both the dance and the music.

This film captures the beauty and clarity of this music, brings to life through dance, the music’s four individual voices here represented by four dancers and reflects the character, expressiveness and rhythm of the music. Since one finds it difficult to hear all of the individual voices at all times in the music, it was essential that this be choreographed as four solos – each dancer following a specific musical line. The excitement and harmony comes about by the interplay of the four dancers. Movement vocabulary includes that of the eighteenth-century ballet and classical ballet, bringing back long-forgotten steps and choreographic principles These steps, shapes and contours of the dancers’ lines combine with modern technique to create a unique, expressive and compelling personal language.

Based on the research of eighteenth-century ballet scholar and Torontonian, Edmund Fairfax, the steps used belong to what was then known as the half-serious or demi-caractère style which is closest to the petit allegro of modern ballet. (Read more about this in his wonderful book The Styles of Eighteenth Century Ballet, Scarecrow Press, 2003).

Of utmost importance in any rendition of the Art of Fugue is that the four lines be clearly articulated. Of equal importance is artistic sensibility, phrasing, and in the case of multiple dancers, true ensemble work.

Choreographer: Donna Greenberg

Dancers from Ballet Espressivo: Kalie Hunter, Marissa Parzei,Anton Pasquarella,

Jarvi Raudsepp

Repetiteurs: Edmund Fairfax, Donna Greenberg, Anton Pasquarella

Eighteenth-Century Ballet Consultant: Edmund Fairfax

Videographer: Martin Weinhold

Lighting Designer:Robin Dutt

Editor: Hal Swann

Music: Johann Sebastian Bach: The Art of the Fugue, Fugue VI (in stile francese)

Performed by:Winston Choi, CBC: Music Around Us, July 23, 2006

Producer: Donna Greenberg

Assistant Director:Edmund Fairfax

Director:Donna Greenberg