Got a second?

Had the pleasure this afternoon of attending a rehearsal of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. A motley crew of donors and friends of Ailey and City Center got to see a run-through of a new piece (before the world premiere!). And then, after notes, we had the chance to see it again, performed by the second cast - something one almost never has an opportunity to do, and certainly not back-to-back. You really see the individuality of the dancers, and the choreography, too. Strangely or perhaps not so strangely, I liked it a lot more the second time. I thought this was because I knew what to expect - it's not a piece for the ages - and because some of the dancers, notably the two leads, seemed more into it. I'd invited along my friend D, who works as a rehearsal pianist for the American Ballet Theater; he thought it was due to the fact that it was the second cast, who, he's found, consistently give more of themselves and so, paradoxically, come closer to what the choreographer intended. Interesting!