Photos: Courtesy of Birmingham Royal Ballet, Ballet West and Jessica Lang Dance
1: Artists of Birmingham Royal Ballet performing Lyric Pieces. Photo: Roy Smiljanic
2: Artists of Birmingham Royal Ballet performing Lyric Pieces. Photo: Bill Cooper
3: Artists of Birmingham Royal Ballet performing Lyric Pieces. Dancers: Jenna Roberts, Iain MacKay. Photo: Roy Smiljanic
4: Artists of Birmingham Royal Ballet performing Lyric Pieces. Dancer: William Bracewell. Photo: Bill Cooper
5: Artists of Birmingham Royal Ballet performing Lyric Pieces. Dancer: Yvette Knight. Photo: Roy Smiljanic
6: Artists of Birmingham Royal Ballet performing Lyric Pieces. Photo: Roy Smiljanic
7: Ballet West performing Lyric Pieces. Dancers: Chase O'Connell, Beau Pearson. Photo: Francisco Kjolseth
8-9: Jessica Lang Dance performing Lyric Pieces. Photo: Christopher Duggan, courtesy of Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival
Video: Birmingham Royal Ballet performing Lyric Pieces in May, 2012.
Lyric Pieces
Choreography: Jessica Lang
Music: Edvard GriegSet Concept: Jessica Lang
Costume Design: Elena Comendador
Lighting Design: Nicole Pearce
Black Paper Softwall Designs: Molo Designers, Stephanie Forsythe and Todd MacAllen
Length: 22 minutes
Dancers: 8
Lyric Pieces was originally commissioned by Birmingham Royal Ballet and premiered in 2012.
World Premiere Cast: James Barton, Mathias Dingman, Yvette Knight, Brandon Lawrence, Maureya Lebowitz, Iain MacKay, Jenna Roberts, Yijing Zhang
“Paving the way for female choreographers and leaders in the arts, Jessica Lang delivers a stunning example of acting as an 'advocate for true change.'”
- Beth Baker-Wyse, The National Student, February 23, 2015
“Lang should be praised for her ability to turn dance into an understandable language.”
- Dean Eastmond, Redbrick, February 20, 2015
“Lang made the piece for BRB just three years ago, and what a valuable addition to the company's rep it is.”
- Mark Monahan, The Telegraph, February 19, 2015
“it worked brilliantly, a fascinating concept...the highlight of the night for me.”
- Kerry Assinder, Birmingham Mail, February 19, 2015
“The American choreographer's innovative work...is delightful.”
- Leon Burakowski, Native Monster, February 19, 2015
“an elegant installation of art in motion. This symphony of music, dance and sculpture is a real joy, creating true harmony for the eyes and ears.”
- Elizabeth Rooke, Henley Standard, May 24, 2013
“it is a delight. There is a clean fresh air about this group of dances...”
- David Bellan, Oxford Times, May 23, 2013
“sublime”
- Stage Talk, May 13, 2013
“this is light-as-a-feather work of the utmost good taste - in fact just plain gorgeous”
- Bruce Marriott, DanceTabs, October 25, 2012
“Lang's choreography was intelligent, original and subtle.”
- Hanna Weibye, One Stop Arts, October 25, 2012
“The company rallied spectacularly in what turned out to be the night's highlight. Lyric Pieces, a commission by the American choreographer Jessica Lang,...feels incredibly fresh and alive...Lang's Lyric Pieces is an engaging and visually dynamic creation that wonderfully animates Birmingham's dancers and plays to their strengths.”
- Debra Craine, The Times, October 25, 2012
“Lang has an exceptional stage imagination...A fascinatingly organic relationship develops between set and choreography as the patterns of the dance form around the logic of the paper designs, and new landscapes are conjured to suit the musical affect of each piano piece...The stage is alive with pure dance imagery...Lang was formerly a dancer with Twyla Tharp, and like Tharp she has the gift of cramming together an eclectic range of colours and ideas without losing thought with her individual sensibility. I'm already impatient to see more of her work.”
- Judith Mackrell, The Guardian, October 24, 2012
“Lightly mysterious and wittily mischievous it is a fine example of ultra-modern lyricism.”
- Neil Normon, TheStage.com, September 27, 2012
“With eight dancers and a set of lengths of concertinaed black craft paper creating a variety of spaces, it is variously moving, dramatic, witty and outright funny.”
- Zoe Anderson, The Independent, May 15, 2012
“immediately attractive and accessible, with a tongue-in-cheek soulfulness.”
- Charles Hunt, The Press, May 15, 2012
“The costumes were plain, the set was bare and the eight dancers were accompanied by a single piano; yet, the effect was lasting.”
- Lauren Hunter and Lizzie Baxter, Nouse, May 14, 2012
“The fully-fledged star of this performance by BRB's small-scale variant is unquestionably the opening work: a new and specially commissioned piece by American choreographer Jessica Lang, who learned her skills with the legendary Twyla Tharp. It shows. Lyric Pieces, set to Edvard Grieg's piano music, is a stunning confirmation that classical technique - with a few tweaks - can be as starkly and engagingly direct as the contemporary style.”
- Dick Godfrey, The Journal, May 10, 2012
“Lyric Pieces by Jessica Lang was gorgeous...one of the best things I've seen this year...What Lang has is a terrific eye for line and the harmonious sculpture of bodies - nothing shouted... This was a stunning and gentle piece and I hope we see more of Lang in the UK. A huge and refreshing change from the aggressive nature of much new work these days."
- Bruce Marriott, DanceTabs, May 9, 2012
“Jessica Lang has created a ballet of dreams and romantic moods which succeeds beautifully, since it provides the dancers with lyrical partnerings and solos, involving discreet but subterranean emotions, which both touch the heart and delight the eye.”
- Richard Edmonds, The Stage Reviews, May 9, 2012
“Lyric Pieces showed an impressive sureness in its handling of a wide range of moods...Fresh, subtle, and really beautiful.”
- Phil Preece, Lichfield Live, May 8, 2012
“The highlight, without doubt, was American choreographer Jessica Lang's elegant and slightly understated 'Lyric Pieces'...Sets, dance and music all come together in a real feast, the stage being decorated with huge rolls and fans of kraft paper that are folded and unfolded by the dancers. It reminded me of that crinkly paper that you used get in the top of boxes of chocolates. Appropriately, and just like your favourites, the dance was one tasty bite after another."
- David Mead, Critical Dance, May 4, 2012
Performance History:
Birmingham Royal Ballet
May 3-4, 2012 in Birmingham, England
May 8-9, 2012 in Durham County, England
May 11-12, 2012 in Yorkshire, England
May 15-16, 2012 in Derbyshire, England
September 26-29, 2012 in Birmingham, England
October 23-24, 2012 in London, England
May 10-11, 2013 in Cheltenham, England
May 14-15, 2013 in Poole, England
May 17-18, 2013 in Truro, England
May 21-22, 2013 in High Wycombe, England
January 31, 2015 in Birmingham, England
February 18-21, 2015 in Birmingham, England
March 24-25, 2015 in Devon, England
June 12-15, 2019 in Birmingham, England
June 25-26, 2019 in London, England
Ballet West
May 20-28 in Salt Lake City, UT
Jessica Lang Dance
July 5-9, 2017 in Becket, MA
January 1-14, 2018 in New York, NY
February 5, 2018 in Naples, FL
March 17, 2018 in Madison, WI
March 24, 2018 in Brookfield, WI
April 14, 2018 in Portland, ME
April 18, 2018 in Storrs, CT
April 21, 2018 in Burlington, VT
May 10, 2018 in Omaha, NB
May 18, 2018 in Louisville, KY
September 28, 2018 in Irvine, CA
October 5, 2018 in Boulder, CO
November 14, 2018 in Gettysburg, PA
Janaury 24, 2019 in East Lansing, MI
January 26, 2019 in Pittsburgh, PA
February 28-March 2, 2019 in San Francisco, CA
Orlando Ballet
March 17-27, 2022 in Orlando, FL
Sarasota Ballet
April 26-27, 2024 in Sarasota, FL