Dancing on the Front Porch of Heaven: Odes to Love and Loss is a work by Ulysses Dove. Set to Estonian composer Arvo Pärt’s haunting composition Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten, the ballet features six dancers; and is a moving tribute described by Dove to the “people I loved.
Ullysee Dove Dancing on the Front Porch of Heaven
New York Times dance credit Anna KisselgoffFor the Love of Dove,’ and It Was, a concert held on at New York State Theater on June 18. The performance took place one week after Dove’s death on June 11 at age 49 from complications from AIDS.
“Changing shape was his leitmotif in “Dancing on the Front Porch of Heaven,” set to the chimes and rich textures of Arvo Part’s “Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten.” Renat Salavatov conducted members of the New York Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra for this overtly elegiac piece.
The theme of loss was inescapably felt, although obliquely conveyed, in four sections that began and ended with a communal round. The Royal Swedish Ballet cast (in white unitards) included Marie Lindqvist, Anna Valev, Eugenia Zetterstrom, Brendan Collins, Hans Nilsson and Jan-Erik Wikstrom, and they seemed surprised by their standing ovation but took to Mr. Dove’s streamlined images of friendship and angst with commitment.”- Anna Kisselgoff
Extraordinarily and Intriguing Work!! I LOVE Mr. Dove and his Amazing Work. Blessings to those individuals who have had the opportunity to work with him as he created Phenomenal Art!! ️☀️