Just when you thought it couldn’t be any more cold in Pittsburgh this weekend, Le Patin Libre’s Carte Blanche from Montreal brought all the chills to the iconic PPG Place in downtown Pittsburgh. This company of ex-figure skaters and one hockey player effortlessly merged the intense athleticism of ice skating with the abstract artistry of contemporary movement. In the Q&A that preceded the performance one of the performers stated, “We are skaters. We are not contemporary or modern dancers; we’re just really big fans!” 

Le Patin Libre’s Samory Ba, Alexandre Hamel, Taylor Dilley, Jasmin Boivin and Pascale Jodoin in Threshold. Photo: Romain Guilbault

It’s not often you’ll find my jaw completely dropped for an entire performance but the artists kept you on the edge of your seat the entire show. I found myself frequently meeting other audience members in looks of amazement after the artists would perform incredibly challenging feats such as advanced partnering on ice, huge leaps, many many spins, and my absolute favorite being the beautifully dramatic moments that completely enchanted me. Something this troupe is best known for is their use of “gliding” and “flocking” throughout the performance. I never knew there could be such theatrical tension by simply gliding across the ice with such strong intentions emanating from each artist. When the group would “flock” as a unit around the ice rink it was incredibly magical, as if I was witnessing several winter birds flying low to the ground just inches from the ice. It was very interesting that the artists went through great efforts to stray away from signature figure skating themes and focus on transforming their athleticism into a medium for free artistic expression. One of the highlights of the show was the second piece presented titled “Tap Skate”; in this work the artists not only used their skates as a vehicle for movement but as an instrument to create rhythm. An homage to urban street dancing mixed with tap dance techniques, the artists were able to ignite a spark amongst the frozen audience and get the crowd clapping (almost) to the rhythm. Their second piece “Thresholds” truly encaptured contemporary ideas and concepts within their work. The artists on the ice seemed to be tethered to one another as if their bodies made up a beautiful arctic tapestry; seamlessly weaving in and out of formation and creating beautifully tender human moments. 

Le Patin Libre’s Carte Blanche was absolutely the highlight of my weekend here in Pittsburgh. It was beautiful to see such extraordinarily talented athletes and artists share their gifts with the audience. I had never heard of or experienced anything as unique and out of the box as a hybrid performance of contemporary dance and figure skating and it’s an experience I will personally hold on to with great fondness. I want to thank the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and the Dance Council of Pittsburgh for putting this show on this season; and much appreciation goes to Randal P. Miller (Director of Special Projects for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust) for going to great lengths to put this show on for the audiences of Pittsburgh, including keeping the ice rink open into early March and also learning how to ice skate just so he could MC the performance. Bravo to Le Patin Libre and I cannot wait to see what is next for this group of fabulous artists. 

In an effort to encourage young dance writers, Dance Currents presents Adrian Green.

Adrian Green is a multidisciplinary artist from Fort Worth, Texas who started his classical dance training at the age of 15 at the Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts. He performed several works and ballets staged by Krista Langford such as Sleeping Beauty, Paquita, Napoli, and several Academy Dance Company concerts. Adrian has attended numerous summer programs such as the Royal Ballet in Covent Garden, the Glenda Brown Choreography Project, and Kansas City Ballet, as well as the Pillow Projects directed by Pearlann Porter. Adrian is a graduate from Point Park University’s Conservatory of Performing Arts earning his B.F.A in Dance: Ballet, and has performed several works at the university such as Shimmer by Maree Remalia, Spokes of Venus along with Thresholds both by Dan Karasik, Diversion of Angels by Martha Graham, and was a principal performer in A Solo in Nine Parts by Jessica Langas well as In creases by Justin Peck. Adrian is currently a resident dancer with Texture Contemporary Ballet and has also performed locally in Pittsburgh as a freelance artist in works such as Bluebird Pas de Deux, several productions of Nutcracker, and Swan Lake as a featured artist. As a passionate emerging choreographer, Adrian has created works such as the celestial contemporary ballet “the Green Flash ”, the Nina Simone-inspired dance for film “Porgy in Blue ”, the serpentine “In the Viper’s Nest”, and the heartbreaking “O Death.” Adrian is a dance teacher in the Pittsburgh area who’s taught at studios such as the Abby Lee Dance Company, Studio 412, Dance Expressions by Erica, Allegro Ballet Academy, Dance by Cami, Dance Ink., and Dance Academy by Lori as well as masterclasses all across the Pittsburgh area. In addition to dance, Adrian is also an author and poet who recently wrote his first poetry collection titled “The Bards Black Book”.