
BY TAMARA BECK
SUSAN Stroman, that Broadway babe who’s won Tonys for both choreography and directing, uses the full vocabulary of ballet in “For the Love of Duke.”
After its premiere in the winter season, New York City Ballet once again brings her ebullient vision to the stage at Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater.

A snazzy two-part dance, “For the Love of Duke,” pairs a spirited new “Frankie and Johnny … and Rose” dance story with “Blossom Got Kissed,” created for the 1998 season. SS, Tony-nominated for her direction of short-lived "The Scottsboro Boys" (See review at: http://www.vevlynspen.com/2010/11/scottsboro-boys-puts-on-happy-face.html), explores the juncture between jazz and ballet, making great use of both styles.

Although she throws in a lot of jazz/Broadway into the mix with the piece, “For the Love of Duke,” set to the music of Duke Ellington, is definitely all dressed up in ballet slippers with plenty of exciting variations for those thrilled by watching arabesques, jetes and ballerinas on their toes.
Amar Ramasar dances the caddish Johnny with verve, enthusiasm and good humor. As his Rose, Tiler Peck is alternately affectionate and aggrieved.
AR and TP partner with a sweetness that is set off by the toughness Sara Mearns brings to her Frankie. SM twirls in handsomely on her toes, surprising the illicit lovers and herself. AR shows fine comic skills in his pantomime of the two-timer caught.

Blossom (Savannah Lowery), a wallflower in a puffy blue tutu, tries to keep up with the cool kids and flappers. They dance her away and step around her, finally carrying her to the on-stage bandstand. There she encounters The Musician (Robert Fairchild), a nerdy leading man. RF is a matinee idol of the Cary Grant in “Bringing Up Baby” school. He dances The Musician with an awkward charm.
A quibble, though both parts of “For The Love of Duke” are a delight: The transition between the older piece and the new one, while cute, is a bit ragged. It’s not clear exactly why “Frankie and Johnny … and Rose” is a companion piece to the original “Blossom Got Kissed.”
Visit http://www.nycballet.com/ to learn more about “For The Love Of Duke”
A Sparkling, Shiny, Glittering Pop Quiz

1) Which Fifth Avenue emporium inspired George Balanchine to create his full-length ballet “Jewels?”
a) Harry Winston
b) Tiffany & Co.
c) Van Cleef & Arpels
d) Cartier
2) Select the three gems represented in “Jewels”:
a) Sapphires
b) Emeralds
c) Rubies
d) Diamonds
e) Onyx
f) Amethyst
New York City Ballet gives six performances of “Jewels” between 2 June and 11 June at the David H. Koch Theater.
Visit http://www.nycballet.com/ to learn more about “Jewels” and for answers to the quiz.
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