RUN, DON'T WALK TO 
LAST PERFORMANCE
OF "LA SYLPHIDE"

Commentary by Nancy Condit

     The Oklahoma City Ballet gave a wonderful performance of August Bournonville's
ballet "La Sylphide," first performed in 1836. Miki Kawamura was outstanding as
the Sylphide in her last performance with the ballet as she retires to become a ballet 
master for the OKC Ballet. Alvin Tostogray was equally good as the groom to be who
is beguiled by the Sylphide.
     The scenery and costumes, courtesy of the Boston Ballet, provided an outstanding
backdrop particularly for Act II  placed in "A Glade in the Forest." In the Romantic
scenery, the depth of the the light blue sky behind the trees set off the sylphs' calf 
length white tutus, and the men's kilts. This gave further feeling that the Scottish
setting was an exotic place.
     Jacob Sparso is particularly notable for his staging of the reel/jig at the end of the
first act, with Tostogray and Amanda Herd-Popejoy, playing Effie, his fiancee. Also 
noteworthy was the appearance of Kawamura's appearance in the manor-house window,
as she stood dressed in white, and in act II where Kawamura and Tostogray danced in
front of a backdrop of the corps sylphs.
     Herman Severin Lovenskjold's music was well played by the Oklahoma City
Philharmonic, led by Andrews Sill.
     The ballet is scheduled for one more performance Sunday, tomorrow, at 2 p.m.  
at the Civic Center Music Hall. Appearing as the Sylphide is Courtney Connor Jones, 
as the groom, James, is Jonathan Batista, and as Effie is Amanda Herd-Popejoy.