Tomm Ruud’s uniquely modern ballet “Mobile” will make its Denver debut tonight, 38 years after it was originally conceived.
The piece, written in 1968 while Ruud was a student at the University of Utah, is one of several works in David Taylor Dance Theatre’s “An American Choreographers’ Showcase,” which will also debut James Canfield’s “Equinoxe.”
Two of the company’s choreographers-in-residence, James Wallace and Jeoff Horgan, will contribute pieces, as well as artistic director David Taylor with his multimedia ballet “Seasons” and a new work, “Divine Physics.”
The collection of new and signature pieces gives audiences an overview of contemporary masterworks without eschewing entertainment value.
“Almost every time the curtain comes up on (‘Mobile’) you can hear an audible gasp from the audience,” said 29-year-old Christopher Rudd, son of the late Tomm Ruud and a principal dancer at Ballet West in Salt Lake City.
“I was fortunate enough to perform it when I was a student at the University of Utah, and since my father choreographed it as a student there, I guess I was following in his footsteps.”
Rudd says “Mobile” gets its name from the fact that the dancers initially mimic a mobile hanging from the ceiling. The piece is ethereal and quiet, but not in the volume of Aram Khatchaturian’s music.
All the action take place in a tight, 6-foot-wide pool of light. The exercise in sustained partnering and movement includes two women and a man. The piece shuns obvious emotion and narrative without being stoic. The impressive shapes, both hard and soft, imply superhuman strength.
“People always say afterwards, ‘Oh my God, you must be so strong to do that,”‘ Ruud said. “But I don’t think it requires an unusual amount of strength. It’s more about placement.”
The piece owes part of its longevity to its weird energy and striking forms. Considering that it was written while Tomm Ruud was a student, it’s even more amazing that it has survived for so long. The piece is now in the repertoire of more than 20 dance companies worldwide.
Tomm Ruud may be best known for his performance in the role of Drosselmeyer in San Francisco Ballet’s “The Nutcracker.” He has also made guest appearances nationally and internationally with the National Ballet of Canada, the Ninth International Ballet Festival in Havana, San Antonio Ballet and Oakland Ballet.
Christopher Ruud has trouble naming his favorite of his father’s work, for a good reason.
“To be honest, I haven’t seen all of his work,” Ruud said. “He doesn’t have a wide body of work like Balanchine, but there are things he’s done that have been forgotten.”
Christopher Ruud’s mother and Tomm’s ex-wife, Mary Ruud Wood, has been instrumental in archiving and keeping Tomm’s work intact since his death in 1994. Her files of clippings, correspondence, contracts, photos and other career souvenirs traces Tomm’s path from the University of Utah to his eventual ascendance to the San Francisco Ballet.
Even after Tomm retired as a classical dancer he was a principal character dancer and a member of artistic director Helgi Tomasson’s staff. He also acted as a rehearsal assistant and teacher for the San Francisco Ballet School until just before his death.
Christopher Ruud thinks his father’s legacy will remain in the striking choreography of pieces like “Mobile,” which in 1983 was made into a film called “Balances.”
“If you can imagine objects floating through space – and I’m not thinking like ‘Star Trek’ here – then you’re close,” said Christopher Ruud. “It’s very alive with movement and presence without being bold. I’ve never seen anything else like it.”
Staff writer John Wenzel can be reached at 303-820-1642 or jwenzel@denverpost.com.
“An American Choreographers’ Showcase”
TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY|Dance performances by David Taylor Dance Theatre|The Lakewood Cultural Center, 470 S. Allison Parkway|$20 adults; $16 students and seniors|303-987-7845 or tickets@lakewood.org|OPENS TODAY|7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
