The Joyce Ballet Festival’s tribute to Jerome Robbins is more than a nostalgia trip—it’s proof that his genius still crackles with modern energy. Watching Tiler Peck embody his choreography is like seeing a time capsule burst open, revealing something startlingly fresh.
Robbins’ work was never just steps; it was storytelling in motion. From *Fancy Free*’s swagger to *Dances at a Gathering*’s poetic intimacy, his ballets pulse with humanity. Critics often box him into "Broadway meets ballet," but that’s too simplistic. Robbins understood *rhythm*—not just in music, but in the way people move through life.
Peck gets this. Her performances at The Joyce aren’t recreations; they’re reinventions. She doesn’t mimic Robbins’ style—she *breathes* it. There’s a spontaneity in her phrasing, as if she’s discovering the steps in real time. That’s the Robbins magic: choreography that feels alive, not archived.
What’s striking is how Robbins’ themes—yearning, humor, urban restlessness—still resonate. In 2024, we’re still chasing connection, still laughing through the chaos. His work isn’t a museum piece; it’s a mirror.
So here’s to festivals that remind us: Great art doesn’t age. It just waits for dancers like Peck to wake it up again. Robbins would’ve loved that.
