Music and Dance Reviews : Spanish Ballet Showcases New Set of Principals

The Royal Spanish National Ballet opened a five-day run Tuesday at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa, showcasing an unfamiliar set of principals--dancers unreviewed during the company’s appearances last week in Los Angeles.

In the title role of Jose Granero’s “Medea,” Ana Gonzalez seemed bound within all-too-human dimensions and evoked nothing more tragic than a Spanish version of “Cavalleria Rusticana.”

More lyric than dramatic, Gonzalez delineated the hurt, need and vulnerability of a woman wronged, abandoned and humiliated--but not so much the extraordinary power of this particular woman.

She was rightfully and reasonably enraged at the way Creon (Juan Mata) and his bullies treated her. But she downplayed the welling-up of revenge. Her interpretation ultimately could be seen as that of a woman who loses her mind (justifiably, to be sure). Not guilty by reason of insanity.

Missing was a dimension of terrifying choice, of inner mystery and unquenchable fire. Even in triumph, this Medea ended as a broken, pitiable figure.

Nonetheless, Gonzalez was notable for sustaining momentum, fluidity, clarity and continuity of line. It was, in fact, this rolling momentum, rather than sharp, dramatic strokes, that gave great impact to her incantation over the deadly gift to her rival--arguably her most powerful moment.

Each of the three other works on the program also included prominent cast changes.

Mata brought high-spirited comic grace to Granero’s “Alborada del Gracioso,” executing astonishingly clear, shooting-jet spins; even so, he could not cover over the work’s patchwork vacuity.

Maribel Gallardo and Joaquin Cortes danced the pas de deux in Alberto Lorca’s “Ritmos” with unforced security and appeal--she with pliant buoyancy, he with electrifying stretched line.

Aida Gomez invested her solo in the opening section of Martin Vargas’ “Flamenco” with sunny sensuality and playful tauntings, with liquid back bends and light, rapid, fluttery footwork.

Other principals in these works were previously reviewed.

This cast will alternate with another through Sunday.