Art Times: Choreography: Intrinsic or Replaceable?

My latest Art Times essay is up:

In some ways, it’s exciting news: Director Ivo van Hove will stage a production of West Side Story, with new choreography by Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker. Van Hove says he aims to bring the show “into the 21st century.” De Keersmaeker says, “The challenge will be to offer a new reading.” Their ultimate goal is to revitalize a classic.

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Jerome Robbins (center) demonstrating
a dance combination for
George Chakiris (left) for the
movie version of West Side Story.