That piece, presented at four of the seven performances, is the main draw, along with Ailey's "Revelations," which is being presented on a bigger than usual stage, yet the other programs include a recent and successful import, Garth Fagan's "From Before".
This futuristic technology was emphasized by a backdrop of winking LED lights, instead of the usual stage set.
And while Northampton will be the home team, it will not be on its usual stage because the competition's rules put a distinctive spin on the concept of home field advantage.
The acting seemed much more natural than the usual "stage left, stage right, fake background behind a set-dressed window". The pacing and flow of the movements were so enhanced by the staging that it was easy to find myself engrossed by the story itself, forgetting that it was a stage at all and not just an interaction unfolding before me.
Well beyond the usual stage fright, the mood backstage at New Albany on opening night had an edge of apprehension.
On Friday they will perform on their usual stage at Lincoln Center for opening night of the "Barbiere" run.
But in addition to the usual stage and equipment problems, the group was forced to endure all manner of verbal and physical abuse from the audiences.
The curtain rises on the Guild Hall production on Tuesday, but it won't be on the usual stage, in the John Drew Theater, which is being renovated.
That's not initially easy for musicians who've been playing clubs and halls, as they can feel their usual stage energy dissipating into the open air.
So he decided to try something new and schedule 27 performances of "Monkey" to run for the entire length of the festival at the David H. Koch Theater, the usual stage for dance troupes.
Yet with strong melodies, flashes of '90s drum-and-bass rhythm and her usual stage presence — playful and casual but with determined body language and full-throated singing — she reached this audience quite directly.
