FORT WORTH – As night fell upon the Trinity Park Pavilion and the cicadas buzzed, Ballet Concerto ushered in summer with a little bit of heat and a whole lot of passion.

MICHAEL AINSWORTH/DMN

Wednesday's world premiere of Bruce Marks' contemporary ballet Straight From the Heart was a sweet and sensual exploration of love.

The night began slowly with Christine Marie Hay's contemporary jazz ballet Let the Good Times Roll. Although the opening movements felt lackadaisical, as if the dancers were giving in to the heat, they embraced the sultriness of the night in "Red Top," an energetic and fun quartet featuring the technical prowess of Alyssa Alger as she fouetted herself into a fiery red top tempting Justin Hogan, Brandon Nguyen and Jim Peronto.

The seduction of Red Top continued with Luis Montero's interpretation of a pas de deux from Carmen. The tragic love triangle of Carmen (Michele Gifford), Don José (Grant Dettling) and Escamillo (Nguyen) was a delight. Gifford's Carmen was passionate, and her long, fluid extensions and sharp, precise pointe work are to be envied. Nguyen played a strong and believable Escamillo, while Dettling's Don José seemed aloof.

The seduction deepened with the world premiere of Bruce Marks' contemporary ballet Straight From the Heart. A sensual yet sweet exploration of love, Marks challenged the dancers to flex their feet and feel out a strict parallel fourth.

Dettling shone in his cute and flirty duet with Katie Keith, Gifford excelled as a sexy siren, while Erin Alarcon was pretty in pink in her innocently successful duet with Hogan. But the mix of sharp and fluid movement seemed awkward on the ensemble.

The evening ended on a high with Montero's Bolero. Combining ballet with the bravura of flamenco and postmodern movement, performed beautifully by Melian Izotova, the pageantry of Spain filled the night with an explosion of passion.

Danielle M. Georgiou is assistant director of the UT Arlington Dance Ensemble.

Plan your life

Ballet Concerto performs at 8:30 p.m. today and Sunday at Trinity Park Pavilion, 2300 W. Seventh St., Fort Worth. Lawn admission free. Reserved tables available. 817-738-7915. www.balletconcerto.com.