Domy Reiter-Soffer

Elusive Garden "Domy Reiter Soffer dedicated his Elusive Garden to British teacher, Audrey de Vos, set it to an assemblage of excerpts from Frederick Delius's orchestral works. Reiter Soffer understands and lovingly delineates the solitary dreamer in Edwardian manner the restrained bearing, gentle visions, openness to passion. John Gardner as Delius gives a moving portrayal of the hero with highly technical solos and passionate duet with soaring lifts with his partner Johanna Baer. The choreographer created a sensitive, yearning mood with great effect the ensemble work was most effective and the ABT Repertory Company rouse to the occasion".
The Village Voice.

"The interesting ABT Repertory Company makes its debut at the Riverside Dance Festival under the astute director Richard Englund, presenting a program of new works showing every indication that a small company can be as enjoyable as the biggies that play the Lincoln Center. The outstanding work was Domy Reiter Soffer's "Elusive Garden" a haunting look at the lonely youth of the composer Frederick Delius and danced to his 'North Country Sketches'. And an outstanding dancer went with it…John Gardner as young Delius is a real find, one of those unique Americans who can dance highly charged, romantic roles and bring them off. The women were exceptionally well presented especially Johanna Baer in a deliciously moving Pas de deux with Gardner and with a technical wizardry solo of Julian Montaner. The company looked extremely good and excellently presented".
Barton Wimble- (New York Daily News).

"ABT's Repertory Company at Riverside Dance Festival had their first season in New York showed one world premiere of Domy Reiter Soffer's "Elusive Garden". Reiter Soffer has a growing reputation both in Europe and in America, but this is the first ballet he had choreographed specifically for a New York Based Company. It is a dramatic ballet in something in the style of Antony Tudor, based on the life and character of Frederick Delius-and utilizing music taken from his composition. It was appropriately impressionistic in its evocation of the artist trying to find his muse in nature- that elusive garden. The piece proved most successful and Mr. Reiter Soffer's choreography Particularly the Duets for the composer and his fleeting inspiration-here handsomely danced by John Gardner and Johanna Baer proved most attractive as did his fluent use of the ensemble. The final effect was moving and dramatic".
Clive Barnes- (New York Post).

"Ballet Repertory Company Opened its first New York season at the Riverside Theater with well balanced program. Domy Reiter Soffer a choreographer who comes to ballet Repertory company from the Irish National Ballet, has taken the life and music of Frederick Delius as a departure point for his new "Elusive Garden" Dedicated to Audrey de Vos a British Teacher and mentor to several generations of dancers and teachers. The ballet is a youthful work. Mr. Reiter Soffer has caught the music's lush adolescent a good deal and settled for soaring lifts across the stage, to signify Passion. An inventive love duet for Johanne Baer and John Gardner, as Delius, was the high point of the ballet. With her assured stage presence and clean line, Miss Baer is one of the most interesting dancers in the company. The whole ballet was dramatic and most moving in its content, choreographed with taste and interesting movement.
Jennifer Dunning-(The New York Times).