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I believe the Sarasota Ballet has reached a new level of sophistication with its latest program of three emotionally profound abstract bal- lets. Instead of plot-driven story ballets that are easy to follow, Iain Webb programmed an evening that challenged both the dancers and the audience. W h i l e G e o r g e B a l a n c h i n e ' s F o u r Temperaments and Sir Frederick Ashton's Sinfonietta pushed the boundaries of abstract, or non-literal, ballets in the mid-20th century, it was Lux Aeterna, the beautiful lyrical ballet just created by Will Tuckett for the Sarasota Ballet that plucked everyone's heartstrings, including mine, for he was able to communicate a strong anti-war message without being didactic or maudlin. Tuckett has stated that the 100th anniversary of World War I was the motivation for Lux Aeterna (eternal light), and the ballet is a trib- ute or requiem for the soldiers who gave their lives in the war "that was going to end all wars." American composer Morten Lauridsen's pow- erful non-liturgical choral requiem dominated the emotional center of the ballet, intensify- ing the connection between the force of the Logan Learned danced the Melancholic role on Jan. 31. Contributed photo by Frank Atura A PREMIERE BY A BRITISH CHOREOGRAPHER PROVES ITS PLACE AMID WORKS BY BALANCHINE AND ASHTON By Elinor Rogosin A&E Writer Sarasota News Leader February 7, 2014 Page 97