Doo bee doo bee doo
My first ballet attendance was not a disappointment.
First of all, I suppose I ought to point out that as the tickets were free, I’d no right to complain anyway-but quite to the contrary, I had a fantastic evening.
Birmingham Royal Ballet's Strictly Dancing features three one-act ballets exploring the expression of joy and love through pure dance.
The first act, Paquita, was first performed in 1846. Choreographed by Joseph Mazilier and composed by Edouard Deldevez, this was I would have considered classic and traditional ballet. The costumes were stereotypical in their grandeur-exactly the images that had captured my imagination as a child. The corps de ballet (I’ve just learned this phrase, it refers to, basically, the chorus of dancers), of which there were about 14 dancers, were dressed in peach trimmed in gold while the Prima was in white. For my first ever live performance, it was precisely what I had been expecting and I really enjoyed it.
The second act, which was ultimately my favourite by far, was Nine Sinatra Songs. The piece presented intimate snapshots of seven different couples on a dance floor, showing the various stages of courtship and how the lovers express their feelings to one another through their movements.
From the BRB website:
Gloriously lush and unabashedly romantic, the choreography to these Sinatra anthems is a swirling kaleidoscope of moods. The dancers sail through these duets; yet, for all their stunning surface beauty, there's a savvy bittersweet tinge underlying Nine Sinatra Songs. It's as if each of these love songs is poised on the brink… We are presented with seven couples, the men in tuxedos and the women in gorgeous gowns by the renowned American fashion designer Oscar de la Renta. Dancing beneath a glittering mirror ball, they offer up a kind of wish fulfilment; a knowingly smart tug at our heart strings.
The third and final act was Daphnis and Chloë, the music for which was one of my favourite pieces by Ravel. The set was amazing! And it included a painted screen of Pan complete with giant penis and two goats (what’s not to like?!?). In the story, Chloë is capture by PIRATES! And I love pirates. The pirates and “women pirates” dance was my favourite part. The overall look and tone of the act was very, very 1950s and when set against all the creepy bassoon work in Ravel’s composition, I found it compelling to watch, yet slightly off-putting.
Having now had this first taste and realized how accessible it is, I do intend to go again-and hopefully regularly!