THE RITE OF SPRING (2011)
.jpg)
Choreography: Christopher Hampson
Music: Igor Stravinsky
ELITE SYNCOPATIONS (1974)
Choreography: Kenneth MacMillan
Music: Scott Joplin (and other Ragtime musicians)
Thursday 26 - Saturday 28 September 2013 Theatre Royal, Glasgow
This autumn Scotland's national dance company presents an evening of tremendous contrast with an exclusive double bill featuring a devastatingly powerful version of The Rite of Spring in its 100th anniversary year, and the delightfully playful Elite Syncopations.
Intense and visceral, Christopher Hampson’s The Rite of Spring, created originally for Atlanta Ballet, is presented 100 years after the original production revolutionised the world of dance and music.
Set to Stravinsky’s exhilarating score, performed live by the full Scottish Ballet Orchestra, Hampson uses three dancers to reinvent the now infamous story of remorseless human sacrifice with brutal physicality and primal energy in this challenging work that examines themes of violence, obedience and domination.
“The Rite of Spring changed the way dance moved forward," says Scottish Ballet Artistic Director Hampson. "Stravinsky’s score was an assault on the senses and Nijinsky’s original choreography inverted every tradition of ballet.
“Even though the story is complex and layered, there is a great simplicity in its composition and themes and I wanted to present this in a way that was relevant today. So, while my production differs greatly to the original - it involves only three people as opposed to a large ensemble cast - it still explores rites and sacrifice but is based around a story of two brothers.
"It's very demanding of the dancers both physically and emotionally. They are locked into a huge semi-circular wall and have to be able to carry a real weight of intensity driven by the incredible Stravinsky score which the Scottish Ballet Orchestra will perform live.”
True enough: and everyone from Rob Drummond to the RSC has had a go on The Rite this year. It sits at the start of the more experimental era in dance, but retains enough ballet style to be recognisable.
Artistic Director, Christopher Hampson has paired The Rite of Spring with a starkly contrasting work, both visually and musically. Kenneth MacMillan’s Elite Syncopations, an irresistible carnival of colourful characters danced by the full company, has much of its score derived from ragtime composer, Scott Joplin, a contrasting contemporary of Stravinsky's.
Elite Syncopations is a romp in psychedelic body-skimming costumes by designer Ian Spurling - each one hand-painted and patterned with arrows, or stars and stripes, buttons or bows.
Ragtime favourites from Scott Joplin and his contemporaries are performed live on stage by a 12-piece band, and the choreography is inspired by the social dances of the 1920s including the Charleston and Cakewalk, and with stylistic influences including the silent movie routines of Chaplin and Harold Lloyd, MacMillan’s dazzling characterisations are both witty and touching as the dancers flirt, dance and vie with each other for the limelight in this uplifting ballet from one of the most innovative choreographers of the 20th century.
Thursday 26 – Saturday 28 September, 7.30pm
Theatre Royal, Glasgow
Box Office 0844 871 7673
Tickets £20 full price, £17 concession, £10 standby
Pre-show Talks:
Thu 26 Sep at 6.30pm (focus on dance)
Fri 27 Sep at 6.30pm (focus on music)
Sat 28 Sep at 6.30pm (focus on costume)
Hear about the making of the production direct from members of our Artistic, Music and Wardrobe staff. These fascinating free half-hour talks are the perfect way to learn more about the show before you take your seat.
FREE but ticketed. Call box office to book.
Artistic Director, Christopher Hampson has paired The Rite of Spring with a starkly contrasting work, both visually and musically. Kenneth MacMillan’s Elite Syncopations, an irresistible carnival of colourful characters danced by the full company, has much of its score derived from ragtime composer, Scott Joplin, a contrasting contemporary of Stravinsky's.
Elite Syncopations is a romp in psychedelic body-skimming costumes by designer Ian Spurling - each one hand-painted and patterned with arrows, or stars and stripes, buttons or bows.
Ragtime favourites from Scott Joplin and his contemporaries are performed live on stage by a 12-piece band, and the choreography is inspired by the social dances of the 1920s including the Charleston and Cakewalk, and with stylistic influences including the silent movie routines of Chaplin and Harold Lloyd, MacMillan’s dazzling characterisations are both witty and touching as the dancers flirt, dance and vie with each other for the limelight in this uplifting ballet from one of the most innovative choreographers of the 20th century.
Thursday 26 – Saturday 28 September, 7.30pm
Theatre Royal, Glasgow
Box Office 0844 871 7673
Tickets £20 full price, £17 concession, £10 standby
Pre-show Talks:
Thu 26 Sep at 6.30pm (focus on dance)
Fri 27 Sep at 6.30pm (focus on music)
Sat 28 Sep at 6.30pm (focus on costume)
Hear about the making of the production direct from members of our Artistic, Music and Wardrobe staff. These fascinating free half-hour talks are the perfect way to learn more about the show before you take your seat.
FREE but ticketed. Call box office to book.
No comments :
Post a Comment