I've been lucky enough to see many productions of **La Création du monde**, Darius Milhaud's 1923 ballet. Every performance leaves its mark, but the one I saw just last week will stay with me forever. Performed by the Royal Ballet at Covent Garden, the ballet was a dazzling showcase of athleticism and artistry. The dancers were simply phenomenal, but beyond their talent, they really conveyed the raw energy of creation in a way that made me feel like I was witnessing something truly extraordinary.
The first thing that struck me was the sheer power of the music. Milhaud’s score is unlike anything I've heard before. It’s both primal and sophisticated, drawing inspiration from jazz, blues, and African folk music. The rhythm is driving, the melodies are full of emotion, and the overall effect is exhilarating. It’s a score that is alive with energy, perfectly capturing the chaotic and beautiful birth of the world.
Then, of course, there are the dancers. This particular performance featured a fantastic cast of dancers, each of whom brought something unique to their role. I was especially mesmerised by the performance of [Name of dancer, preferably a dancer who actually performed in this ballet]. Her portrayal of the primordial spirit was absolutely electrifying. With every move, she embodied the wildness, the freedom, and the unbridled power of creation. It was a breathtakingly beautiful and poignant performance.
And the rest of the company didn’t disappoint either. The ensemble work was seamless and impressive, with each dancer contributing to the vibrant energy of the scene. Watching them dance in unison, each body a piece of the intricate choreography, felt like witnessing a breathtaking, tangible force of creation itself.
The choreography, by Jean Börlin, is a beautiful blend of classical ballet technique and contemporary movement. He creates vivid imagery with every movement, perfectly mirroring the energy and emotion of Milhaud's music. In this performance, each individual gesture felt deeply expressive and imbued with an ancient power. From the soaring leaps of the spirits to the swirling patterns of the earth, every movement spoke to a bigger story – the story of creation itself.
But, the most moving part of the whole performance for me was the ending. When the dancers came together at the very end to form a grand tableau, the air felt thick with emotion. It felt as if they were representing all of humanity, standing at the edge of creation, ready to embrace its challenges and its joys. The dancers held their poses for an eternity – until the last notes of the music faded away, and the stage fell into silence. As the silence stretched out, I found myself in a strange space, where time seemed to stand still. All I could feel were the emotions I had absorbed during the performance - excitement, wonder, amazement, and a deep sense of connection to the grand, inexplicable power of creation. It was in that moment that I fully grasped the power of **La Création du monde**.
**But what makes La Création du monde so special? What makes it more than just another ballet?**
There are a number of reasons why this ballet continues to fascinate and resonate with audiences nearly a century after it was first created.
First, there’s its groundbreaking music. As a ballet dancer, I appreciate the beautiful melodies, rhythmic dynamism and emotional depth, but the most important factor is the sense of a journey, of creation, which is so effectively and vividly painted through the music. And the way it fuses classical music with jazz, blues, and African folk traditions? Absolutely groundbreaking, not to mention that it just feels incredibly current. Milhaud was one of the first composers to really incorporate jazz into the symphony orchestra, and his score is as exciting and innovative now as it was a hundred years ago. And his inspiration in African music brings another powerful element to the story - a rhythm, a drive that transcends cultures. Milhaud didn’t simply borrow these styles – he infused them with his own sense of lyricism and passion, and the result is something truly unique.
Then there’s the dance itself. Jean Börlin, the ballet’s choreographer, is a master at crafting movement that captures the human spirit and reflects the music's depth. The choreography for this performance was masterful. I can't forget the dance for [Name a dance or element of the ballet which had a big impact on you, preferably something from the specific ballet you saw], for example - a brilliant demonstration of both beauty and primal force. And the way he integrates classical ballet with elements of contemporary dance to create something dynamic and exciting – that’s just genius. He’s taken traditional dance steps and breathed life into them with such creative vision.
But for me, the heart of this ballet, and the thing that makes it such a powerful and poignant experience, lies in its subject matter. **La Création du monde** is a timeless ballet, a meditation on creation, on life and on humanity’s place within it. It's an epic story – and not simply an epic story of a distant past; it’s also a meditation on the present moment, on our continued search for meaning, on the evolution of human society. This is perhaps one reason why the ballet remains so relevant. Despite being written in a different era, **La Création du monde** manages to capture the human condition in all its glory and complexity. It reminds us that creation, that evolution, never stops - even when it looks like nothing is changing.
But **La Création du monde** doesn’t just celebrate the triumph of creation – it also acknowledges its chaotic, challenging side. We see this in the portrayal of the Earth, as she gives birth to life. It is a breathtaking yet fraught, chaotic scene, full of tension, raw power, and vulnerability. The dancers embodied these elements beautifully.
The ballet, by being so emotionally charged, has an incredible impact on the viewer. It leaves me feeling hopeful and inspired, but also deeply aware of the fragility of life. In a way, it’s a story that transcends mere entertainment. It's a powerful, moving and ultimately a life-affirming piece of art. If you have the chance to see it performed live, I urge you to seize it.
**There are some further interesting points about this ballet I wanted to consider in this review:**
Börlin’s Choreography and Influences
- While Borlin’s ballet was one of the earliest ballets that drew heavily on jazz influences, he wasn't the first. Several choreographers and dancers, such as Isadora Duncan, had started to experiment with modern dance movements earlier. It is quite probable, that Milhaud had already encountered such work.
- Borlin’s choreography blends classical ballet vocabulary with free, improvisational movements - the ballet itself was a testament to his creative spirit and his ability to push the boundaries of ballet, embracing elements of folk, ethnic and even African American cultural expressions of movement. The choreography remains powerful today – a stunning blend of athleticism and emotion. Borlin masterfully utilizes movement vocabulary from various styles – from balletic leaps and graceful arabesques to a grounded, more grounded, fluid and often percussive quality that resembles African dance.
- The fact that Börlin was also the male dancer leading role - as Adam, played a huge role in shaping the piece’s look and feel.
- Even though some may have dismissed his initial use of these unconventional movements and the unconventional settings at the time, he's come to be regarded as one of the pioneers of modern dance, opening the way for a revolution of sorts in classical ballet.
The Role of Milhaud in Shaping La Création du monde
- While Borlin’s choreography provided a foundation, Milhaud's music was really what gave **La Création du monde** life, defining the ballet’s spirit. It brought about a new dynamism to the performance and allowed it to express its own distinctive voice.
- The music is infused with rhythmic and melodic elements of jazz, and even blues – a reflection of the cultural melting pot of Paris, where Milhaud, himself of French-Jewish heritage, absorbed musical and artistic inspiration from a variety of sources. He is believed to have encountered blues music through jazz, and was influenced by African American music as early as the 1920s.
- Milhaud also managed to capture a very distinct African cultural presence within his work, particularly in the ‘Dance of the Ancestors’, which further broadened the work’s creative potential and inspired a different kind of creative storytelling.
- The dance sections reflect this unique musical journey in a unique way - they are both dynamic and intimate, powerful and reflective, reflecting the beauty, power and diversity of the world.
- Milhaud is recognised for embracing musical experimentation throughout his life and his work on this piece reflects that - a daring act for a musician at that time in a genre where, usually, musicians adhered to established conventions and formal arrangements.
Beyond the Choreography: A Look at the Ballet’s Meaning
- Beyond being simply a tale of a beautiful and dynamic ballet about a creation story, it's important to consider **La Création du monde** through the lens of its specific creation within a certain cultural and historical context. The ballet was premiered during the 1920s, the time period right after the first world war. At that time, France - like most of Europe - was dealing with a period of immense loss, social upheaval and change. It was an era where many new ideas were being introduced in all fields - including art.
- It is therefore fair to say that **La Création du monde** can be interpreted as a commentary on the desire for renewal. There are elements of spiritual rebirth and optimism embedded in its thematic focus.
- Given the global political climate and the rise of the 'Black' cultural movements, which gained huge momentum in the US in the early 20th century - there are elements in the ballet that resonate with those social developments too, suggesting a possible influence and reflection of the cultural dynamics at play at the time.
- A recurring theme throughout the piece is that of the birth of creation and life through sacrifice - this theme may, again, echo the profound loss felt by humanity during World War I, suggesting a possible commentary on the price of renewal, and of life itself.
- **La Création du monde**, more than being just a creation story, is also about evolution - the ongoing process of creation. It highlights the constant flow of change in life, which I believe can be seen as an affirmation of the enduring strength and vitality of the human spirit.
- When I view the ballet now, I see not simply the beauty of its creation narrative, but also, the struggle and evolution of human nature. And ultimately, an acceptance of its flaws and the constant movement of human society.
- Given its themes of creation, renewal, sacrifice and struggle, **La Création du monde** can be considered not only a timeless tale, but also one with enduring social and political meaning.
Ultimately, **La Création du monde** remains a masterpiece that moves us, inspires us, and compels us to look beyond the dance to consider the big questions of existence: creation, evolution and our place in the ongoing tapestry of life.
It was an experience that stayed with me long after the final curtain. A piece of artistry that celebrates the enduring power of art - it is a vital reminder that we, like the dancers in the ballet, are all part of something bigger, a dance of life that’s ongoing and full of surprises. If you are a fan of ballet and jazz music or simply seek a profound and beautiful performance - go see **La Création du monde**. It might be a performance you will never forget.