A Glimpse of the Global Ballet Scene: July 2021
By **Alexandra de Valois**
Darling, can you believe it's July already? Summer's here and with it, a whirl of ballets around the globe. It seems the world is ready for art once again, a gasp of beauty after those long, dreary months. I'm absolutely thrilled, though my darling, those darling stage costumes have got to get a little bit more... glam? Let's call them avant-garde shall we? But more about that later. Anyway, pack your jewels and prepare yourself, darling, for a sumptuous trip to the heart of ballet - from the shimmering stage of the Bolshoi to the glistening grandeur of the Palais Garnier!
This month, darling, we have everything:
- A Trip to Moscow - Bolshoi's "La Bayadère"
- Parisian Panache - "Swan Lake" at the Palais Garnier
- Across the Channel - The Royal Ballet's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland"
- A Breath of Fresh Air - Dutch National Ballet in "The Dream of a Ridiculous Man"
- The Ballet World of New York - "Romeo and Juliet"
- Onwards and Upwards! The Future of Ballet!
Let's start with the motherland of ballet itself: Russia, where tradition lives, and diamonds glisten. The Bolshoi - itâs an experience that simply canât be described! That air of anticipation as the lights dim, the rumble of the orchestra rising like a storm, then *bam* the sheer brilliance of the choreography, that is just utterly dazzling, like a flash of diamonds across the stage. You think you know âLa Bayadère,â darling? Well, the Bolshoi brings a whole new energy to it! Those daring, swirling, whirlwind lifts that could make any lady weak in the knees, oh, absolutely stunning. This time the whole performance seemed ...well, it had that raw passion and almost terrifying grandeur, the way the stage feels like a jungle at times, a swirling symphony of movement! Even the costumes had that little extra glimmer. The "Kingdom of the Shades" sequence ? Darling, I practically floated out of the theatre on a cloud of silk and velvet - absolutely phenomenal!
My darling, no summer would be complete without a visit to the exquisite, oh, simply breathtaking Palais Garnier! It's always a grand occasion. The air feels alive, filled with that Parisian spirit. Of course, "Swan Lake" is just ... iconic, but you simply *have* to experience it there, and with this stunning cast! And the staging, divine! The opulent sets with their sparkling chandeliers, like diamonds dropping from the sky, absolutely enchanting. The swan costumes - simply divine. But you know my feelings on the "white act" â just exquisite. And let's talk about the dancers! They moved with a fluidity, that precision⌠simply astounding. My dear, a must see if ever you have the chance, truly magical.
London has its own magic! You know, sometimes darling, you just need a ballet that is pure fun and magic, a story for the soul. "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" at the Royal Opera House was perfect! Now, I don't know what they've done, darling, but it seems every dance has that little extra touch. From the Queen of Hearts - so fabulously dramatic with a tiny, delightful bit of cruelty in the choreography (a subtle, very subtle hint of that wicked bite) â to the Cheshire Cat's smooth, slinkily enchanting moves ... divine. I swear, I think my teacup moved during that famous tea party! All these tiny details add such incredible depth to the entire ballet, absolutely masterful. I did have a question, though. All those madhatters - why didn't the hats stay on their heads more often, darling? Such an essential piece of that visual delight. Just a thought, darling. But everything else ? Magnificent!
Oh my, the Dutch National Ballet. Always adventurous! It seems they have become known for their contemporary pieces. I love that daring spirit, the passion for something fresh. They chose to showcase the work of Hans van Manen's "The Dream of a Ridiculous Man". The music - a swirling melody, a captivating counterpoint of passion and a certain⌠strangeness, shall we say, and a real depth. The stage â quite dark and, how shall we say? Dramatic! The lighting created these shadows on the dancers' bodies, really drawing attention to their movement, highlighting the beautiful grace of their movements. Absolutely riveting. Now darling, I have to be honest, the costume choices were a bit.. well, a little on the odd side! And perhaps not the most flattering! A little more fluidity, my dear. But I understand â art for art's sake. A fascinating piece and so inspiring. They have really raised the bar, dare I say it, a little too high for the other companies! It made me .. well, simply reflect upon our own work, darling!
My darlings! New York always provides something different! This time it was New York City Ballet, in a modern reinterpretation of âRomeo and Juliet.â They chose a fresh choreography that - letâs just say it â really took the classic plot in new directions! Absolutely fascinating! I was initially worried, darling, because the new direction â it took the "romance" part of "Romeo and Juliet" into new realms, and letâs just say it was ⌠a little ⌠graphic. But they are such fabulous dancers. Oh my, their technical skill! But I don't need to tell you that about a New York production. They've got it down! Now, about the costuming - darling, the dancers were nearly *naked* on stage! A little too avant-garde? Maybe? It was quite a departure for such a classic ballet! Not a move for the faint of heart, but absolutely intriguing, daring, an incredible reminder of how vibrant ballet can be, how daring and moving. Dare I say, I even âdare I say â I saw myself a little on that stage, darling? What fun that would be! Now letâs move onâŚ
Darling, isn't it fabulous what we are witnessing? This month, ballet is in a dance of its own! Soaring with grace, elegance, and a hint of daring and new styles - itâs refreshing, itâs daring, itâs alive, darling. My question, however, remains - can we maybe, just maybe, consider getting those costuming designers back into that 1930s âglamâ look. All these contemporary looks can be just a little .. *plain*. We need some glitz! A few sequins can make such a difference. Letâs keep the classic elements, darling. Let's never forget whatâs made ballet a timeless art form.
Now, tell me, what ballet are *you* going to see this month, my dear? Go forth and appreciate this delightful, sparkling world of dance.
XOXO
Alexandra