#41

Like section no 13. Most of the people in the audience know this is the music for the swans coming out of the lake- one of the big set pieces, and if someone changed it round and used the same piece of music for a different part of the story, most of the audience would be pissed off, because they were looking forward to a swan spectacular and it seems all wrong.

#42

Yup. It’s a ballet for kids at Christmas time. It’s the panto of ballet.

#44

If I saw Swan Lake and it didn’t have the 32 fouettes sequence I would be burning down the theatre. It would be like the Rites of Spring.

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#45

My mum’s cat is terrified of the music for the Rite of Spring. I wrote something about it here before, I’ll dig it out.

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#46

Yeah it’s the “this bit is really fucking difficult- how are they going to pull it off” anticipation.

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#47

Here it is:

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#48

And here is the whistled version:

https://audioboom.com/posts/1422295-whistling-stravinsky-in-a-toilet

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#49

I was lucky enough to work for a ballet company until recently which was…an experience. Also composed a ballet score a few years ago but it’s not something I’d ever jump at the chance to do again.

Got to see some incredible productions: new interpretations of the classics like Swan Lake, Nutcracker, Romeo & Juliet as well as newly commissioned works based on famous literary works. Rehearsal process, dancer training and daily warm-ups were fascinating to watch, and the education programme was one of the most inclusive I’ve experienced in the arts.

Struggled with many aspects though, mainly administrative, like how white, middle-class and male the ballet world is and what little was done to change this across the sector. Also the friction between needing to put on huge box office hits vs artistic integrity meant one inevitably suffered. The vast budgets and resources required to stage even the smallest of ballets was eye-opening, and being involved in how artistic decisions were made was a shock. Glad I’m out of that world now, it wasn’t for me.

Ballet fans - balletomanes - and their knowledge was something to behold! They’re so enthusastic (in both good and bad ways) and a totally different kind of supporter than any I’d ever come across before.

Soz, bit tl,dr that.

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#51

Ha! Oh dear…that’s not good.

Apparently we were one of the most diverse companies dancer-wise in the U.K. (aside from Ballet Black).

But take the creative team for a new production: choreographer, composer, set designer, costume designer, lighting designer and scenario author - all white males aged 30-60. And the story is of a young, white male so the lead role was cast as such. So dispiriting.

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#54

What’s the height and weight limit?

#56

I was friends with a girl at secondary school who is Matthew Bourne’s niece.

My boyfriend at the time sent a rose to her on Valentines day. No idea why.

We remained friends despite that and I was very sick in her Aunt’s baking tray on my first experience of having alcohol.

4 Likes
#57

Another barnstormer of a post here Meo, fucking great stuff mate

#58

That reminded me, after that I deleted all of mine to see what it would give me next time out of curiosity. Looked now, and I apparently like “solidarity, stress, odours, North Korea, gambling and greatness”

#59

it’s the only appropriate post really isn’t it

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#61

For the corps (ie the backup dancers)- they like to hire a whole team of 5 ft 5 dancers so they look the same

For the lead parts: Normally have been dancing in the corps first, must also be light enough to be picked up easily by the male dancers

I am 5ft9 and am a surprisingly heavy 11-12 stone naturally, so wouldn’t have a hope in hell.

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#62

That collection of interests sounds like a really stressful life.

#63

Music’s not bad usually, utterly ruined by the gits on stage.

#65

Actually had to go see the nutcracker suite on christmas eve with my mate. His 11 year old boy convincingly pretended to like it for the sake of my mate’s girlfriend but as soon as she left said something to the tune of “screw the ballet”. Good lad.

#67

have never been, would really like to go

#68

As I’ve already said in this thread, the Nutcracker is shite.

(Although BOO to the laddish “ballet is for girls” attitude).

1 Like