18 replies to this topic

[Amy Reusch]

Perhaps it is a difference between a European and an American approach to programming?  I think here in the US, we have a tendency to put something serious or dark as the second act and a crowd pleaser for the third act... Although sometimes the second act uses some pas de deux.   I'm trying to think of how to describe a typical first act... usually something that is not a stretch for the audience... The stretch is used for the second act...Perhaps a recognized masterpiece?


I'm looking now at NYCB's spring calendar, and perhaps it's a model not used much any more... Looks like Martins sometimes puts a stretch in the first act and some times a crowd pleaser in the first act, but the third is usually something that closes big & bright.  http://www.nycballet...oryCalendar.pdf


You know what?  I take it back.  I thought this was the usual model but looking around at various US company websites, I see it still happens but is by no means the standard structure.   Perhaps it was once more prevalent.

[abatt]

I remember reading somewhere that Balanchine believed that a program should be designed like a meal - an appetizer, main course and dessert.  Not a bad metaphor!

[Helene]

Sometimes programs are like Oreo cookies:  big ballets to open and close, and some sweet pas de deux in the middle.  Alternately, the first work is to ease in the eye and ear, with the new, difficult or controversial one in the middle, with a very popular draw to close, so the audience isn't tempted to come late or miss the program altogether and wants to stay for the last.  The medicine goes in the middle.

[sandik]

ksk04, on 26 February 2013 - 10:53 AM, said:

kbarber, on 26 February 2013 - 05:40 AM, said:

I am rather surprised to see Agnes de Mille's Fall River Legend revived. I saw this ballet about LIzzie Borden quite a bit when performed by the Royal Winnipeg Ballet in the 70s (I was only 10!). Has anyone else performed it recently?

ABT does it occasionally; or did, rather, when they were doing longer Fall seasons. I hope we can get a film out of it with POB doing it

Dance Theater of Harlem used to perform it, and included it on one of their videos