Leigh Witchel Posted March 28, 2002 Share Posted March 28, 2002 True to Ballet Alert's tradition of bravely updating and making relevant the dusty old classics, we offer you, the ballet going public, this opportunity to help us dust off Sleeping Beauty. Generosity, Song, Farine? Why is there a Farina fairy in there anyway? Does Aurora eat Cream of Wheat? We need some real fairies. I modestly propose a few new, relevant fairies to offer their gifts for Aurora. Please suggest what gifts they might bring, costuming, and the choreographers among you might wish to describe a variation or two. The Fairy of Stupidity - This is a truly non-discriminatory fairy. Visiting lands both North and South, people both high and low, the Fairy of Stupidity traverses the entire stage, sharing her gifts liberally and equally with Aurora, and in fact the entire court. The Slacker Fairy - Not much of a variation here. Mostly the slacker fairy hangs out. The Fairy of Distraction - "Oh dear. I'm sure when I left the house I had a wand. Wait. I've got the fairy dust in my purse, I've got Aurora's savings bond. . .Where did I last leave it? Well let's try some magic anyway. . .oh dear. I think that was the wrong spell. Will the King and Queen mind having a baby ocelot? Oh my. I think I had better go back and try and find my wand. Would you all just wait right here, and maybe pet the ocelot? I'll be back as soon as I can. . ." The Fairy of Incompetence - According to The Peter Principle, the Fairy of Incompetence generally ends up being the Head Fairy. Her variation has very grandiose intentions, but doesn't really go anywhere and when done, you realize that you were never really sure whether the Fairy of incompetence was doing a pique or a releve, and neither was she. However, she made sure there she had a big cape and a flashing disco ball during her variation in the hopes you wouldn't notice. Link to comment
Alexandra Posted March 28, 2002 Share Posted March 28, 2002 Oh, what a lovely topic If we're sticking to Sleeping Beauty II fairies, some of the ones I've actually seen are: The Fairy of Efficiency. No one can say she doesn't do the steps, dashing them off, one after the other. She doesn't need a wand; she has a remote control device. The Fairy of Greed. Her variation has the MOST steps in it, often stolen from the other fairies. Only the speedy can attempt this variation. The Fairy of Ambition. In slightly over her heard, the FofA plunges forward, often grimly, dancing many of the steps in her variation, slurping others, falling out of turns, but always smiling, smiling, smiling. For Aurora's breakfast, there's either: The Wheaties Fairy -- dressed in tennis togs, she flits here and there, leaping, jumping and turning (often simultaneously), her arm positions inspired by free weights -- or, in a low budget company -- the Oatmeal Fairy -- lumpy and determined, her variation is rather basic and gets the delivery it deserves. p.s. how come there aren't any boy fairies? Link to comment
Leigh Witchel Posted March 28, 2002 Author Share Posted March 28, 2002 Oh dear. I feel like Cattalabutte. There is a fairy I accidentally left off the invitation list. And you know how the fairies are when they don't get their invitations. I sent an invite to the Fairy of Injury by Federal Express. Let's hope she isn't too peeved. Regarding boy fairies. Well, Nureyev did actually take the Gold Fairy's music (from Act III, not the prologue) and make it into a second act variation for the Prince. It actually makes a handsome male variation. The problem comes when he gives the Sapphire music to the Gold dancer in Act III. In his version, it's also a male variation, but the music is far too fast for the steps he wants the poor fellow to do. I'm a tolerant fellow. I think we could have boy fairies. What gender is the Fairy of Petulance? Also, there are Boy Fairies and then there are Guy Fairies. Guy Fairies are another breed. I think the Fairy of Channel Surfing is a Guy Fairy. Perhaps the Slacker Fairy was actually a Guy. I'm not sure how to deal with transgendered fairies, though. Link to comment
Manhattnik Posted March 28, 2002 Share Posted March 28, 2002 Obviously we need the Fairy of Androgyny. Link to comment
Alexandra Posted March 28, 2002 Share Posted March 28, 2002 Manhattnik, maybe it's time. I do hope Leigh will choreograph a ballet for the Fairy of Distraction one day. I think there are lots of possibilities there. I am beginning to think that I was too 19th century in my suggestions. Perhaps it is time for Aurora to be brought into the real world, or she might grow up thinking she's a fairytale princess. How about: The Fairy of Dread and Doom The Fairy of Nuclear Waste The Fairy of Global Warming The Fairy of Market Upheaval The Fairy of Population Explosion (with her attendants) All presided over by: the PR Faiiry I'll let you all choreograph the variations Link to comment
Ari Posted March 28, 2002 Share Posted March 28, 2002 How could you forget about the Fairy of Connectivity? Instead of a wand, this fairy carries a PDA. The famous "thumb" variation features a constantly working digit as the head swivels always to the mini-screen, allowing constant updates on e-mail, voice mail, stock quotes, and the latest posts on Ballet Talk. Until five or six years ago this fairy was male, but more recent appearances have revealed an increasingly feminine fairy. Link to comment
leibling Posted March 31, 2002 Share Posted March 31, 2002 What about the Fairy of Artistic Politics? She would be the one to break all of the rules and get away with it.... a variation on half point in flat shoes with completely changed choreography, etc. Link to comment
Hans Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 I just had to dredge up this ancient topic to add my modern fairy--the Fairy of Aggression, sometimes known as the F--- You Fairy. Yes, it's that familiar "finger" variation...but with a different finger. She (he?) arrives first to the christening because she cut off all the other fairies on the highway with her Hummer, and she gives Aurora the gift of getting her own way--an important quality for today's children. Link to comment
Mme. Hermine Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 Well I'm voting for an Internet Fairy! Link to comment
perky Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 The Hip-Hop Fairy- brings much needed bling and street cred. to Aurora The Hummer Fairy- Aurora's got to have the biggest baddest wheels a princess can get. The Reality TV Show Fairy- brings Aurora her very own show. Carabosse is the bad guy of the show (think Omarosa), ratings go through the roof. Link to comment
Hans Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 I love the Hip-Hop Fairy bringing bling! Link to comment
Mme. Hermine Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 Wouldn't you love to see the Bling-Bling Fairy's costume!!! Link to comment
Hans Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 I can see the limited-edition Sean John tutu now...let's just hope she doesn't have too many pirouettes with all those chains around her neck! Hm...ever seen a fairy with a gold tooth before? Sometimes (actually, often) I think the Trocks should read Anything Goes for inspiration. They'd do a great job putting these into practice--better them than NYCB. I'm always vaguely afraid Peter Martins is reading and saying, "Why didn't I think of that?!" Link to comment
carbro Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 Thanks, Leigh, for being the Fairy of Clever Threads, and Hans, for the being the Archeological Fairy in digging it up! We could have a Fairy of Political Correctness. No steps in that variation, for fear someone might not like this one or that one. Link to comment
Treefrog Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 The Fairy of World Peace was supposed to attend but s/he got delayed in the security line. Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 Then there's the Cell Phone Fairy, whose music plays, but she doesn't dance, because she's got to take the damned call! Link to comment
jayo Posted July 8, 2005 Share Posted July 8, 2005 How about a feminism fairy? She could expand Aurora's horizons beyond just waiting around to marry a stupid prince - instead she could go to college and become a mathematician or something. The variation could have mime (Marry? No Way!) and could describe the wide range of careers that Aurora could aspire to (doctor, lawyer, etc.) jayo Link to comment
Paul Parish Posted July 8, 2005 Share Posted July 8, 2005 It's slightly off-topic, but I'd like to add Snow White and the Seven Basic Food groups to the wedding party.... Link to comment
bart Posted July 8, 2005 Share Posted July 8, 2005 The Cellophane Fairy (sister of the Cell Phone Fairy), who brings her own sound effects to enhance the Tchaikovsky score. And their wintertime cousin, the Fairy of the Loud A-choo. Link to comment
Helene Posted July 8, 2005 Share Posted July 8, 2005 i think the cell-phone fairy is the modern day personification of Carabosse. Link to comment
carbro Posted July 8, 2005 Share Posted July 8, 2005 The Cellophane Fairy (sister of the Cell Phone Fairy), who brings her own sound effects to enhance the Tchaikovsky score.And their wintertime cousin, the Fairy of the Loud A-choo. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I don't mind the Fairy of the Loud A-Choo, who can't, after all, always control herself and generally limits herself to a few brief and discreet outbursts. Now, the Fairy of Running Commentary, different story altogether! She's sat beside me many a time. As has Cellophane Fairy. Link to comment
Hans Posted July 8, 2005 Share Posted July 8, 2005 These remind me of the Fairy of the Mid-Performance Program Perusal--so caught up in trying to figure out what's going on that she misses all the action and annoys the entire court with her mini flashlight in the process. There could also be the Fairy of Corporate Perseverance, who gives the gift of working at the same job, in the same cubicle, for 40 years while praying to become "Supervisor." Her variation is slow and monotonous--no one says they want to dance it, but almost everyone ends up performing it anyway. I think Aurora would enjoy the Fashion Fairy--dressed in a killer Dior tutu and fabulously accessorized by Saks (think pointe shoes with the little red Prada tag, or maybe the Gucci pattern on the ribbons) she doesn't do much in her variation, but she looks great! Link to comment
Mashinka Posted July 8, 2005 Share Posted July 8, 2005 A British production would have to include a Chav Fairy in a tutu of Burberry check. Link to comment
Mme. Hermine Posted July 8, 2005 Share Posted July 8, 2005 Not a fairy, but I think we could have a variation for Stacey and Clinton of What Not To Wear , accompanied by a Greek chorus of Fashionista Fairies? Link to comment
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