Rob

American living in Australia

I like story ballets. While I agree it would be nice if it can be understood without having to read the program, I can live with it. From my own observation I have noticed that in general the audiences seems much more receptive where there is a some sort of story to follow even if it's a bit lame. The music can really add or detract, lately it seems that at times there seems be an attempt to try to educate the audience with different forms that can be very grating.

As Mel Johnson noted it's (I think American) slang. Dog-and-pony show NOUN: Slang - An elaborate presentation orchestrated to gain approval, as for a policy or product. ETYMOLOGY: From the razzle-dazzle of trained animal acts at circuses. Strange when at the McDonald Ballet competition in Sydney this year, the MC was very vocal about how insignificant support from the state and federal government had been. He also had a bit of fun with their primary sponsor. Noting that in no way where they suggesting that the kids subsisted on or was Macdonald's food performance enhancing. I think the person that called you was more concerned, as you noted, with losing what support they had rather than consider that your article might help motivate or support them in trying to get further funding. Very small town minded of them, not to mention discourteous of calling you directly. Was it even a official call? Would have made a great letter to the editor, I would imagine it would have gotten very embarrassing for them.

My family and I actually went to last performance of Then & Now, and we all agree that Grace described pretty much what we saw. Of course without the 15 minutes of speechifying as it was the last showing, lucky us. My question would be are they complaining about the review of the show or about comments made about the sponsor (BHP) and the dog and pony before the start of the show?

While a relatively new comer to ballet (son started two hears ago) I have to agree with Grace, I think the dancers of the WAB are in a lot of ways better than the Australian Ballet. They seem to me on the average more seasoned and intense. The only complaint I would have with the WAB is that I wish they would do more classical pieces.

While definitely on the dark side there is a scene in the Uprising (Ghetto Uprising WW II) where a young ballerina has her legs broken by friends to prevent her from going to the concentration camp. Deeply effected my son (ballet dancer). The ballet scenes were totally unexpected in such a setting but where very effective in depecting how they where trying to live a normal as possible under the circumstances.