autodidacte Posted May 14, 2004 Share Posted May 14, 2004 Yesterday evening a new John Neumeier ballet was transmitted from the Royal Theater performed by Kenneth and Marie-Pierre Greve. Unfortunately the camera focused on everything else than the two dancers so I can’t say anything about the choreography. Did anybody see it, perhaps at some rehearsals? Link to comment
aspirant Posted May 15, 2004 Share Posted May 15, 2004 The Neumeier ballet "A Wedding Gift" was choreographed using 3 chairs to begin and end downstage left, all black costuming (very simple) and the hip-hop group "Outlandish" performing live with the Royal Orchestra (orchestra in the pit, Outlandish all five of them upstage right on a small platform. It was an interesting mix of I think three or four different songs of various moods. The duo wove in and out of one another and infused the movement with the melodrama expected of RDB. The choreography was angular and at times seems a bit frantic. Some of it worked well with the music, some of it didn't quite match the thumping 2 and 4. While I too was dissapointed that the camera seemed to be pointed at the bridal couple or at the musicians, I think that we have to remember that it was indeed a collaborative project and that all too often the musicians are overlooked (this is unavoidable when you put them onstage). I also think that it was an interesting marketing-effort--with the performance being broadcast to the entire nation, combining hip hop and ballet I think is an attempt at drawing a younger audience, something that any ballet audience can use. Link to comment
Alexandra Posted May 15, 2004 Share Posted May 15, 2004 Thanks for that, aspirant. (Why is it assumed that "younger audiences" will only deign to see a ballet if it uses hip hop music?) Link to comment
Effy Posted May 19, 2004 Share Posted May 19, 2004 It was the constant focus of the not very artistic tv-commentators. Sorry we could not see the ballet for the cuttings. We do have a wonderful crown prince with a beautiful bride, but I do not need to see them when I am watching the Count and countess (Greve meaning count in Danish). I would have given them a bit more privacy to not cut to the roal box every 10 seconds. We prpbably would have gotten the point of the Danish(austrialian Romeo and Juliet pas de deux as well without the cutting. Link to comment
Alexandra Posted May 19, 2004 Share Posted May 19, 2004 Glad to read you again, Effy -- I"ve missed your trenchant comments Link to comment
Mary Posted August 9, 2004 Share Posted August 9, 2004 actually i thought it more interesting to see the couple in love than the choreography, maybe it is just me... Link to comment
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