Alexandra Posted December 9, 2002 Share Posted December 9, 2002 Even for those who don't read Danish, this link is worth the click for the photo. It's of the snow scene in the RDB's "Nutcracker" (one in which the designs are king, and the choreographer a hired hand, according to reports of the premiere last year). It's striking. http://www.berlingske.dk/kultur/artikel:aid=235838/ Link to comment
citibob Posted December 9, 2002 Share Posted December 9, 2002 Wow! Slightly stark, in my opinion. Link to comment
katharine kanter Posted December 9, 2002 Share Posted December 9, 2002 do unto others as thou wouldst etc. Who in heaven's name is the fellow who designed those "costumes", if that is the word ? Link to comment
Alexandra Posted December 9, 2002 Author Share Posted December 9, 2002 He's an opera singer turned Designer/Dramaturg -- he did the costumes for Tomasson's Swan Lake. Michael Milbyoe, and I've probably mangled the spelling. (It's in the review) I would expect he'll be doing some designs for Bournonville ballets for the festival. Link to comment
Farrell Fan Posted December 9, 2002 Share Posted December 9, 2002 Dancing snowmen can't be far behind. Link to comment
Manhattnik Posted December 9, 2002 Share Posted December 9, 2002 Didn't we see these girls in Robert LaFosse's new ballet? Link to comment
Juliet Posted December 9, 2002 Share Posted December 9, 2002 I think they are really, really interesting. Not what I would like to make, but perhaps they are effective on stage. Someday certain designers are going to learn that what is good design for fashion, or visually arresting is not necessarily what is good for dance design. Here is the next step from the Dancing Hostess Cupcakes of SFB's Paquita--the Danish Snowballs. Now I just have to wait for the Twinkies....I hope that Hostess is handsomely subsidizing these costumes. Link to comment
Alexandra Posted December 9, 2002 Author Share Posted December 9, 2002 I really meant it when I said striking -- I agree, Juliet. This is one example, for me, of thinking that a design is good -- or at least interesting, and certainly professional -- without liking it. But it made me interested to see how they'd look MOVING -- and they might move very well. I think they reflect the designer's idea (which, of course, I think is wrongheaded, but reflects a certain European take on things) that Nutcracker is without redeeming value, a stupid children's show with stupid stupid dancing in it, so we have to make it Dark, make it Meaningful, make it Now. (I read the program notes.) And, of course, still lure in the kiddies and make lots and lots of money. So the frigid atmosphere of that scene would suit the production, and is quite Nordic. Link to comment
Farrell Fan Posted December 9, 2002 Share Posted December 9, 2002 Are these bodies divided vertically or horizontally? Link to comment
Alexandra Posted December 9, 2002 Author Share Posted December 9, 2002 Circularly, Farrell Fan. Circularly Link to comment
Giannina Posted December 9, 2002 Share Posted December 9, 2002 I'm with Juliet about liking them but not wanting to make them (that's so darn funny, Juliet!) and Alexandra in wanting to see them move. I really like it. Of course this could be because I'm in the midst of my yearly tape/DVD Nutcracker marathon and I'm slightly blotto. Giannina Link to comment
Alymer Posted December 12, 2002 Share Posted December 12, 2002 I thought the Royal Danish Nutcracker had been choreographed by Ratmansky who recently did Cinderella at the Marinsky. I've seen an extract from that and another pas de deux that he did. Those costumes look weird, But Ratmansky is a serious choreographer, whether or not one likes his work. He was the guy who pulled out of the Kirov Nutcracker over disagreements with the designer, who insisted on putting the snowflakes into black! Perhaps this was a reaction. Link to comment
Alexandra Posted December 12, 2002 Author Share Posted December 12, 2002 Yes, Alymer, Ratmansky did do the choreography. He was brought in at the last minute, after former Artistic Director of the RDB, Aage Thordal Christensen, pulled out. This means he did the dances. The CONCEPT (and design) was Mickael Melbye's A very polite interview in the program book gave hints of perhaps a clash of visions Here's a link to a page on the RDB web site with two tiny trailers of dancing from the production: http://www.kgl-teater.dk/dkt2002/ballet/frame.htm Link to comment
Roma Posted December 13, 2002 Share Posted December 13, 2002 Poor Ratmansky--he just can't get a break with the "designer-dramaturgs". But even Shemyakin's black snow was better--at least the dancers didn't look like they were wearing pom-poms. Link to comment
BalletNut Posted December 13, 2002 Share Posted December 13, 2002 Actually, the designs for Tomasson's Swan Lake are by Jens-Jacob Worsaae, not by Mikael Melbye. Melbye did the designs for Tomasson's Giselle, which is, believe it or not, somewhat attractive, or would be save for Berthe's cardboard-box-looking hat...then again, it's entirely possible he is capable of doing decent costumes for traditional ballet productions, which Tomasson's Giselle is, more or less, and Ratmansky's Nutcracker is not... BLACK snowflakes, eh? Perhaps Shemyakin wanted to show that snow as it looks three days later, all dirtied from the cars driving over it. :eek: But look what we have now! Danish Snowballs, SF's Hostess Paquita costumes, Juliet's proposed Twinkies...I can design some Dancing Ho-Ho costumes, and we'll have ourselves a Nutcracker for the New Millennium!!! I'm going to shut up now. Link to comment
Leigh Witchel Posted December 13, 2002 Share Posted December 13, 2002 Erm, BalletNut? I've just received two Private Messages. The first is From Continental Baking (A Subsidiary of Interstate Brands) asking you to cease and desist from using their trademarks. The other is from the Food and Drug Administration asking you to provide a nutritional analysis in triplicate for any and all proposed ballets. Link to comment
Alexandra Posted December 13, 2002 Author Share Posted December 13, 2002 No, no, don't shut up! I think the Fast Food Nutcracker is just the thing for the new Millennium. Clara and the Little Prince sled through the Golden Arches, and every audience member gets a Happy Meal. Ballet Nut -- of course, you're right about the designer -- Melbye did do "Giselle" not "Swan Lake." That was a thinko Link to comment
Juliet Posted December 13, 2002 Share Posted December 13, 2002 Now you all don't forget that this is going to be a singularly American Nutcracker....ENB did some delicious Licorice Allsorts costumes for their production recently, if I am not mistaken......I don't want to poach on someone else's territory.... I can just see the little CrackerJack Kids coming out from a big box.....or maybe they can all be the little prizes coming out from the Great CrackerJack.... we can have the little French Fries, the little Moon Pies, the little Uncle Leo's Peppermint Sticks, the battle between the Chili Dogs and the Sauerkratut/Kielbasa forces.... fiinishing with the cotton candy and sno-cone waltz..... It will be Boardwalk Nutcracker!!!!! (What do you mean I'm off-topic??? Oh.....alright..... Back to hemming a Drosselmeyer cape that is three miles long.... ;) Link to comment
Leigh Witchel Posted December 13, 2002 Share Posted December 13, 2002 Oh please. The battle scene is not anything so vulgar as sausages in our Fast Food Nutcracker. Lime Jell-o wrestling. Where is your sense of Brand Image? Bon appetit! Link to comment
Alexandra Posted December 13, 2002 Author Share Posted December 13, 2002 Juliet, you were born to design this. Did anyone watch the trailer? The snowball tutus weren't as interesting as I thought. More like heavy tires around the waists of the dancers than something fluffy, like snow. Link to comment
grace Posted December 13, 2002 Share Posted December 13, 2002 i realise i'm coming in late, but i think they're lovely. like alexandra and giannina, though, i find it hard to imagine them in flight. i also think they would be hard to dance in, ruling out (as they seem to) the possibility of 'using' the arms to help you to do anything. Link to comment
carbro Posted December 14, 2002 Share Posted December 14, 2002 As an idea these costumes are intriguing. They certainly evoke snowballs. I can't help but wonder (before watching the trailer) about losing the line of those lovely torsos, though. I imagine that the legs look cut off from everything else. I like the backdrop. It reminds me of the one for the posthumous staging of Balanchine's Swan. So, with that in mind, black snowflakes would make perfect sense!;) Sometimes I think that the distinction between "different" and "good" is lost. Link to comment
grace Posted December 17, 2002 Share Posted December 17, 2002 Sometimes I think that the distinction between "different" and "good" is lostexcellent point, carbro. Link to comment
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