Video & The Dying Swan at Boston Ballet
Yesterday, I watched a rehearsal of The Dying Swan at Boston Ballet. The first performance is 4 May. Three dancers are each preparing the role. In addition Trinidad Vives, the ballet's Artistic Associate led the rehearsal.
Video is integral to preservation and recreation of ballets. At this rehearsal for The Dying Swan the dancers watched a DVD with performances by Anna Pavolva (too melodramatic and antique, besides the silent film was just too fast) and Maya Plisetskaya (those arms!)
Lorna Feijoo
While watching the video, they perform the motions to commit to memory. It's almost like moving your lips while trying to memorize a poem or song.
Romi Beppu
I read a little about The Dying Swan after I watched this. Is this a ballet about a woman pretending to be a swan? Not really. It's about death. The dance is named for a poem by Tennyson, which is very morbid in a Victorian sort of way.
From watching the dancers and from the little I've read about this ballet, I'd say the real challenge here is to interpret this dance in a way which preserves it's real point without being over melodramatic.
So, even if it isn't about trying to be a swan, making those arms beautiful and fluid, well that has to happen or it won't be about anything.
Video is integral to preservation and recreation of ballets. At this rehearsal for The Dying Swan the dancers watched a DVD with performances by Anna Pavolva (too melodramatic and antique, besides the silent film was just too fast) and Maya Plisetskaya (those arms!)
Lorna Feijoo
While watching the video, they perform the motions to commit to memory. It's almost like moving your lips while trying to memorize a poem or song.
Romi Beppu
I read a little about The Dying Swan after I watched this. Is this a ballet about a woman pretending to be a swan? Not really. It's about death. The dance is named for a poem by Tennyson, which is very morbid in a Victorian sort of way.
From watching the dancers and from the little I've read about this ballet, I'd say the real challenge here is to interpret this dance in a way which preserves it's real point without being over melodramatic.
So, even if it isn't about trying to be a swan, making those arms beautiful and fluid, well that has to happen or it won't be about anything.
If not now, when?
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Comments
I love the last one for a dying swan "act".
The Nature Thread would have been funny for these, either that or I need a break.
Thanks for sharing the "world of art" from a different perspective.......with us.
ginger