Everything is beautiful at the ballet
Dec. 17th, 2004 08:39 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dancerjodiGraceful men lift lovely girls in white . . .
Last night's performance was very pretty, and just what I needed to get into the holiday spirit. Each year its not really the holidays until I've given my Nutcracker CD a full listen. I love Tchaikovsky, he just gets to me.
I really liked the scaled-down performance of the show at the Colonial. Given the lack of space and the fancy stage they relied on more subdued backdrops and sets, NEW costumes, different choreography, a lot more humor, and very different lighting techniques.
The waltz of the snowflakes was simply breathtaking, due to the shininess of the new costumes (but not *too* shiny), the choreography and the massive amounts of fake snow falling from the rafters. I also loved the waltz of the flowers. Their costumes were actually a bright, light green (think - pastel lime) with 'petals' over the skirts in a pinky-orangey color. Those are two of my favorite pieces from the ballet - I've danced to both of them in my own studio (the Waltz of the Flowers more than once, it was one of Peggy's favorites). After that we'd move on to Straus. Though it was difficult, and challenging I just don't think it flows as Tchaikovsky does . . . but I digress.
I always love the Arabian dance. This year they were both barefoot (rather than en pointe). I remember the first time that I saw the show this dance in particular had a huge impact on me. I was around 15 and had recently gone up en pointe myself. I was still struggling to get used to the feel of it, and my ankles were strong enough to be safe, but I hadn't yet become strong enough to lift myself enough that my feet weren't dying. I was still nursing bloody toes, and almost died when I saw some of the stuff the woman in the Arabian dance did. She was almost jumping on her toes, slow and controlled.
The scene with the mice/mouse king and the nutcracker/soldiers was a riot. The mice (kids from the Boston Ballet school) threw large pieces of foam cheese across the stage at the soldiers (using the aid of large forks that were taller than them). As some danced around during the main battle scene 5 of them did a little mouse kick line in the back of the stage.
Basically, it seems like due to adversity the Boston Ballet is referring more to talent - acting and dancing - to put on a good show. In many ways I preferred this version to the previous more flashy one. Next year it will move to the newly renovated opera house and will change once again.
And now, that thing about me liking dirty men? I thought Drosselmeyer was kind of hot in that scary, well dressed, long-haired man sort of way. Lord help me!
To come, they are doing Sleeping Beauty (at the Wang) this spring. I also learned that there will be a production of Sweet Charity at The Colonial in the spring with Christina Applegate starring! I know Brian will be up for seeing that . . . Hey Big Spender! Fosse choreography and Kelly Bundy - how can you lose?
OK, I'm dance geeking now. ;)
Last night's performance was very pretty, and just what I needed to get into the holiday spirit. Each year its not really the holidays until I've given my Nutcracker CD a full listen. I love Tchaikovsky, he just gets to me.
I really liked the scaled-down performance of the show at the Colonial. Given the lack of space and the fancy stage they relied on more subdued backdrops and sets, NEW costumes, different choreography, a lot more humor, and very different lighting techniques.
The waltz of the snowflakes was simply breathtaking, due to the shininess of the new costumes (but not *too* shiny), the choreography and the massive amounts of fake snow falling from the rafters. I also loved the waltz of the flowers. Their costumes were actually a bright, light green (think - pastel lime) with 'petals' over the skirts in a pinky-orangey color. Those are two of my favorite pieces from the ballet - I've danced to both of them in my own studio (the Waltz of the Flowers more than once, it was one of Peggy's favorites). After that we'd move on to Straus. Though it was difficult, and challenging I just don't think it flows as Tchaikovsky does . . . but I digress.
I always love the Arabian dance. This year they were both barefoot (rather than en pointe). I remember the first time that I saw the show this dance in particular had a huge impact on me. I was around 15 and had recently gone up en pointe myself. I was still struggling to get used to the feel of it, and my ankles were strong enough to be safe, but I hadn't yet become strong enough to lift myself enough that my feet weren't dying. I was still nursing bloody toes, and almost died when I saw some of the stuff the woman in the Arabian dance did. She was almost jumping on her toes, slow and controlled.
The scene with the mice/mouse king and the nutcracker/soldiers was a riot. The mice (kids from the Boston Ballet school) threw large pieces of foam cheese across the stage at the soldiers (using the aid of large forks that were taller than them). As some danced around during the main battle scene 5 of them did a little mouse kick line in the back of the stage.
Basically, it seems like due to adversity the Boston Ballet is referring more to talent - acting and dancing - to put on a good show. In many ways I preferred this version to the previous more flashy one. Next year it will move to the newly renovated opera house and will change once again.
And now, that thing about me liking dirty men? I thought Drosselmeyer was kind of hot in that scary, well dressed, long-haired man sort of way. Lord help me!
To come, they are doing Sleeping Beauty (at the Wang) this spring. I also learned that there will be a production of Sweet Charity at The Colonial in the spring with Christina Applegate starring! I know Brian will be up for seeing that . . . Hey Big Spender! Fosse choreography and Kelly Bundy - how can you lose?
OK, I'm dance geeking now. ;)
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*giggle*
Date: 2004-12-17 07:49 am (UTC)Wang.
(*puts the silly 8-year old away now.*)
Re: *giggle*
Date: 2004-12-17 07:53 am (UTC)I know. What were they thinking? I know its probably named after some cool person and all, but really, what were they thinking.
Kidding aside, I think you'd agree with the Drosselmeyer drooling. He was GAF. :)
Re: *giggle*
Date: 2004-12-17 08:33 am (UTC)"An extraordinary gift in 1983 from Dr. An Wang, founder of Wang Laboratories, ushered in the era of The Wang Center. Dr. Wang's gesture invigorated Boston's cultural community and drew the help of corporations and individuals dedicated to preserving the Theatre."
That's who I thought it was - there's plenty of giggling to be done all over Boston from that guy being generous, and getting his name put on stuff.
I've seen Drosselmeyers I thought were REALLY hott. There's that one REALLY bad movie, where the Prince is DEICDEDLY ugly, with a big unit that's just bigger than life, but the Drosselmeyer in that one was mean and naughty and just cute. Like Snape cute.
*shrugs* We were talking last night about aversions to the Nutcracker (when we surrounded your hubby with chicks at Goffee *grins*) and at least MY issue is I've seen too many BAD productions, with grade school kids and I'm just done with it. (Add to that my aversion to Xmas. *gags*)
However I always wanted to see Sleeping Beauty, so if you need a companion and it's not crazy busy I could go. I CAN get time off during the Season, it's just more difficult and has to be something I REALLY want (like Duran Duran, which WILL be happening *drools*)
no subject
Date: 2004-12-17 07:52 am (UTC)Jose Mateo's Nutcracker has always been more about the dancing than the flash, good to see Boston Ballet getting back to that.
I've seen some younger, hot Drosselmeyers in my day, good balance against the usual old creepy ones.
Male Dancers
Date: 2004-12-17 07:54 am (UTC)I'd say they were going for the scary, freaky, middle aged vibe with him. He even danced some (more than I've seen in past productions).
Re: Male Dancers
Date: 2004-12-17 07:57 am (UTC)