...is a fantastic ballet. I just loved watching them dance to the dark sinister Nick Cave songs. Giffy: it was the most extreme version of Aliens-trying-to-communicate ballet ever!
It was preluded by part fo a different ballet called Ellipse, and I really liked those dances too. It was three seperate dances that you were supposed to make up your own story for. That suited me just fine.
The first one was about a lady who had a demon possessed arm. She met another woman with a possessed arm and they had a lovely romantic relationship. Then a man turned up and the girlfriend was attracted to him. The man wanted her but not her lover. The girlfriend wanted both of them but it wasn't to be. She left with the man and the original possessed arm lady was left alone in the swamp. (This whole thing takes place in a magic swamp.)
The second one didn't really have a story but was my favourite of the three. It was a truly joyful dance with two sets of partners. They did lots of silly dances like "I'm going to hop back and forth over your outstretched leg" and "Billy-Bob dancing" (heh, some people know what I mean there...) The dancers for this one looked like they truly enjoyed themselves and that joy wa somewhat contagious. There were high fives and bottom slaps and it was awesome.
The third one was about an order of monks. They were living in happy seclusion with their rituals until their white goddess showed up in the flesh before them. One monk was immediately attracted to her and she eventually picked him over the others. They were lovers and he was granted mystic vision powers for being the Goddess's consort. Eventually he tried to break away from her and return to the order, she didn't want to let him go but he fought his way free, forsaking the magic vision and leaving her alone in the dark.
Then it was Underland and I fell in love with the songs "The Weeping Song" and "Stagger Lee". I also loved "Prelude to Death" although it was pretty darn spooky and "Wild World" which had some awesome lyrics.
I was sad they didn't do "Wild Roses" but not that surprised. They seemed to shy away from using his really famous stuff. (No Red Right Hand, sob!)
Anyway now I need someone to choreograph and perform ballets based on the works of these musicians: Leonard Cohen, Tori Amos, Tom Waits (Heee! Singapore!) and more Nick Cave I think. The show was only 41 minutes long, so I think they could do more right?
Posted by jenni at November 20, 2004 09:32 AM