This link between dance and drama underlies an understanding of and appreciation for the art of Bournonville. A century after his death, "Bournonville" means to most dancers outside of Denmark a "style", a special way of moving, of executing the steps of classical ballet. This viewpoint has originated because non-Danish ballet repertories present his work primarily in excerpt, in divertissements, such as the popular pas de deux from Flower Festival in Genzano, a pas de trois from La Ventana, the tarantella from Napoli and other extracted dances. But these are only fragments of Bournonville. Even if they are delicious divertissements when taken out of context, they are not what Bournonville ballet is all about. The mimed antics of two street vendors in Napoli are as important to the ballet as the flashing tarantella, but if these hawkers are not played by consummate actor-dancers, the whole scene fails.
The King's Ballet Master: a biography of Denmark's August Bournonville by Walter Terry. 1979. Page 34.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment