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Stuff I Love Post 4
Feb. 8th, 2021 05:00 pmMatthew Bourne's New Adventures.
I'd heard about them for a while, but finally in July 2015 went to see The Car Man at Sadler's Wells. At the time I wasn't wholly struck, but it slowly worked its way into my head and I'm now a real fan. A couple of years later we started going to see a Bourne production every Christmas, which is just lovely.
Obviously, our planned trip to see The Nutcracker last Christmas didn't happen, but Sky Arts showed both Swan Lake and Romeo & Juliet. I'm not a particular fan of filmed plays, but I really enjoyed both of these. SM joined me in watching Romeo & Juliet, which he hadn't seen, because I saw it on my London trip in summer 2019. In addition BBC2 showed The Red Shoes on Christmas Day, so I watched that as well. For anyone in the UK, this is available on iPlayer for another 10 months.
On top of their stage productions the company is quite heavily involved in education, and reaching out to young people who wouldn't normally be attracted to dance. Currently they're also running zoom classes at various levels, and today I did a two hour Over 55s class, led by Paul Smethurst and Daisy May Kemp, two of their Resident Artists. It was very enjoyable, as we learnt a little choreography from The Nutcracker, as well as having the opportunity to try out some of our own moves.
I think what particularly appeals to me is the idea of telling a dramatic story just through dance, but without needing to know any of the conventions employed by classical ballet. I find it really engrossing to watch as a story unfolds before me without any need for dialogue.
I'd heard about them for a while, but finally in July 2015 went to see The Car Man at Sadler's Wells. At the time I wasn't wholly struck, but it slowly worked its way into my head and I'm now a real fan. A couple of years later we started going to see a Bourne production every Christmas, which is just lovely.
Obviously, our planned trip to see The Nutcracker last Christmas didn't happen, but Sky Arts showed both Swan Lake and Romeo & Juliet. I'm not a particular fan of filmed plays, but I really enjoyed both of these. SM joined me in watching Romeo & Juliet, which he hadn't seen, because I saw it on my London trip in summer 2019. In addition BBC2 showed The Red Shoes on Christmas Day, so I watched that as well. For anyone in the UK, this is available on iPlayer for another 10 months.
On top of their stage productions the company is quite heavily involved in education, and reaching out to young people who wouldn't normally be attracted to dance. Currently they're also running zoom classes at various levels, and today I did a two hour Over 55s class, led by Paul Smethurst and Daisy May Kemp, two of their Resident Artists. It was very enjoyable, as we learnt a little choreography from The Nutcracker, as well as having the opportunity to try out some of our own moves.
I think what particularly appeals to me is the idea of telling a dramatic story just through dance, but without needing to know any of the conventions employed by classical ballet. I find it really engrossing to watch as a story unfolds before me without any need for dialogue.
