Dougla/Return/Firebird - T01036234974Dougla - Geoffrey Holder's 1974 exotic processional Dougla comes complete with his voluminous, eye-catching costumes and a percussive score accented by whistling flutes. A tribal wedding sets the tone for a steady stream of head-wagging ceremonial celebration. Return - In Return, premiered in 1999, former DTH principal dancer Robert Garland finds the boogie in ballet. Witty and sensationally entertaining, this suite of dances is cued to a clutch of recordings by soul masters James Brown and Aretha Franklin. Here street-smart attitude and the dynamics of black pop music meet classical cool to sizzling effect. Firebird - In a dense and mysterious forest a young man is hunting. He hears strange and ominous sound and then sees a fiery light that sweeps the air and suddenly turns into the glittering image of the Firebird. So as not to frighten her away, he runs to hide as the shining creature leaps onto the scene. The Young Man returns and, fascinated with this shimmering creature, part magical-bird and part-beautiful woman, he attempts to capture her. Terrified, she alternates between frozen immobility and the wild fluttering of escape. She pleads for her freedom and the Young Man releases her. In gratitude she dances for him and with him. Before she leaves, she takes a feather from her breast, indicates that it is a magical feather that will protect him from danger, and then leaps high into the air and disappears from view. In the gardens of the Prince of Evil, the Young Man comes upon a group of Beautiful Maidens, led by the Princess of Unreal Beauty. He watches their simple and joyous dances for a moment and then steps forth from hiding. The Beautiful Maidens are alarmed, particularly so when the young man tries to meet the Princess of Unreal Beauty. But the Princess of Unreal Beauty steps forward and they begin to dance. Suddenly darkness settles over the scene and with a crash of music, Creatures of Evil appear and attack. The Young Man starts to flee but remembers that the magic feather will protect him. He stands his ground against the Creatures of Evil and the wicked Prince of Evil who has joined them. There is a flash and the Firebird appears. With incredible swiftness she circles the stage leaving a wake of fire. The Firebird destroys the Prince of Evil and the Forest darkens. In a final, softly shining lullaby, she brings peace to the forest and then flutters out of view. In the final scene, courtiers, attendants and bearers of pennants celebrate the wedding of the Young Man and the Princess of Unreal Beauty.Producer Dance Consortium. Choreographer Geoffrey Holder (Dougla). Choreographer Avind Harum (Dougla). Costume Zelda Wynn (Dougla). Lighting Paul Sullivan (Dougla). Choreographer Robert Garland (Return). Music James Brown (Return). Music Alfred Ellis (Return). Music Aretha Franklin (Return). Music Carolyn Franklin (Return). Costume Pamela Allen Cummings (Return). Lighting Roma Flowers (Return). Choreographer John Taras (Firebird). Music Igor Stravinsky (Firebird). Costume Geoffrey Holder (Firebird). Lighting Paul Sullivan (Firebird). | |
| 14 May 04 to 15 May 04 | Birmingham Hippodrome, Birmingham :: V145 listing details L720781219 |
| 11 May 04 to 12 May 04 | King's Theatre, Glasgow :: V613 listing details L01464824403 |
| 4 May 04 to 5 May 04 | Milton Keynes Theatre, Milton Keynes :: V754 listing details L01549829819 |
| 22 Apr 04 to 24 Apr 04 | Grand Opera House, Belfast :: V548 listing details L109092484 |
| 15 Apr 04 to 17 Apr 04 | Theatre Royal Plymouth, Plymouth :: V895 listing details L0908377037 |
T79855086Company Dame Allan's Schools in Newcastle. | |
| 7 May 04 to 8 May 04 | Theatre Royal, Newcastle upon Tyne :: V570 listing details L529471271 |
Agon/Apollo/Firebird - T01486746991Agon - (the Greek word for ‘contest') is the ultimate Balanchine ballet. Made in 1957, the great Russian-born choreographer called it ‘a machine that thinks.' Responding to Igor Stravinsky's daring modernisation of 16th and 17th-century court music, Balanchine pushes and plays with the classical vocabulary. The result is dance stripped down to its steely, yet pliable, bones. For those able to hear the dancing and see the music (as Balanchine and Stravinsky once described their collaboration), Agon is a rich, scintillating experience. Apollo - from 1928, is the earliest Balanchine ballet to become staple of the international repertory. Here he and Stravinsky strike a timeless balance between modernity and tradition. A simple story, the young god Apollo infusing the three Muses (of poetry, mime and dance) with the divine spark of creativity, becomes the springboard for a truly innovative homage to the classical dance heritage. Firebird - In a dense and mysterious forest a young man is hunting. He hears strange and ominous sound and then sees a fiery light that sweeps the air and suddenly turns into the glittering image of the Firebird. So as not to frighten her away, he runs to hide as the shining creature leaps onto the scene. The Young Man returns and, fascinated with this shimmering creature, part magical-bird and part-beautiful woman, he attempts to capture her. Terrified, she alternates between frozen immobility and the wild fluttering of escape. She pleads for her freedom and the Young Man releases her. In gratitude she dances for him and with him. Before she leaves, she takes a feather from her breast, indicates that it is a magical feather that will protect him from danger, and then leaps high into the air and disappears from view. In the gardens of the Prince of Evil, the Young Man comes upon a group of Beautiful Maidens, led by the Princess of Unreal Beauty. He watches their simple and joyous dances for a moment and then steps forth from hiding. The Beautiful Maidens are alarmed, particularly so when the young man tries to meet the Princess of Unreal Beauty. But the Princess of Unreal Beauty steps forward and they begin to dance. Suddenly darkness settles over the scene and with a crash of music, Creatures of Evil appear and attack. The Young Man starts to flee but remembers that the magic feather will protect him. He stands his ground against the Creatures of Evil and the wicked Prince of Evil who has joined them. There is a flash and the Firebird appears. With incredible swiftness she circles the stage leaving a wake of fire. The Firebird destroys the Prince of Evil and the Forest darkens. In a final, softly shining lullaby, she brings peace to the forest and then flutters out of view. In the final scene, courtiers, attendants and bearers of pennants celebrate the wedding of the Young Man and the Princess of Unreal Beauty.Choreographer George Balanchine (Agon). Music Igor Stravinsky (Agon). Other Rosemary Dunleavy (Staged for DTH - Agon). Lighting Paul Sullivan (Agon). Choreographer George Balanchine (Apollo). Music Igor Stravinsky (Apollo). Choreographer John Taras (Firebird). Music Igor Stravinsky (Firebird). Costume Geoffrey Holder (Firebird). Lighting Paul Sullivan (Firebird). | |
| 30 Apr 04 to 1 May 04 | The Lowry, Salford :: V0655996499 listing details L985456336 |
Serenade/A Song for Dead Warriors - T0933509810Serenade - Serenade, from 1934, is a moonlit allegory of metamorphosis. Gliding upon Tchaikovsky's score, this abstract storybook-like romance is all about the glorification of woman as ballerina. Balanchine realises his theme with great sensitivity and lyrical elegance. A Song for Dead Warriors - Michael Smuin's 1979 ballet, is a knock-out multi-media elegy for Native Americans. Epic and heart-felt, the production features giant buffalos as part of its scenery plus a battery of full-out ensemble dance passages particularly for DTH's buff men.Choreographer George Balanchine (Serenade). Other Suzanne Farrell (Coach - Serenade). Music Tchaikovsky (Serenade). Costume Karinska (Serenade). Costume Zelda Wynn (Costume Execution - Serenade). Lighting Edward Ferron (Serenade). Choreographer Michael Smuin (A Song for Dead Warriors). Choreographer Atilla Fiezere (Staged - A Song for Dead Warriors). Choreographer Alison Dean (Staged - A Song for Dead Warriors). Music Charles Fox (A Song for Dead Warriors). Design Willa Kim (A Song for Dead Warriors). Costume Willa Kim (A Song for Dead Warriors). Lighting Sara Linnie Slocum (A Song for Dead Warriors). Sound Daniel Levenstein (A Song for Dead Warriors). | |
| 28 Apr 04 to 29 Apr 04 | The Lowry, Salford :: V0655996499 listing details L01833945006 |
| 30 Mar 04 to 7 Apr 04 | Sadler's Wells Theatre, Inner London :: V224 listing details L1409975872 |
Agon/Prodigal Son/Serenade - T1592995302Agon - (the Greek word for ?contest') is the ultimate Balanchine ballet. Made in 1957, the great Russian-born choreographer called it ?a machine that thinks.' Responding to Igor Stravinsky's daring modernisation of 16th and 17th-century court music, Balanchine pushes and plays with the classical vocabulary. The result is dance stripped down to its steely, yet pliable, bones. For those able to hear the dancing and see the music (as Balanchine and Stravinsky once described their collaboration), Agon is a rich, scintillating experience. Prodigal Son - adapted in 1929 from a New Testament parable, is Balanchine's most linear ballet. A young man's misadventures culminate in a sublime act of forgiveness. Set to Sergei Prokofiev's music, it is one of Balanchine's few ballets to have a male central character. The sole ballerina role is The Siren, a figure of monumental seduction and blatant eroticism. Serenade - Serenade, from 1934, is a moonlit allegory of metamorphosis. Gliding upon Tchaikovsky's score, this abstract storybook-like romance is all about the glorification of woman as ballerina. Balanchine realises his theme with great sensitivity and lyrical elegance.Choreographer George Balanchine (Agon). Music Igor Stravinsky (Agon). Other Rosemary Dunleavy (Staged for DTH - Agon). Lighting Paul Sullivan (Agon). Choreographer George Balanchine (The Prodigal Son). Music Prokofiev (The Prodigal Son). Costume Georges Rouault (The Prodigal Son). Other Richard Tanner (Staged - The Prodigal Son). Other Suzanne Farrell (Coached - The Prodigal Son). Lighting Jean Rosenthal (The Prodigal Son). Lighting Kevin Meek (The Prodigal Son). Choreographer George Balanchine (Serenade). Other Suzanne Farrell (Coach - Serenade). Music Tchaikovsky (Serenade). Costume Karinska (Serenade). Costume Zelda Wynn (Costume Execution - Serenade). Lighting Edward Ferron (Serenade). | |
| 20 Apr 04 to 21 Apr 04 | Grand Opera House, Belfast :: V548 listing details L1097281945 |
Agon/Apollo/Prodigal Son - T0310691117Agon - (the Greek word for ‘contest') is the ultimate Balanchine ballet. Made in 1957, the great Russian-born choreographer called it ‘a machine that thinks.' Responding to Igor Stravinsky's daring modernisation of 16th and 17th-century court music, Balanchine pushes and plays with the classical vocabulary. The result is dance stripped down to its steely, yet pliable, bones. For those able to hear the dancing and see the music (as Balanchine and Stravinsky once described their collaboration), Agon is a rich, scintillating experience. Apollo - from 1928, is the earliest Balanchine ballet to become staple of the international repertory. Here he and Stravinsky strike a timeless balance between modernity and tradition. A simple story, the young god Apollo infusing the three Muses (of poetry, mime and dance) with the divine spark of creativity, becomes the springboard for a truly innovative homage to the classical dance heritage. Prodigal Son - adapted in 1929 from a New Testament parable, is Balanchine's most linear ballet. A young man's misadventures culminate in a sublime act of forgiveness. Set to Sergei Prokofiev's music, it is one of Balanchine's few ballets to have a male central character. The sole ballerina role is The Siren, a figure of monumental seduction and blatant eroticism.Choreographer George Balanchine (Agon). Music Igor Stravinsky (Agon). Other Rosemary Dunleavy (Staged for DTH - Agon). Lighting Paul Sullivan (Agon). Choreographer George Balanchine (Apollo). Music Igor Stravinsky (Apollo). Choreographer George Balanchine (The Prodigal Son). Music Prokofiev (The Prodigal Son). Costume Georges Rouault (The Prodigal Son). Other Richard Tanner (Staged - The Prodigal Son). Other Suzanne Farrell (Coached - The Prodigal Son). Lighting Jean Rosenthal (The Prodigal Son). Lighting Kevin Meek (The Prodigal Son). | |
| 1 Apr 04 to 10 Apr 04 | Sadler's Wells Theatre, Inner London :: V224 listing details L01074568259 |
Programme 2 - Dougla/Return/South Africa Suite - T448797614Programme 2 traces the spiritual journey of the African Diaspora in music, song and dance. Celebrating the fusion of Indian and African cultures, Dougla traces the customs and traditions of the Dougla people in a spirited wedding to the choreography of [Geoffrey Holder]. Always an audience favourite, [Robert Garland]'s Return pays tribute to the legendary music of [James Brown] and [Arethra Franklin]. This programme also features South Africa Suite, choreographed by Artistic Director [Arthur Mitchell], [Augustus Van Heerden] and [Lavern Naidu]. Set to the music of the [Soweto String Quartet], the ballet characterises a playful and majestic style of movement inspired by [Dance Theatre of Harlem]'s historic 1992 tour of South Africa. | |
| 12 Nov 02 to 13 Nov 02 | The Lowry, Salford :: V0655996499 listing details L930523276 |
| 8 Nov 02 to 9 Nov 02 | Sadler's Wells Theatre, Inner London :: V224 listing details L01684604031 |
Programme 1 - Twist/New Bach/The Four Temperaments - T01050864165Twist - A dynamic ballet choreographed by [Dwight Rhoden] in tribute to [Dance Theatre of Harlem]'s work in reinvigorating neoclassical ballet. New Bach - explores [Robert Garland]'s choreographic synthesis of classical technique and natural urban dance styles in three movements of [Bach]'s Violin Concerto in A Minor. The Company also presents [George Balanchine]'s The Four Temperaments, regarded as one of the greatest translations of music into dance and hailed as Time Magazine's 'Best of the Century'.Choreographer Dwight Rhoden. Choreographer Robert Garland. Choreographer George Balanchine. Director Arthur Miller. | |
| 4 Nov 02 to 7 Nov 02 | Sadler's Wells Theatre, Inner London :: V224 listing details L2115036965 |
