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We had an overwhelming number of entries for the Coco and Igor competition, but alas there can only be one winner. Linda Kinnersly, your prize from Madman is in the mail! Thanks to all who entered.

Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky is in cinemas now.

16 April 2010

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Win a Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky prize pack!

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Ballet V Fashion, Film, Music

To celebrate the release of the film Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky, Madmen Entertainment is giving away a Coco & Igor prize pack to one lucky Behind Ballet reader, featuring a double pass to the film and a fabulous pack of Madman DVDs. To be in the running, email hello@behindballet.com by close of business on Thursday 15 April with the words ‘Coco & Igor’ in the subject header. We’ll announce the winner here!

Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky is in cinemas April 15

9 April 2010

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Directing dance

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Coppélia, Film

Dame Peggy van Praagh enlisted film and theatre director George Ogilvie to freshen up her production of Coppélia after realising what her weary dolls needed: the deft theatrical touch of a dramaturge. The Australian Ballet’s Coppélia is now in the company of Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, Russell Crowe’s first major film The Crossing and countless theatre classics on George Ogilvie’s CV. Helen Elliott chatted to George about how he brought Coppélia to life.

One day in 1979 Peggy van Praagh came to George Ogilvie and asked for his help. She was thinking of remaking the sunniest of 19^th century narrative ballets, Coppélia. George was a theatre director and he had never directed a ballet. “I remember,” George says, “being surprised and a little confused. I wondered what she wanted from me.”

She wanted that elusive thing that all directors crave – the old made thrillingly new.

30 years later, to coincide with the centenary of Dame Peggy’s birth, The Australian Ballet performs the Coppélia that she, George Ogilvie and designer Kristian Fredrikson first presented to delighted audiences in 1979. Once again, in 2010, George was involved in the rehearsal process of this charming ballet. (more…)

15 March 2010

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Until soon …

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From the studio

Behind Ballet is taking a little holiday over the Christmas period, but we’ll be back in the new year.

If you need to get your ballet on over the break, you can visit The Australian Ballet’s website for videos, galleries, season info and more, wiggle over to our YouTube channel, or swing by Facebook.

Thanks for reading this year. Sophie Bastas is the winner of our comment of the month competition for December for her beautiful missive on Damien Welch’s final performance. For January, we’ll be giving away copies of Graeme Murphy’s Swan Lake on DVD to TWO lucky commenters, so please keep the good stuff coming! We’ll announce the winners at the end of the month.

Have a fantastic Christmas and a balletlicious new year,
Behind Ballet

Image: Lana Jones. Photography Justin Smith

23 December 2009

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White Knights

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Film

Picture this: Mikhail Baryshnikov in a dusty room, being seduced by a red-lipped grim reaper. He throws himself onto wooden furniture and is eventually coerced into committing suicide. This is the opening sequence to Taylor Hackford’s 1985 film White Knights in which Nikolai Rodchenko (Baryshnikov) and evil Colonel Chaiko mimic the two rival nations – Russia and the US – during the Cold War.

What follows is a drama slash dance film set in Leningrad, starring Baryshnikov alongside tap great Gregory Hines. Paralleling aspects of his own life, Baryshnikov plays Russian dancer and defector to the US Nikolai Rodchenko. Nikolai’s plane is forced to land in Russia, leaving him a prisoner to the evil Colonel Chaiko. Hines plays an American expatriate who becomes involved with Nikolai’s plight to escape Russia’s Orwellian society and return to America.
There is romance, car chases and a soundtrack from the likes of Lionel Ritchie, all punctuated by intelligent and powerful dance scenes. Highlights include Baryshnikov’s passionate solo to Vysotsky in a deserted Mariinsky Theatre and his infamous pirouette gamble. Hines bets Baryshnikov eleven-Rubles in exchange for eleven pirouettes. They are done effortlessly. Blink and you’ll miss them.

While you may have seen Baryshnikov’s acting abilities as Carrie Bradshaw’s ‘lover’ in the final season of Sex and the City, it is truly amazing to see his acting talent alongside his natural talent: dance.

Marissa Shirbin was a dancer, is now a romancer and an editorial assistant at Right Angle Publishing

17 December 2009

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Lucinda Dunn’s top five

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From the studio

Lucinda Dunn, The Australian Ballet’s longest serving principal artist, is revered equally for her bulletproof technique and her sparkling approach to characterisation. As she prepares to tackle the complex and very demanding role of the Marschallin in Graeme Murphy’s The Silver Rose, Luci shares some of her favourite ballet moments so far.

The Sleeping Beauty
Aurora is one of the ultimate ‘ballerina’ roles to perform. It’s so pure and technical with big a story to tell, from Aurora’s 16th birthday right through to her marriage celebrations. Although I always find this ballet daunting and challenging, I have wonderful memories of performances where I danced to my full capacity. Plus, having a new version of a classic created on you and dancing the world premiere is every dancer’s dream.
Don Quixote
Don Quixote is another great technical, demanding and energetic three-act ballet, and there are so many facets to the role of Kitri. I gained an Australian Dance Award for my performances in 2007. (more…)