JUNE / JULY 2017 | WWW.DANCEAUSTRALIA.COM.AUFEATURE 19
Principal, Royal Ballet
“Working with Christopher Wheeldon is always an incredible
experience.Hechallengesmemusicallyandphysicallyina
waythatmakesthecreativeprocessunique.Hisrangeof
worksalwayskeepsmeguessingwhathewilldonextand
this was true in the creation of my role of Florizel inThe
Winter’s Tale. The choreography is highly virtuoso and
incrediblyjoyousandthepasdedeuxwithPerditaaretender
and very beautiful. I was very lucky to create the role
alongside Sarah Lamb. Sarah and I have worked together on
many occasions and also with Christopher, so the creative
process was incredibly fulfilling and exploratory.”“[Storyballets]becamequiteold-fashioned,
yes,”hesays.“TheWinter'sTaleis slightly
fantastical,youhavetosortofgowithit,butit
really looks and feels contemporary even though
itispurelyaclassicalballet.Italsohas
somethingtodowiththedesignelement,by
BobCrowley,whichspectacularbutinquitea
simple way. Not looking heavy. Christopher
saying he didn't want it to look like costume
drama.Somehowbothofthemhavemanaged
to do that.”
Wheeldon and Crowley worked together
before on hisCinderellaandAlice in
Wonderland(which will receive its Australian
premierebytheAustralianBalletinDecember).
HehasalsocollaboratedwiththeNew
York-based puppeteer, Basil Twist, for special
effects–withwhomhealsoworkedon
Cinderella. The original cast included
AustralianStevenMcRaeintheroleof
Polixenes's son, Florizel. (See box.)
WhileThe Winters Taleisamoretraditional
narrative structure, Wayne McGregor'sWoolf
Worksactsinamorethematicfashion.Asone
might expect from an innovator like McGregor,
hehaschosenoneofthegreatinnovatorsof
literatureforhissubject,awriterwho
challengedtheconventionsofthenovel.Asthe
programnotesquote,forher:“lifewasnota
straightforwardchronologyofevents,buta
luminous halo, a semi-transparent envelope
surroundingusfromthebeginningof
consciousnesstotheend”.
McGregor's ballet is divided into three
distinct acts which fuse Virginia Woolf's own
AlessandraFerriandMariaGalleazzi,former
RoyalBalletstarswhohavebothfound
satisfactory onstage careers at an age when
most ballerinas have retired. Both dancers
will be guesting in the Brisbane seasons.
(Ifyouhaven'tseenFerriandJulioBocca
performing the balcony scene fromRomeo
and Juliet,youhaven'tlived:lookitupon
YouTube.)
TouringtheRoyalBalletwiththisprogramis
a massive undertaking. Making the trip across
the seas are about 94 dancers, plus staff, pluse
thesetsandcostumes.TheRoyalexpectsto
have the services of the Qld Symphony
Orchestra,conductedbythedynamicMexican
principal conductor, Alondra de la Parra. Some
oftheroleswillbeperformedbylocalchildren.
Until QPAC began this International Series
in2009,visitstoAustraliabythebestlarge
international ballet troupes had become a rarity.
Suchisthecostoftransportingthemto
Australia that even arts festivals, which were
oncetheplacewhereaudiencescouldhopeto
seesuchinternationalacts,cannolongerafford
them. QPAC, in collaboration with
entrepreneurs Leo Schofield and Ian McCrae
and the Queensland Government, have
provided an opportunity for Australians to
experiencebrilliantperformancesofthekind
they would otherwise not see unless they
travelledoverseas.Winteritmaybe,but
sunshinewillbeontheArtsCentre'sstage.‘WoolfWorks’willrunfromJune29toJuly 2;
‘The Winters Tale’ from July 5 to 9.LEFT: ‘A
Winter’s Tale’:
Steven McRae
and Sarah Lamblifewiththelivesofhercharactersfromher
novels,Mrs Dalloway,OrlandoandThe Waves.
Hehasusedthemusicofoneofhisfavourite
collaborators, the popular crossover classical
composerMaxRichter(possiblybestknownfor
hisremakeofVivaldi'sFour Seasonsand his
mammoth eight hour work,Sleep). The final act
isperformedinfrontofamassiveprojectionof
ocean waves.
Woolf Workspremieredin2015,andwenton
towinMcGregortheCritics’CircleAwardfor
BestClassicalChoreographyandtheOlivier
AwardforBestNewDanceProduction.
TheroleofthematureVirginiaWoolfisa
chance to see two other dance legends:A WORD FROM STEVEN McRAE
McGregor... has
chosenoneofthe
great innovators of
literature for his
subject...”
Federico
Bonelli and
Alessandra
Ferri.PHOTO: TRISTRAM KENTONPHOTO: JOHAN PERSSON