New Beauty Modest By Global Measures

Sydney Morning Herald

Friday December 2, 2005

Sharon Verghis

TOPLESS Juliets, neo-Goth Romeos and a junkie Sleeping Beauty: welcome to the new and edgy world of classical ballet.

In a bid to attract younger audiences and hip credentials, choreographers are setting the Giselles, Nutcrackers, Swan Lakes and Sleeping Beauties of the classical canon in slums, asylums, brothels and rubbish tips.

Nowhere near as radical is the Australian Ballet's new version of The Sleeping Beauty, opening tonight at the Opera House, although it features only one tutu, and design that invokes Bollywood. The resident choreographer, Stanton Welch, was inspired more by the events of the Israel-Palestine conflict than sugary lovers. The fairies are combatants in rival camps, with Aurora as "the Gaza Strip".

But any innovations in the $1.2 million production, the biggest and most expensive in the company's history, are presented within a traditional context by Welch, who raised eyebrows with a 1997 staging of Cinderella which had men in the roles of the Ugly Sisters, and a tomboy Cinderella who runs off with the Prince's valet.

It does not even come close on the shock-factor scale compared to what is on offer now internationally. The Bolshoi Ballet's Romeo and Juliet last year featured a gawky Juliet wearing trousers to her wedding, and a drag Mercutio who falls in love with Tybalt. Then there's the Swedish choreographer Mats Ek, who had a naked Albrecht in his Giselle, and a drug-addicted Aurora in his Sleeping Beauty.

These radical restagings have prompted fears for the future of classical ballet. The Royal Ballet's artistic director, Monica Mason, has spoken against the more sensational innovations, and said the company would take a "back-to-basics" approach to staging.

The artistic director of the Australian Ballet, David McAllister, said: "I feel that Monica is right in saying there shouldn't be innovation for innovation's sake. Choreographers should ask themselves the reasons for the change."

Ta-ta to the tutu - Page 18

© 2005 Sydney Morning Herald

Back to News Index | Back to Home