Re: Street versus Ballet
Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 3:38 pm
Street-acro dancers seem to me to be a dime-a-dozen amongst young boys and can be seen throughout the living rooms, play grounds, and street corners most anywhere. This in no way negates the extraordinary and thrilling performances of the likes of Lex, Harrison, Ali, et.al., whose all around talents have so captivated us. It certainly is a style which blunts the kind of ridicule and verbal bullying from peers which often characterize boys who might be interested in "Ballet."
I may be way off target, but it would also seem to me to challenge the authenticity of what the Royal Ballet may be looking for in their potential charges in terms of the beauty, majesty, and elegance of classical ballet movement. One of the messages that Billy brings to us is his determination to fight through the criticism of his special talent in pursuit of his balletic dreams. Those special and iconic movements of Billy at the conclusion of "Solidarity," I believe, is an emotional and pivotal moment of a young boys processing a special talent few of us ever witness from young boys, and thoroughly wets our appetites for what is to proceed in "Electricity."
It is Billy's talent and persistence which provides the musical's core message of rising above the ridicule and "suspicion" of his family and community. Obviously, Ms. Wilkinson joins him in that battle. He seems determined to resist the conventional reaction to ballet both in his day and in ours. Combined with an element of tap, an occasional acro, to provide color to his new found talent, it is "classical ballet" which carries the day. Of course, we have the good fortune to observe the different interpretations of our Billy's depending on what day we see them perform. No wonder I can't count high enough to recall the number of times I've watch him and Michael perform. I'll be seeing the magic again the first weekend in December.
Colin
I may be way off target, but it would also seem to me to challenge the authenticity of what the Royal Ballet may be looking for in their potential charges in terms of the beauty, majesty, and elegance of classical ballet movement. One of the messages that Billy brings to us is his determination to fight through the criticism of his special talent in pursuit of his balletic dreams. Those special and iconic movements of Billy at the conclusion of "Solidarity," I believe, is an emotional and pivotal moment of a young boys processing a special talent few of us ever witness from young boys, and thoroughly wets our appetites for what is to proceed in "Electricity."
It is Billy's talent and persistence which provides the musical's core message of rising above the ridicule and "suspicion" of his family and community. Obviously, Ms. Wilkinson joins him in that battle. He seems determined to resist the conventional reaction to ballet both in his day and in ours. Combined with an element of tap, an occasional acro, to provide color to his new found talent, it is "classical ballet" which carries the day. Of course, we have the good fortune to observe the different interpretations of our Billy's depending on what day we see them perform. No wonder I can't count high enough to recall the number of times I've watch him and Michael perform. I'll be seeing the magic again the first weekend in December.
Colin