Romeo and Juliet Review

Romeo and Juliet Review

Romeo and Juliet is set to the score by Sergei Prokofiev and is based on the synopsis by Adrian Piotrovsky as a ballet production it has had enduring popularity. I thoroughly enjoyed this production it was very different to any other productions I had seen because it had a complex storyline however the storyline was still being shown through dance and mime. I liked the way this was a character and storyline led piece each dance had a meaning unlike the fun production of La fille mal gardee where they danced for the sake of dancing.

I liked the use of colour within the production I felt that they all worked together, even though there was a contrast in colour between the peasants and nobility they complimented each other well. I felt however, that the costumes worn by Rosaline and her friends at the market place were in such different style to that which they wore to the party that I didn’t realise it was the same characters. I felt it was clever how a lot of the costumes were repeats with a few accessory and colour changes. The costume worn by Juliet at the balacony scene was beautiful it flowed so well as she moved and also showed her innocence and fragility.

That dance scene between Romeo and Juliet was so powerful the emotion they conveyed and build up to their first kiss. The way Romeo danced with her sleeping/lifeless body was also very emotional.

I however, did not enjoy Tybalts death it was very drawn out when it had no need to be his mothers mourning was also a bit excessive.

Research Regency Period Puffed sleeves

Research Regency Period Puffed sleeves

These costumes from Pride and Prejudice 1980 have beautiful sleeves particularly the pink dress. I like the way it uses petal like shapes this would look lovely for a fairy for the ballet.

I like Jane’s sleeves (gold dress) the pointed edge would be good sleeves for a country girl the use of different fabrics compared to the one above which is a much softer fabric makes the costume look less delicate.

The ladies sleeves are beautiful they have so much volume they would create a very dramatic silhouette on stage.

I like the way these sleeves appear to be pleated and puffed out this gives a very delicate feel to the whole costume.

These types of puffed sleeves would often be used to portray young country girls as can be seen from this costume from the ballet Giselle. To help add the puffed sleeve hold its shape a under sleeve would be used. The shape used for ballet sleeves are different to a normal pattern because the arm hole is higher so the sleeve head is shallower but the width is wider. So I want to draft a sleeve in this style, as it will help my historical knowledge, as well as develop my learning in how to draft a pattern. The style was also popular in the ballets that Degas drew which particularly inspire me.

Decoration Workshop

Decoration Workshop

Before we started the workshop we had to consider what ballet decoration should look like and it purpose: ballet decoration should look delicate and fine the costumes should not look like human hands have made them so such things as chunky beads should not be used. Another point that has to be considered when creating the decoration is whether it will be read from a distance so it has to be bold but delicate for the people right at the back need to see the detail of the costume. Also the shape of the decoration has to be equal and balanced. The decoration also helps to convey the character because as soon as a dancer comes onto the stage the audience have to understand who she is. The decoration should also only be centred on the front of the costume because the male has to be able to lift her without any restrictions. Also the decoration needs to be sewn on the manikin so that it doesn’t alter the shape of the garment in any way.

We looked at the decoration of costumes such as this one from the royal ballet for Swan Lake, to give us ideas as to what can be used for decoration.

My decoration

For the decoration on this bodice I was inspired by quite a dark evil character because of this black and green swirly fabric which I used by cutting out the motifs of the pattern to then create the initial shape of the decoration. I then cut into some black lace and went around the edge of the pattern; because the lace didn’t lie flat it looked moss like so I built into this idea by poking out green and brown fabric to make it look earthy like a damp wood. The decoration I felt suited the character of Madge in La Sylphide.

Although, this decoration is for more of a classical style tutu it’s interesting to see whether a evil character can be portrayed through a bodice and tutu and I think it works well.

Once I had sewn this bodice I added beads to make the costume stand out more and create shape and curve at the bust area. I think I need to add even more beads to create more shape at the bust and to add more highlights, because although it is very delicate costume it does need to be readable. Having to hand sew this delicate lace has developed my skills in learning how to be gentle when sewing. Also improving my time management to makesure that I had enough time to sew my samples so that I don't rush and ruin the costume. I am however, pleased with the result I feel I have sewn the bodice well so that you cannot see any of te stitches.

 

For the decoration of this bodice I wanted to create a very delicate piece to show a damsel in distress that needs protecting a character that is young and in love like Juliet. I’m going to bead the bodice so that it brings out the colours and highlights it. For at the moment it is so delicate it will not be read very well from a distance.

 

This bodice was very much inspired by the movie The Black Swan and the merging and conflict between the two sides of her character; I want to add beading and possibly sequins to make the colours stand out more.

It was good to learn how to make this lattice as it was quite hard to make each square equal because it changes as it moulds over the body this decoration is often used for country girls costumes and is used for Cinderella’s dress.

Once I had sewn on the lattice bodice I found that I should have adjusted some of the squares because they are not completely equal.

This is for the plate tutu I was very much inspired by the colours on the male peacock’s tail feathers so I wanted to recreate that shape. This could be used for a character like the blue bird.

Learning how to decorate a plate tutu and bodice has helped develop my skills at using decoration to tell the story of the character not just to look pretty. I have learnt the importance in ballet and all theatre that the decoration needs to be read from a distance but still delicate. It also helped to develop my skills in using fabrics in different ways so cutting into lace and ribbons to create the decoration rather than just applying a strip of lace looking at how you can use the decoration in a different way. It was hard at times to know how to develop the decoration for the evil character I wasn’t sure what to do after I had applied the patterned silk. I had to learn not to be precious with my work but test and see if something looked good and if it didn’t change it. I enjoyed the freedom we had in this workshop to express different characters we were interested in. It will be interesting working from our designs to try to recreate what Mark has drawn as I feel it will be very different because there is not that same amount of freedom within the decoration when you are working to the specifications of the designer.

The Afternoon of the Faun

The Afternoon of the faun Review

This was the first performance which Nijinsky choreographed he used a very different style of dance than when he performed for the Ballet Russes. He rejected all classical formalisation of ballet; the dancers danced in bare feet and moved in a very rigid constrained way with no lifts or reconcilable dance moved. It was a very uncomfortable piece to watch because I didn’t at times really understand what was happening particularly when he is dancing with the nymphs.

The Faun was very animalistic in the way he moved and his facial expressions the way he kept his hands closed also the sexual references you can understand why at the time (1912) it was such a controversial production.

The costumes and set by Leon Bakst are beautiful the colourful willow like trees do create a very other worldly feel to the play, the Greek references in the costumes are very clear with the floaty dresses that the nymphs wear.

All though it was interesting to watch a ballet performance that is so different and was really the beginnings of contemporary dance. I didn’t really enjoy the performance I didn’t like the way he moved to present the faun and I didn’t really feel that there was any dance there was a lot of movement across the stage but it was more like walking. I did however; enjoy the costumes they certainly presented a Grecian like world.

La Fille Mal Gardee Review

La Fille Mal Gardee: The Wayward Girl

This ballet was first performed 1^st July 1789 and is one of the oldest most important ballet to the modern ballet in repertory.

The opening scene of the performance with these life size chickens is very and sets the tone for the whole piece. Although at first I wasn’t sure if I liked the chickens they grew on me as I watched the rest of the performance. Which is wonderfully comical; the boy which the wayward girl is meant to marry shows his character so clearly through the way he dances, in a clumsy and immature way. Having her mother played by a man gives a pantomime feeling to the performance but that does not take away from the enjoyment of the piece.

I liked the way they used a lot of traditional character dancing the may pole dancing, clog dancing, and Morris dancing this reflected the age of the piece for before ballet was formed as we see it now it combined a lot of this traditional dancing with the ballet. I liked the use of props when dancing particularly when the wayward girl dances with the man she loves with the ribbon. It is as youthful and playful as young love should be. The characters within this performance are very strong which is why I enjoyed it so much you were drawn into their lives.

The costumes show the summertime so clearly with bright pinks, yellows, and blues with prints of gingham and stripes. The costumes work well together combining so that it creates a perfect picture of workers out in the field collecting the harvest.

Les Sylphides Review

Les Sylphides

This production is often confused with La Sylphide however; the only similarity is the dancing of Sylphs in a wood. This production is a full ballet blanc and is only half an hour long this is because it is a non narrative piece. There is only one male in the whole production and his identity is unknown he is only really there so that there can be lifts in the piece. Although this performance allowed the ballet dancing to be focused upon however, I didn’t really enjoy the piece I felt that they repeated a lot of the dance moves. It lacked emotion and the music does not change tone so the dance moves are all very gentle which reflects the Sylphs characters well but offers no excitement for the audience.

The costumes where pretty although I preferred the wings in La Sylphide they where a far better wing shape in this production I felt they were too small. I also didn’t like the sleeves they didn’t give a pleasing silhouette.

Overall I feel I prefer a ballet production with more substance which uses the dancing to tell a story not just dancing for the sake of dancing.

La Sylphide Review

Review La Sylphide

La Sylphide is considered a ballet blanc because there is a scene when all the chor of sylphs are in white it is considered the corner stone of the romantic ballet being the oldest surviving romantic ballet. Although it is a Danish ballet production with its premiere at Copenhagen, they choose to set it in Scotland I feel this helps to separate the real world from the fantastical. Giving the costumes grounding in the traditions of this world shows such a stark contrast to the fantasy world. Especially when you first see the Sylph in the hall which is quite gloomy and dark compared to her light floaty costume.

The dancing between James and the Sylph also shows the contrast between the two worlds for they never really dance together as if he is not allowed to touch her. It is not until Madge gives James the scarf and he puts it around the Sylph that he actually touches her unfortunately to her doom. These death scene is very emotional the way we see the Sylph lose her strength as the other Sylphs try to help her onto point but she cannot she is so weak.

It was lovely to see the way the romantic tutu moves as that is the tutu I’m going to be making. The romantic tutu does move far more gently than the plate I feel it portrays the ethereal character of the Sylph well.

I thoroughly enjoyed this production it was funny but emotional the story was very clear and easy to understand through the mime.