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A TRIBUTE TO NUREYEV: English National Ballet at the Coliseum: Review

 A Tribute to Rudolf Nureyev at the Coliseum, London

As this is only the second ballet I’ve seen recently (the first being an accidental brush with Carlos Acosta a few years ago) I came at this piece pretty green.

So please don’t expect any great treatise on what was good and what was bad about either the dancing or the music. Instead, I’ll be yattling on about what I liked and what I didn’t, my overall impression, and which dancer had bigger thigh muscles than the other. Oh, and what I learnt about ballet in the interval from the kind and helpful woman who was sitting next to me.

I mean, let’s face it, ballet and opera are difficult to get into. It took me about six operas before I could tell whether one was good or bad. It’s just not a language we’re brought up with unless we have culture vulture parents and even then the tendency is to just ignore the silly buggers until you get older and think ‘maybe they had a point’. But by then it’s too late and you just have to educate yourself – no easy job when both ballet and opera can cost so much.

I chose this English National Ballet performance in particular because it had a theme – Rudolph Nureyev – and I knew a bit about him which was a start. Also, it comprised three acts with very different sorts of ballet, so it would serve as an introduction to all three.

The reason for this programme is that this year marks the 20th anniversary of Nureyev’s death from AIDS. He’d been diagnosed HIV+ eight years before but had by and large ignored it and simply carried on with his life. If he’d lived, Nureyev would have been 75 this year.

Firstly, there was an informative large screen presentation about the genius of the man, with contributions from people who’d danced with him. He had animal magnetism and was one of those blokes who could walk into a room and turn heads, a quality that unfortunately can’t be captured on screen. Everyone fancied him: everyone wanted to be him. He was a ballet god, one who’d escaped from the nasty Commies and who’d made it his mission to galvanize the Western dance world, a mission in which he succeeded and then some.

Petrushka was originally a Ballet Russe piece, choreographed by Fokine and with music by Stravinsky. It tells an old Russian folk tale of a straw puppet which comes to life and develops emotions including love for his fellow puppet, the Ballerina, who unfortunately only has eyes for the Moor puppet. Yes, the old, old story. Overseeing this puppet love triangle is the Master of Ceremonies, a sort of magician figure with a big white beard and tall Russian hat.

This is a ballet that would have been startlingly new to audiences when it premiered in Paris in 1911 with it’s folk themes, madly modernist costumes and stylised movements. Petrushka scrabbles about with his big puppet hands looking to us now like oven mitts, and I found it difficult without the helpful ‘lady sitting next door’ to follow the very simple story. He seemed at one point to launch himself at a wall which just opened up and half swallowed him, with his legs still dangling in the room, and then the lights went down.

Nureyev apparently loved this role, going back to it again and again. Why? Did he like it because it was a fusion of the traditional Slavic and the avant guarde West, a bit like himself? Or did he simply like the challenge of bringing the straw man to life?

In English National Opera’s hands it only sort of came to life. The fairground crowd scenes were a bit static if tremendously colourful, and Reimair’s Petrushka was suitably puppet-like, with the Ballerina he falls for rather lovely and aloof. The ending was rather abrupt, and I was glad others in the audience obviously knew when to clap as I had no bloody clue.

As some of you may know, clapping is a bit of a bugbear of mine. If you don’t know whether now is the right time to clap, then don’t, otherwise you seem like a right arse and you interrupt the flow. Simple rule. Take heed.

The first interval was 25 minutes. Christ! Enough time to have a proper cup of coffee AND a chat to ‘lady in the next seat’ about what we’d just seen.

I explained my predicament, being a newbie to ballet and all. Turned out she knew a thing or two and was happy to share so I got a potted history of the piece and her opinion: “Well, it was competently danced.” There was a ‘but’ hanging in the air. “But, it wasn’t anything special.”

So there, that’s the verdict from ‘lady in the next seat’ who knew an awful lot more than me simply because she’d been to a lot more ballets than me. Also noted was the fact that another Acosta (i.e. not Carlos) had played the Moor. Yonah Acosta is Carlos’s nephew and is the spit of him from a distance.

I actually did read the reviews of this piece in the big gun newspapers, something I usually never, ever do before writing my review, but I was so adrift in a world I knew so little about that I panicked. I even started a ‘proper’ review myself, but felt so bad at making it all up that I binned it and decided that honesty was the best policy.

Reading these reviews was terribly enlightening. It taught me that reviewing dance is very, very difficult and that’s why the reviews are usually very, very short.

Full of coffee and wisdom, I was ready for the next dance, a modern piece called Song of the Wayfarer choreographed by Béjart and with music from Mahler which was sung by baritone Nicholas Lester.

Two men in sky blue and maroon leotards danced, sometimes in unison – the bigger one in maroon mirroring the smaller one in sky blue – sometimes alone. I wasn’t sure what their relationship was. Often it seemed intimate, only for one to pull away from the other. It was beautiful and simple and I was mesmerized. Those thighs! I would say ‘unnatural’ but I’m pretty sure our fleet-footed ancestors would have had thighs like that and it’s us flabby gits who are the unnatural ones.

It’s only once I’d consulted ‘lady in the next seat’ that I found out that sky blue represented the life of an itinerant dancer (the ‘wayfarer’ of the title) and was Nureyev’s role, and maroon was death. Death!? Well, I didn’t see that one coming. Was he struggling from Death’s grip all those times when I thought he was struggling from a snog? How could I have got that one quite so wrong? As to the performances from Francisco Bosch and, again, Fabian Reimair, I have no clue as to whether they were up to par. Seemed good enough to me though, as they drew beautiful lines with their bodies.

Another 25 minute break later and I felt like a coffee pot. Last up was a more classical piece, one that, if you said the word ballet to anyone, they’d have in their mind’s eye.

Raymonda by Marius Petipa was a famous ballet in the Russian repertoire when Nureyev defected and he was so fond of it that he recreated it from memory, tweaking it here and there. It’s a Hungarian confection of grand basilica sets and gorgeous white, cream and gold colour schemes and is the sort of ballet my mum adores. Tutus make an appearance for the first time in this programme, lots of them, and ballet boys in gloriously dashing military costume. It’s all very very gay (in both old and new money).

What bewildered me was the succession of solos. First we had a stage full of ballerinas and ballet-….hang on, what do you call the male of the species? Boys? Doesn’t seen right. Oh, turns out it’s just ballet dancer. I find it very odd that there isn’t a special word for it. Wonder if they have one in Russia….

So, there was a mass ballet turnout. Then they’d all go off stage and one would come on and do a solo. Clap clap. Then another. Clap clap. Then another. Clap clap. This did get a bit samey, but I just let it all wash over me just as the coffee was trying to wash out of me.

As I had to run off to another performance in Islington, I never did hear what ‘lady in the next seat’ made of the last third of the bill. I liked it, but I don’t think I could have stomached a whole one. Too sugary-sweet even for my sweet tooth.

So, the burning question. Would I go back for another ballet? Like a bloody shot I would. Now I have the taste for it I want to learn more, and it seems to me that the only way to do that is to go and see it live, and the Tribute to Nureyev programme is a pretty good place to start.

WHAT: A Tribute to Nureyev from the English National Ballet

WHERE: The Coliseum, St Martin’s Lane, London

WHEN: Until July 27, 7.30pm, Sat mat 2.30pm

TICKETS: £10 – £67

RUNNING TIME: two and a half hours, inc interval

MORE INFO: CLICK HERE:   

WOULD I GO AGAIN: Yes, and I’d dance for a ticket (although who’d want to see that?)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Queens of Pop withdraw from Manchester Pride line-up

Queens of Pop
Queens of Pop

Organisers of Manchester Pride have announced the withdrawal of internet parody duo, Queens of Pop, from their main stage line-up.

Chief Executive, John Stewart, said:

“Following discussions with the group, Queens of Pop have announced they will not be performing as part of the Manchester Pride main stage line-up.

“Manchester Pride and the group shared concerns that the controversy surrounding their appearance has threatened to overshadow the celebration of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender life in Greater Manchester and divert campaigning effort from shining a light on the very real prejudice and discrimination faced by LGBT people around the globe. We respect that decision.

“We hope that our efforts can now focus on organising four days of first class entertainment over the Manchester Pride Big Weekend, promoting the diverse range of events on offer throughout August, as part of the Manchester Pride Fringe, and raising as much money as possible for LGBT and HIV charities and community groups.”

The duos withdrawal followed the broadcast of their latest video, ‘will i am’ which caused controversy on social network sites and among organisers of other Prides. Organisers of Black Pride wrote to Manchester Pride expressing concerns about the racist nature of the video and disagreeing with their planned appearance on Manchester Prides main stage. The video caused considerable offence to many people and has now been withdrawn from their site.

The Queens of Pop issued the following statement on their facebook page:

“So after much deliberation we have decided to pull out of Manchester Pride. We would like to thank the organisers but we don’t want the controversy to over shadow the event.

“Like lots of comedy our show is edgy, provocative and sometimes close to the bone and that wont be changing.

“To our Manchester fans – you will still be able to see us over the Pride weekend – details will follow.”

 

 

Brighton Pride refuses to stock Russian vodka

Brighton PrideThe organisers of Brighton Pride will highlight the plight of LGBT people in Russia both on the Pride Parade and in Preston Park this Saturday.

In response to recent draconian law changes affecting LGBT people in Russia, Brighton’s gay businesses have come together to organise a walking tableau as part of Pride’s LGBT community parade this weekend. The walking tableau features 100 posters declaring Brighton’s support of all LGBT people in Russia. The poster, the brainchild of University of Brighton graduates Kate Wildblood and Karol Michalec has already been heavily circulated on social media such as Facebook.

A spokesperson for Brighton Pride, said:

“The equality and freedom message of Brighton Pride is clearer than ever this year as we march and celebrate in solidarity with the oppressed LGBT population of Russia. We are one LGBT family and we will highlight hate, injustice and homophobia wherever we see it.”

Vince Laws
Vince Laws

Controversial poet and activist Vince Laws is bringing his BANNED happening back to Brighton after its successful premier in February during LGBT History month at the Jubilee Library. Vince will paint the faces of seventy six people on the walking tableau with the name of one of the 76 countries in the world where it is illegal to be gay.

To highlight Prides solidarity with the LGBT population of Russia, Pride have announced they will not be stocking Russian products such as Russian vodka on the park.

Paul Kemp
Paul Kemp

“Although Pride is often perceived as just a party or celebration. I believe it should have a strong political core as well”, says Pride’s Paul Kemp “we love to party once a year but it is the cause of equality and freedom that drives us to be as visible and proactive as possible. We would encourage everyone to show their solidarity for the Russian LGBT community. We are honoured to have political campaigner Mr Peter Tatchell joining us on the main stage at 5.20pm this year and I would hope everyone to take the time to hear his message”

 

To download Karol and Kates poster, CLICK HERE:  https://www.dropbox.com/sh/54lawyzgo2hu6nd/MHAuaseIVo

Print it out and wave it at Pride whether your walking on the parade or watching it.

To check out James Brooks brilliant film about Brighton Pride, CLICK HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DksNaeojuJg

If you want to have your face painted and march as part of the walking tableau EMAIL:  vincelaws@gmail.com

First Trans* Pride a huge success

Trans Pride

Yesterday the UK’s first Trans*Pride in the Park event opened in warm sunshine in New Steine Gardens with speeches from local politicians and the Trans*Pride organisers.

The sun lasted for just two hours before a downpour had people running for cover but spirits were not dampened. The rain stopped around 4.30pm and the crowds returned to New Steine Gardens to enjoy the performers on the main stage.

Trans Pride

Trans*Pride in the park was without doubt a huge success for the organisers with more than 1,300 people going through the gates into New Steine Gardens. The organisation was first class and there were no queues for the toilets.

In the words of one supporter: “This is how I remember Brighton Pride being ten years ago. Not too busy, not too large. I felt part of a community of friends and supporters.”

Trans Pride

Organisations present included Allsorts, AIDS/HIV Alliance, Broken Rainbow UK. Rise, Mosaic, Survivors Network, Community Safety Casework Team, Sussex Police, FTM Brighton, MindOut, Pace, LGBT Switchboard, BLAGSS, Sussex Students Union, Mermaids, Trans Pride, The Clare Project and THT who had stalls offering information in the community area. Lunch Positive the HIV charity who provide a healthy meal once a week for positive people held a pop up community cafe providing tea, coffee and cakes.

The main stage was hosted by transgender comic Claire Parker who introduced singers, DJs, poets and comics during the afternoon to an enthusiastic audience.

Trans* Pride, Brighton

Cllr Chaun Wilson, Equalities spokesperson for Labour and Co-operative, said:

“Labour in Brighton and Hove welcomes the first Trans Pride. We participated in and supported the trans scrutiny, and local members like Baroness Joyce Gould have been at the forefront of efforts in Parliament to ensure trans people are included in the equal marriage legislation. It was Labour who passed the Gender Recognition Act and we will press for further equality under a Labour government after 2015.”

Dee Simpson, Deputy leader of the Conservative group, said:

“Congratulations to the organisers of the first fantastic Trans Pride day which I was delighted to attend on behalf of the Conservative Group.  It was great to be invited to  speak and show our commitment to taking forward issues highlighted during the recent Trans scrutiny. I really hope this will now become an annual event complete with the parade that unfortunately couldn’t take place this year.”

Deputy leader of the Council, Cllr Phleim Mac Cafferty, said:

“I’m very proud that we are the first UK city to host Trans pride. Our own Trans community is one of the most marginalised groups in Brighton & Hove, and events like this help to challenge the discrimination and prejudice they face.”

Trans*Pride got off to a great start on Friday night at the Dukes@Komedia with the screening of the film Tomboy. Demand for tickets was greater than expected and the viewing was moved into the larger cinema at Dukes.

Trans* Pride celebrations continue this afternoon, Sunday 28 with a picnic from noon till 5pm on Brighton beach just to the left of Brighton Pier and directly opposite New Steine Gardens.Look out for the Trans* Flags.

Organisers will provide some blankets and cushions to take care of your bottoms. Take you own food, the organisers will be providing plates, cutlery, napkins, bin bags and a few snacks and nibbles.

There are public toilet facilities on Madeira Drive next to where the picnic will be, and some parking is available on Madeira Drive. Organiser will be located near the paved area for wheelchair users and those who do not wish to sit on the pebbles. Remember to take your sunscreen, an umbrella for shade/rain and some water!

Trans* Pride is organised by a small group of volunteers and they are affiliated to Brighton Pride. Trans* Pride is part of the Brighton Pride Week series of events.

Broken Rainbow UK the National LGBT Domestic Violence Helpline sponsor Trans*Pride 2013.

Federico Podeschi, their CEO, said:

“Broken Rainbow UK is delighted to have sponsored Trans* Pride Brighton 2013, as a charity we have been supporting the trans* communities for over 10 years with our national LGBT Domestic Violence helpline and other support and awareness services. We are very pleased to be able to extend this support to the self-organised celebration of Trans* Pride Brighton. We believe they will go from strength to strength in the coming years, if fact they have already started to attract visitors from outside the UK!

Finally we would like to remind everyone that as well as being able to call our helpline on 0300 999 5428 whenever it is open, we also have a trans* specific service on Tuesdays between 1pm and 5pm when calls are answered by members of the trans* community.”

Organisers still need money to pay for the event.

If you can help DONATE HERE:

 

 

 

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