TELL ME A STORY

By Louise RYRIE

 Not to diminish any part of ballet history; but have you ever stopped to really notice the huge changes and advancement in narrative and storytelling in modern ballet works?

From an exquisitely precious romantic era when revolutionary ballets such as major classic Swan Lake were being staged, mime and gesture to deliver plot and emotions were held within the confines of classical technique. Nineteenth century fashions also went through a period of fascination with tragic storylines and the Arts responded accordingly – think of Giselle’s broken heart and subsequent death and woodland haunting.

Annabelle Lopez Ochoa working with Dutch National Ballet © Altin Kaftira

Diaghilev’s work in the early twentieth century, pioneering the birth of modern ballet, also produced the first plotless ballets, such as Les Sylphides in 1909. Insightful excerpts of Diaghilev’s repertoire were staged this year by Birmingham Royal Ballet’s BRB2 company.

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