What a grand evening it turned out to be. Obviously I was completely out of my depth and completely clueless about most of the performances. My gorgeous designer friend was looking far more glamorous than me and she knew loads of people there because she’s on the committee, but of course that didn’t matter.
We actually got to watch Sylvie Guillem perform a piece called “Critical Mass” with Russell Maliphant. His feet didn’t move the whole time, whilst she moved around him in an edgy, dynamic way within a 3 metre space. We also saw Carlos Acosta, a Cuban principal dancer perform a solo piece. A lot of the other pieces were very dramatic and contemporary, with an extract of a new dance by the Rambert Dance Company, a piece from Swan Lake danced by two men from Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures, a Wayne McGregor/Random dance piece which was incredible and a very different dance by Pina Bausch and Tanztheater Wuppertal. The audience was full of celebrities – Simon Callow, Alan Rickman, Zoe Wannamaker….
Here is a picture of Sylvie Guillem performing with Russell Maliphant in “Push”, taken from google images:-
Then there was a big party with dancing. Obviously the thought of strutting my funky stuff surrounded by some of the worlds greatest dancers was far too intimidating. I just stood and watched them all and drooled at all those gorgeous muscles (especially the male gluteal muscles).
Bizarrely, during the interval a man came up to me and said my name. I looked at him thinking “oh no, I don’t know who you are” … and then it dawned on me. Our parents lived next door to each other in a block of flats in Hong Kong and I don’t think I’ve seen him for 35 years! Obviously I told him I loved him because I couldn’t believe that he had recognised me after all those years. Amazing. It was lovely to see him again.
Kerry
November 4, 2008I live half an hour down the road from Sadlers Wells and have been pestering my other half to take me there for what seems like an eternity. Top of my ‘would love to see’ would be Sylvie, Carlos and Will Kemp choreographed by Matthew Bourne (thank you Gap for introducing me to him).
Lulu – I would love to chat with you about something which I believe may be of interest to you as both a parent and a blogger.
Would it be possible for you to drop me a line at kerry@digital-outlook.com?
Many thanks!
Chimera
November 4, 2008Wow, it sounds incredible! All those fantastic dancers – i have heard a great deal aobut ‘critical mass’ I’d love to see it. Also pleased to hear pina bausch is still going strong. Studied her work at uni. It was …interesting! loved the top solutions,
T x
Expat mum
November 4, 2008Ooh I’m so jealous. I barely do anything cultural like that these days. Shakespeare three times a year is about it.
Frankofile
November 5, 2008Fabulous evening for you. Why oh why is there so little ballet on DVD or Youtube – or do I just have to search harder? It really seems to be a tiny-minority interest.
family affairs
November 5, 2008If I knew how to embed a youtube video I’d put one on I just found of Sylvie Guillem dancing – she is so incredibly fluid it’s amazing – if nobody can tell me how to do that then maybe just check out some of the blogs/articles under Sylvie Guillem and Russell Maliphant in “Push” Lx
Will be in touch Kerry Lx
wow, Tam, I hadn’t realised you knew so much about dance – no wonder you were so good at pole dancing!! Lx