DDP Talks To
"The Devil Ties My Tongue" by Amy Seiwert performed for the SKETCH Series, 2013. Photo by David DeSilva. Courtesy of Amy Seiwert's Imagery
December 31st: New England Presenter Travel Fund, December 31st: Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet Scholarship, December 31st: 24 Seven Dance Convention, December 31st: National Theater Project Presenter Travel Grant, December 31st: Breck Creek Artist-in-Residence Program
×"The Devil Ties My Tongue" by Amy Seiwert performed for the SKETCH Series, 2013. Photo by David DeSilva. Courtesy of Amy Seiwert's Imagery
“How many times have I heard at the end of a ballet performance, ‘Why did the choreographer select that piece of music?’ Or, ‘I saw X choreograph that music much better.” Or, “The music didn’t fit the dance.’
While I don’t agree with Elizabeth Streb that music is the enemy of dance, some pieces of music are.
How do we help choreographers find an ally – a piece of music best suited to realize their artistic vision? Maybe by looking beyond what the herd is doing.”
On September 28, two men danced like they’d never done before. It was crisp, elegant and romantic. It was also the first of its kind, according to New York City Ballet, which opened its fall gala with a highly regarded program that featured new works from several established and rising stars.
But the one that caught many people’s attention was a world premiere by Lauren Lovette, a budding choreographer who presented her second original work for NYC Ballet during its fall 2017 fall gala. Her piece, titled Not Our Fate, explored love, race, and in this case, an ostensibly same-sex relationship. The players involved: company members Preston Chamblee and Taylor Stanley.
And it very nearly didn’t happen. As Lovette told the New York Times, “I wanted to find a dancer that had a very liquid quality—a strength but also a dramatic side and a contemporary feel and I wasn’t finding it,” she said. “Then I thought Taylor has that. That’s exactly Taylor. Why can’t I put two guys together?”
Why not indeed.
Lovette’s debut for New York City Ballet is perhaps one example of the generational shift taking place in companies and arts organizations across the world, and its message is clear: convention is dying, whether in matters related to romanticism or the perception that men and women are bound by tradition.
Not everyone is as forward-thinking. Shortly after Lovette’s debut, the choreographer Alexei Ratmansky drew heavy criticism for stating on his Facebook page that “sorry, there is no equality in ballet.” He went on to state that women have roles, men have theirs; it’s simply a matter of tradition. But if tradition is what counts, then people like Lovette might not be choreographing at all. That would be a loss for everyone.
“Back in the American ballet world, issues of diversity and equality are front and center. Many have pointed to a lack of female choreographers and heads of major companies. Millepied says that’s a problem that’s specific to ballet. ‘There are amazing choreographers in contemporary dance. If ballet schools made that more part of their mission, I think more women would be choreographing. More women would be interested. You don’t become a composer by just being a musician … you study composition. Ballet is the only art form where suddenly someone wants to become a choreographer and they’ve got to figure it out on their own.'”
Blogged by Isabelle Vail
With news of the Harvey Weinstein allegations causing a media frenzy in Hollywood and beyond, there’s no doubting that systematic change is needed now more than ever, whether we’re talking harassment or the power dynamics that exist between males and females.
The dance world is no exception. Extensive coverage about the need for more female leadership in the dance world has come about recently, but the torrent of allegations levied at Weinstein, James Toback, Bill Cosby, Bill O’Reilly, etc., begs the question: Is harassment happening in the dance world too?
The intimate dynamic between dancers—both male and female—is unique, as it pertains to a professional setting. Popular films and television shows have broached the idea, including the film Black Swan, in which a prominent male character engages in inappropriate behavior with several female dancers. It was discussed in a 2011 New York Times article: To Some Dancers, ‘Black Swan’ Is a Cautionary Tale. The popular television miniseries Flesh and Bone follows a young dancer who, within the first few episodes, was pressured into sleeping with a wealthy company donor by her artistic director.
Dramatized as these examples may be, it reveals a much more sinister compulsion that we don’t necessarily want to acknowledge. But as the Weinstein allegations show, it can’t be ignored.
“Pennsylvania Ballet and FringeArts are presenting a symposium “Challenges, Chances, Changes—Gender Equity in Concert Dance” on October 30, 2017. While more and more women have been actively engaging and renowned as choreographers and directors, it still is the undeniable fact that women face lack of opportunities in the field of dance, just like they do in so many other fields. How do we challenge the hurdle? How do we create and obtain new opportunities? How can we move towards equity? One of six panelists, Helen Pickett is premiering her ballet at Pennsylvania Ballet’s upcoming playbill The Edge. She talked about her experience as a dancer and choreographer, vision for the younger people in the dance world and her new ballet Tilt.”
It doesn’t take much to stir the pot. And Alexei Ratmansky did just that.
Last week, American Ballet Theatre’s resident choreographer lit a firestorm on social media after posting on his Facebook page that “there’s no such thing as equality in ballet,” hinting that leading roles in classical ballets should be defined as they’ve always been: between a man and woman.
Whether Ratmansky knew that his post would draw swift backlash was besides the point. What he likely knew for certain was that people would notice. Dance Magazine wrote about it. So did the New York Times, which took Ratmansky to task in an article written by Gia Kourlas.
For his part, Ratmansky defended his comments, telling the Times that he was simply pointing out that he holds a deep a reverence for tradition.
“Last week we wrote about how choreographer Alexei Ratmansky set off a Facebook firestorm with a post proclaiming that ‘there is no such thing as equality in ballet’ when it comes to gender roles. Coming from one of today’s foremost choreographers in ballet, his words unsurprisingly drew hundreds of heated reactions.
And maybe that was part of the point.”
“Ballet is slower to change than most art forms, but in the span of just two weeks, New York City Ballet, one of the world’s premier companies, will have shown two ballets featuring significant same-sex duets.”
“And if that statement rubs you the wrong way—particularly coming from a highly acclaimed white male choreographer—you’re not alone.
On Sunday, American Ballet Theatre artist in residence and international ballet choreographer Alexei Ratmansky posted this on his Facebook page:
Orlando Ballet is searching for its eighth leader in six years following the departure of former executive director Caroline Miller, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
Miller’s tenure at Orlando Ballet was short but productive. The U.K. native is credited with improving the company’s financial struggles by prioritizing marketing and cultivating a new leadership team. She was recruited to the job by former Kennedy Center Executive Director Michael Kaiser.
Jonathan Ledden, president of the ballet’s board of directors, is set to oversee the organization’s daily operations on an interim basis.
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"The Devil Ties My Tongue" by Amy Seiwert performed for the SKETCH Series, 2013. Photo by David DeSilva. Courtesy of Amy Seiwert's Imagery