Details

From revered choreographer Frederick Ashton comes Scènes de Ballet. Set to the sophisticated eponymous Stravinsky score, the work famously makes use of geometric floor and figure patterns by way of Euclid’s theorems in a piece of perfect precision that means the ballet can be viewed and enjoyed from any angle. This purely classical ballet is as elegant and chic as it is astute, and was originally designed by André Beaurepaire, a young Frenchman who was heavily influenced by Picasso. Ashton adapted the original designs to include a twist of the baroque and the final work sees the ballerinas in tutus of lemon and blue, with double strand pearls and sharp black berets to dramatic visual effect. Scènes de Ballet was Ashton’s own favourite of his body of work and together with his Cinderella and Symphonic Variations, formed the bedrock of what was a vital new era for British dance. The hugely successful Fearful Symmetries was created by Ashley Page on the Royal Ballet in 1994, and received both Time Out and Olivier Awards. A visually striking piece, Fearful Symmetries takes its design cues from Mark Rothko and New York abstract expressionists and is inspired by John Adams’ dynamic score which evokes contrasting images of bustling American cities and the wide open space of the mid-west. The score propels the dancers across the stage, particularly the opening train-like sounds which heighten the sense of forward momentum. And, in a world premiere, Scottish Ballet’s Autumn 2010 season culminates in an exciting new work from San Francisco Ballet choreographer Val Caniparoli. Caniparoli is renowned for his striking dramatic style and his choreography, much like Page, is rooted in the classical vocabulary but presented in a contemporary manner. Scottish Ballet website.

Creatives/Company

Company: Scottish Ballet
Corporate Sponsor: Adam and Company
Choreographer(s): Frederick Ashton (Scenes de Ballet), Ashley Page (Fearful Symmetries), Val Caniparoli (New Work)
Music(s): Sergei Prokofiev (Scenes de Ballet), John Adams (Fearful Symmetries)