American Ballet Theatre I was privileged to be in the audience yesterday to be transported into a journey of the essence purity, honestly of movement and expression. I have seen the ballet Swan Lake performed by numerous ballet companies worldwide but have never been as moved previously to the full extent that ABT delivered in Brisbane. I wanted to see a former student Stephanie Williams perform with the company and travelled overnight from Hong Kong to see Stephanie so naturally feeling a little tired, what the audience experienced and I felt from every artist was mesmerising & totally exhilarated from the beginning to the standing ovation and several curtain calls. On the flight home to Sydney afterwards I was reflecting on why I was so very much moved today. Yes I have seen technique from other companies equal to ABT, however the unique commitment and passion onstage of every artist, not just from the brilliant Misty Copeland as Odette-Odile but from everyone. Everyone onstage felt every step deep from within the soul of the movement. Expression was natural from within and not superficial. Every note played by the orchestra was felt throughout their entire body including their eyes and fingertips which gave even the simplistic movement real clarity & soul. As I’m very interested in early training I often view that students find it extremely hard to feel the port de bras from deep inside the back muscles. ABT demonstrated the most sensitive port de bras which set them above some many other ballet companies I have seen perform Swan Lake. No one had any tension in any part of their hand, fingers or arms which transported the audience on a journey to another level. Thank you ABT for the inaugural tour to Australia, please return in the future so more Australians can view your quintessential performance quality. I have placed another level of importance of the use of the strength of training the back muscles to enhance port de bras on my next DVD that I’m working on at present. After viewing this performance yesterday I’m now going to increase the level of this already planned. Thank you ABT for the inspiration. It is 20 years since I saw ABT in New York and I was impressed then, however this is yet another level of excellence. Congratulations to Kevin McKenzie for his dedication and obvious passion expressed through every artist. Adored seeing Stephanie again and the brief time afterwards, you look completely at home onstage. Please return “down under” Marie Walton-Mahon
Posted on: Thu, 04 Sep 2014 01:51:39 +0000
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