Duets
As part of the Edinburgh International Festival '13 Scottish Ballet presents Dance Odysseys at Edinburgh Festival Theatre and the programme 'Duets' take place on Saturday 17 August at 5pm and Sunday 18 August at 12noon. Stage Studio Tickets are £12 and are available here.
'Duets' - relationships come into focus in extracts from the canon of Scottish Ballet's Founding Artistic Director Peter Darrell, and new collaborators James Cousins and Helen Pickett.
Darrell's poignant 'Five Ruckert Songs' embodies the feelings in Friedrich Ruckert's peotry on love, loss and loneliness with lingering steps and sweeping choreography. Peter's 'Cheri' is based closely on the famous novel by Colette, and traces the tragic love affair between Lea and her young lover Cheri.
You can find out more information here.
First two images: photography by Alan Peebles. Dancers shown are Claire Robertson and Owen Thorne.
Third image: photography by Alan Crumlish. Elaine McDonald in Peter Darrell’s Five Ruckert Songs.
A journey down memory lane
The showing of Peter's films at this years Glasgow Film Festival were very well received and for many who attended a very enjoyable journey down memory lane.
Prior to the screenings Hazel Merry who on Friday 15 February introduced 'One Cool Cat' and 'Houseparty' in both productions Hazel had danced the lead role. On Tuesday 19 February it was Oliver Simons turn to give the introduction to 'One Cool Cat' and 'Mods and Rockers' as he too had danced the lead role in both productions.
Listening to Hazel and Oliver who gave a most interesting insight into Peters creative talent as they had been part of the Western Theatre Ballet Company based in Bristol in the early 1960's, the Company Peter created and directed along with Elizabeth West.
They talked about the early touring days in the UK and Scotland in particular especially the extremely limited performing spaces in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland at that time.
However most interesting of all was listening to them talk about the challenges they experienced as dancers being part of the making of these productions for film and television.
Why I made this film
Elly Taylor tells why she made the film: Peter Darrell Scotland's Dance Pioneer
Peter Darrell founding father of Scottish Ballet was larger than life, a one off kind of guy and I first met him when I worked on the television recording for the BBC of his ‘Nutcracker’ ballet in the late 1980’s. I attended rehearsals to get to know the work and the impact of that meeting remains with me to this day. The atmosphere in his rehearsal room at 261 West Princes Street, Scottish Ballet headquarters at that time, was one of fun, warmth and laughter. His dancers loved him and I liked him immediately. His enthusiasm was infectious and his passion for his work palatable.
So when Angela Petrie, Chair of the Peter Darrell Trust, approached me a few years ago to ask if I could get a film made about Peter Darrell, I felt compelled to try, simply because I admired his ballets, and had great memories of him. Another plus was that no film had ever been made about Darrell and his great body of work. Here was a golden opportunity. So I rose to the challenge to honour someone who created a National Ballet Company for Scotland.
Fellow filmmakers will know how hard it is to get a film commissioned but I set off on the long journey. The more research I did, the more people I met who had worked with him I knew there was a good story to tell. A must for any film. The discovery of early innovative choreographic work before he came to Scotland was so exciting and ‘Mods and Rockers’ and ‘Houseparty’ which are being screened along the documentary are only two examples of the great diversity of his work. He was a man who told stories through dance about life and human relationships. It’s a cliché but he was ahead of his time and pushed the boundaries always. Having great archive helped my film enormously and I was able to bring the past alive. Scottish Ballet were wonderfully supportive and the core of the film is a moving pas de deux from Darrell’s ‘Cheri’ danced by Scottish Ballet dancers, Claire Robertson and Owen Thorne. This brought his work into the present. With all these elements as well as great interviewees, I wrote my script and pitched like mad. In the end BBC Scotland commissioned the film. It was a journey worth taking for the man ‘who made dance speak’.
GFT screening update
Hazel Merry, who danced the lead role in 'Houseparty' will give an introduction to the film on Friday 15th February.
Oliver Symons, who danced in 'Mods and Rockers' will give an introduction to the film on Tuesday 19th February.
Supported by the Millennium Hotel Glasgow.
Peter Darrell: Scotland's Dance Pioneer
Elly Taylor's wonderful tribute to the life and legacy of Peter Darrell
will be shown as part of the Glasgow Film Festival at the GFT along with the rare screenings of Peter's work - Mods and
Rockers (1964) and Houseparty (1964).
The showings are on Friday 15 February 2013 at 11.15 and Tuesday 19 February 2013 at 14.30.
For full details go online or telephone 0141 332 6535. Further information is available here.
Glasgow Film Festival at the GFT, 12 Rose Street, Glasgow G3 6RB
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