"Anastasia" the Ballet

[Natasya]

Yeah, unlike acting it goes to whoever can do the dance best, not by appearence. It often buggs me, but I guess it's for the best.

[Nessa_Ancalimon]

It's just another Anna Anderson piece of crap.

That doesn't mean it's not good.
I would love to see this. It's always interesting to me to see people's different perspectives on Anastasia/ Anna Anderson, especially through the arts.

[grandduchess_42]

It's just another Anna Anderson piece of crap.

That doesn't mean it's not good.
I would love to see this. It's always interesting to me to see people's different perspectives on Anastasia/ Anna Anderson, especially through the arts.

Especially through the arts!

just because its historicaly inacurate... does not mean its not good!
i 100 precent agree with you!!

[Nessa_Ancalimon]

Thanks gd_42! 
  Seeing stuff like this through the arts is always fun!

[Holly]

Of course art can always be appreciated. "It was just another Anna Anderson piece of crap" is exactly what someone who actually saw it told me. It really gets on my nerves how people keep making things about made-up stories instead of history. It's also disrespectful to the memory of the dead in my eyes. Sorry I just have more appreciation for history than story when it comes to the Romanov's. It's things like these that make Anna Anderson have more fame than she deserves.

[Nessa_Ancalimon]

 You're not the only one that feels that way, Holly. We are ALL entitled to an opinion- it's a discussion forum, after all. 
     And that's just the way society is- look at Paris Hilton. But not everyone is exactly a know it all on this subject. And we didn't know that- not everyone looks at the post and go, "Oh, she MUST have gotten that from someone who saw it." And it still might be good to others.

[Holly]

You're not the only one that feels that way, Holly. We are ALL entitled to an opinion- it's a discussion forum, after all. 
     And that's just the way society is- look at Paris Hilton. But not everyone is exactly a know it all on this subject. And we didn't know that- not everyone looks at the post and go, "Oh, she MUST have gotten that from someone who saw it." And it still might be good to others.

(I have no idea what Paris Hilton has to do with anything but it's still early.)
That means I should be entitled to my opinion that making another Anna Anderson artistic vomit is a waste of valuable time and energy.  And people shouldn't be calling my opinions or the opinions of my friends 'rude'. I could say the same about some people here but I won't because I respect your opinions; its a discussion forum. If you consider this art, then I can appreciate it, but appreciating and liking it are two different things.
Lets get back on topic.

[Laura Mabee]

Indeed. There has been a lot of disagreements on the 'Having Fun' threads as of late, so I'm just going to reinstate some rules for people to see. This isn't directed at anyone, it's just a general refresher.


Rules:

1. No Flaming others. This also means that we are not to say uncalled for comments on people's threads. If you disagree, or have something to say, please say it politely.
2. Respect others. We all have different opinions, that's okay. We can disagree without being disrespectful.

 

[Nessa_Ancalimon]

I apologize, Holly. My temper can get out of hand at times..

[Vive_HIH_Aleksey]

I heard about this online years ago, and was always curious about who the choreographer was. I don't think I ever found out. Was it anyone good/noteworthy? I'm kind of picky with them! I adore ballet and wish this were still being performed or at least that there were some clip or something on youtube so I could see... but not until I find out who the choreographer is and see if they're worth their salt!

P.S. I'm baaaaaaack!

[grandduchess_42]

I heard about this online years ago, and was always curious about who the choreographer was. I don't think I ever found out. Was it anyone good/noteworthy? I'm kind of picky with them! I adore ballet and wish this were still being performed or at least that there were some clip or something on youtube so I could see... but not until I find out who the choreographer is and see if they're worth their salt!

P.S. I'm baaaaaaack!

yay!!
lol

hmm i havn't thought about the choreography.. but i'm definatly going to look it up!

[mikeycoleman]

As an actor and director I feel I can give my two cents.

When casting a role, it is best to look for ability first, talent second and look third.  Ability is whether or not you can perform the role.  One actor may be the best singer at your audition, but if they are a tenor and the part is a soprano they are not the right choice.  Talent is the performer using their ability in the best way that they can.  When you have two actors who are equally as able, the one who can make the most of their ability is the one who will be better.  The look of the actor is the very last consideration.  When you have two able, talented perfomers for the role of, say, Anastasia, you cast the one who is the smallest, most innocent looking and not the one who is 5' 11' and 160 pounds of muscle.

If you go in reverse, the production tends not to be as strong.  Lord!  I can tell you stories about a Jesus Christ Superstar production, where the Jesus was a dead ringer, but couldn't sing to save his life!  His looks only carried him until he opened his mouth in the second number.  Then, blammo!  The show was over.

This is why you generally have slightly older women playing younger roles (men too).  Their talent is more honed than the younger girls.

Just my two cents.

Mikey

[s.v.markov]

Kenneth MacMillan created 'Anastasia' in 1967 as a one-act ballet for the company of Deutsche Oper, Berlin; Lynn Seymour danced the title role. In 1971, as Artistic Director of the Royal Ballet (Covent Garden, London), MacMillan expanded it into a three-act ballet by adding two introductory acts exploring the pre-revolutionary life of the Imperial Family. The cast was again led by Lynn Seymour. 'Anastasia' was revived throughout the 1970's, and at some later performances the lead was taken by Lesley Collier. A new production, with new designs, was first performed in May 1996, with Viviana Durante as Anastasia. By 1997, when I saw it, the lead was taken by Sarah Wildor (quite brilliantly imo). Kenneth MacMillan (1929-92) was an outstanding choreographer for the Royal Ballet from 1977 - 1992. Apart from 'Anastasia', he was responsible for 'Romeo and Juliet' (1965), followed by 'Manon', 'Mayerling', 'The Prince of the Pagodas' and 'Winter Dreams' to mention just a few of his major successes. It was during the first night of the revival of 'Mayerling' in October 1992, that MacMillan suffered a heart attack and died. He was the first to spot the exquisite talent of Darcey Bussell, giving her the lead in his 'Prince of the Pagodas'. As a tribute to him, she chose to perform his 'Song of the Earth' to Mahler's score for her final performance with the Royal Ballet on 8th June 2007. Photos and a synopsis of 'Anastasia' can be found in earlier posts on this thread.

[Vive_HIH_Aleksey]

OHHHH I saw clips of that version of Romeo and Juliet, WOW what a talented choreographer! I wish there were a way to see Anastasia! I was enthralled with the Romeo and Juliet clips I saw.

For those concerned about "appearance" of the cast, you DO realize they had a girl playing Aleksei, right?

I don't know much about the ages of prima ballerinas in first-class productions, but aren't they usually in early 20s at least? Really, younger dancers are still in the corps aren't they?

[s.v.markov]

Lynn Seymour was 28 when she first danced 'Anastasia'. Lesley Collier was in her 30's. Viviana Durante was 29 when she took the lead in the revival of 1996, and Sarah Wildor was 24 when I saw her perform the role in 1924. She portrayed the youthful, exuberant and carefree Anastasia excellently in Acts I and II, but needed all her experience and dramatic skill in the dark and terrifying Act III, which takes place several years later. A younger dancer would not be able to cope with this contrast : the only possibility would be to use two different dancers, which would not be very satisfactory. Another point : for the role of the Tsarevich Alexei, the Royal Ballet always cast young MALE dancers from the Royal Ballet School (not female as stated above) ~  in the case of the performance I saw (7th May 1997) Barnaby Meredith. This is possible because his character does not appear in Act III.