DECEMBER 1949 SADLER'S WELLS BALLET OCTOBER 9-NOVEMBER 6, 1949.DECEMBER 1949 SADLER'S WELLS BALLET OCTOBER 9-NOVEMBER 6, 1949 BY DORIS HERING Each time a foreign company comes to our shores, Americans ask, "What effect will the visitor have upon our own dance art?" Companies like the Paris Opera Ballet The Paris Opéra Ballet is the official ballet company of the Opéra national de Paris, otherwise known as the Palais Garnier, though known more popularly simply as the Paris Opéra. , the Ram Gopal Troupe, and Roland Petit's Les Ballets de Paris have done little more than make us thankful for what we have. But the Sadler's Wells Ballet ... leaves us a legacy to be pandered. The legacy is more ideological than artistic. It has to do with the advantages of government subsidy for ballet.... Sadler's Wells ... has a company of some fifty-six dancers, all of whom have what critic Arnold Haskell Arnold Lionel Haskell (July 19, 1903, London - November 14, 1980, Bath) was a British dance critic who founded the Camargo Society in 1930, and Sadler's Wells Ballet School in 1947. calls "school", which "includes discipline ... implies quality, a lack of improvisation however brilliant, a feeling of tradition, and a non-reliance on the drawing power of individuals." This consistency of style comes ... from the fact that the Sadler's Wells Company has its own school, which trains the dancers from childhood. And because they are decently paid, decently cared for, and given adequate opportunities at important roles, the Sadler's Wells dancers don't flirt with the audience or push themselves beyond their capacities.... But government subsidy means more than just sufficient personnel, adequately and similarly trained. It allows for flights of fancy, too. It means that ballets like The Sleeping Beauty Sleeping Beauty sleeps for 100 years. [Fr. Fairy Tale, The Sleeping Beauty] See : Enchantment Sleeping Beauty enchanted heroine awakened from century of slumber by prince’s kiss. , Cinderella, and, in some respects, Swan Lake, can be literally clothed clothe tr.v. clothed or clad , cloth·ing, clothes 1. To put clothes on; dress. 2. To provide clothes for. 3. To cover as if with clothing. in splendor.... Above all of them is Margot Fonteyn.... a great ballerina is a perfectly balanced synthesis of technique, acting ability, and musicianship. And that's Margot Fonteyn. While she is technically well nigh nigh adv. nigh·er, nigh·est 1. Near in time, place, or relationship: Evening draws nigh. 2. Nearly; almost: talked for nigh onto two hours. perfect, there is in every portrayal a sensitivity and modesty that tugs at the heartstrings more powerfully than all the lush histrionics in the world.... Robert Helpmann and Frederick Ashton are already so idolized i·dol·ize tr.v. i·dol·ized, i·dol·iz·ing, i·dol·iz·es 1. To regard with blind admiration or devotion. See Synonyms at revere1. 2. To worship as an idol. for their acting ability that it seems foolish to add more simpering sim·per v. sim·pered, sim·per·ing, sim·pers v.intr. To smile in a silly, self-conscious, often coy manner. v.tr. praise ... |
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