2012 is set to be very interesting year for Scottish ballet It’s renowned artistic Ashley Page is set to leave the company in the summer, have completely overhauling both their ethos and repertoire since he joined the company is 2002. Over the past 10 years he has produced some dark and beautiful fairytale pieces, so it seems appropriate that one of is last tours is a version of the classic Grim story Sleeping Beauty.
Claire Robertson is the principal dancer who has been with the company for eighteen years, and she says that Sleeping Beauty has a special place in her heart as it was one of the first ballets that were created for her by Ashley. She added that it is very special to be part of a ballet’s creative process, especially a long one like Sleeping Beauty with loads of content and choreography, and having such a piece created for you is very special.
In the same vein as Cinderella and Alice, Page’s dark production of Sleeping Beauty is a million miles away from the fluffy Disney versions. Claire says that Ashley always sees things differently from anyone else, and has a clear vision of what he wants to achieve. For example, Aurora pricks her finger on a cactus, and her wedding is held in a top London hotel, unusual but beautiful none the less.
The production has been cleaned and freshened up since the last time the Scottish ballet took it on tour, and part of its charm is that is is constantly tweaked, thus giving audiences a surprise.
There is also a 65th anniversary tour of the Tennessee Williams classic A Streetcar named Desire and a special commission for the Olympics, this is certainly going to be a busy year for the Scottish ballet, so make sure you catch one of Ashley’s final productions.
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