Anna Pavlova in Ashton’s La Fille mal gardée. Ph Unknown. 1909, Berlin.
As the current Covid-19 pandemic lockdown rules out any live events, including Ashton Rediscovered masterclasses, the Frederick Ashton Foundation marks the anniversary of the birth of Frederick Ashton on 17 September 1904 this coming Thursday with four, Ashton-related online films:
THE DYING SWAN
Anna Pavlova
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Here Anna Pavlova is dancing The Dying Swan, her signature, and most well-known, solo choreographed for her in 1905 by Mikhail Fokine. Frederick Ashton was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador on 17 September 1904 and when later the family moved to Lima, Peru, he saw there, aged 13, a performance by the world-famous ballerina Anna Pavlova. He said many times in later life that from that moment on he was “injected by her poison” and was determined to dance. Although he was a gifted dancer it was for his genius as a choreographer that he became known worldwide. Pavlova’s influence was to remain with him for the rest of his life. Ninette de Valois, Founder of The Royal Ballet, wrote about Ashton: “Often in our many private conversations we would discuss influences. We always came back to our joint love and admiration of Pavlova. He saw her dance first when he was a young boy in South America, I saw her when I was a young teenager in London… and wrote copious notes recording The Dying Swan – with the musical phrasing carefully noted – as Pavlova danced it at that time. All my life I have remembered her intrinsic head movements, and in Ashton’s choreography there is often to be seen that electrifying and magnetic flow of movement that belonged to the Pavlova he saw in South America. Ashton can be regarded as the English choreographer who responded from the beginning to the lyrical quality that smooths out the delicate precision to be found in our English classical style. His choreography has the same fundamental approach. Throughout his career there has been this true partnership, where sympathy and understanding have been equally divided.”
THE SWAN
Céline Gittens
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This second film, prompted by Anna Pavlova’s Dying Swan, features Birmingham Royal Ballet Principal Céline Gittens, who was filmed at home during the 2020 lockdown, in a version by BRB Director, Carlos Acosta, who also introduces and closes the film. With Jonathan Higgins, Principal Pianist, Birmingham Royal Ballet and António Novais, Cello, Royal Ballet Sinfonia.
With thanks to Birmingham Royal Ballet
THE SWAN
Calvin Richardson
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This film, also prompted by Anna Pavlova’s solo, is a very different, contemporary take on The Dying Swan, choreographed during his time as a student at the Royal Ballet School by Royal Ballet Soloist Calvin Richardson, who was also inspired by seeing Lil Buck, the American street dancer, performing to the same music, accompanied by the cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Here, Calvin is shown dancing the solo at a Royal Ballet gala in Cairns, Australia during the Company’s tour there in 2017. With Kate Shipway, Pianist, The Royal Ballet and Patrick Murphy, Cello, Queensland Performing Arts Centre.
With thanks to The Royal Ballet and Queensland Performing Arts Centre
ASHTON’S CHOREOGRAPHY
Gerard Charles, Anthony Dowell & Marianela Nuñez
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Finally, a film from the Royal Academy of Dance – featuring Gerard Charles, RAD Artistic Director, in conversation with Sir Anthony Dowell, former Principal Dancer and Director of The Royal Ballet, and Marianela Nuñez, Principal Dancer, The Royal Ballet – about working with Ashton and dancing his choreography. The film was part of the RAD’s online ‘Zoom in on The Fonteyn’ series, which was made available to dance students and their teachers from all over the world who had been due to take part in the cancelled 2020 Margot Fonteyn International Ballet Competition (‘The Fonteyn’, formerly ‘The Genée’).
With thanks to the Royal Academy of Dance