Dance / South West Dance Theatre
South West Dance Theatre to host summer dance intensive on Golden Age of Ballet
Led by its director, Anna Demming Davis, South West Dance Theatre will be running a series of summer dance intensive workshops for 7-12 year olds at the end of July.
They will encompass a range of styles, including classical, jazz, contemporary ‘through the ages’ and global dance and movement session “inspired by cultures, climates and creatures around the world”.
Amongst these, a day-long event will explore the golden age of ballet – particularly the life and times of Enrico Cecchetti, a trailblazer of the form whose technique is still taught today.
is needed now More than ever
Anna Demming Davis, director of South West Dance Theatre – photo: Chris Hughes
“Professional dancers often talk about the advantages of their training in Cecchetti technique in terms of the dance quality, musicality and appreciation of line it fosters,” Davis notes.
“Cecchetti principles of dancing are legendary – Ballets Russe dancers didn’t want to tour for fear of missing his lessons! But he was also living through some extraordinary times – the Russian revolution and the First World War – so it’s a really intriguing bio to explore for a day.”
The Russian Revolution, 1905 – photo: public domain
Davis likens Cecchetti to “the Nile Rodgers” of 19th century ballet – a man who worked with many of the all-time greats of the form, coaching stars including Anna Pavlova, Tamara Karsavina, Vaslav Nijinsky, Marie Rambert, Ninette de Valoius and Leonide Massine.
Highlights of the workshop include learning the Cecchetti principles of dance, recreating the famous Bluebird solo from Sleeping Beauty (as danced by him) as well as Anna Pavlova’s The Dying Swan, and the opportunity to create a dance film inspired by the great man, assisted by Bristol filmmaker Will Liney.
Enrico Cecchetti and Varvara Nikitina as Bluebird and Princess in Sleeping Beauty – photo: public domain
SWDT summer dance intensive: Cecchetti – Life and Legacy (suitable for ages 7-12) is at Fresh Dance & Arts on July 30 at 10am-4pm; the second part of a two-day long event.
Tickets are available for this day and the other SWDT summer dance intensives via headfirstbristol.co.uk.
Main photo: public domain (Anna Pavlova as the Dying Swan)
Read next:
Our newsletters emailed directly to you
