Draft Works, Royal Ballet
Dancers of the Royal Ballet present experimental new works in a programme that celebrates creativity.
Téo Dubreil and David Donelly in Aakash Odedra’s Untitled, Draft Works 2014 (c) ROH/Tristram Kenton 2014
It used to be very rare to catch dancers of the Royal Ballet away from the splendour of the main house; but for several years now, some have been allowed to break away from the Royal’s classicism and try new forms of dance in the annual Draft Works programme. In practise clothes under class lighting, dancers from within the company and elsewhere present their creations, puzzled together in their spare time and performed by their choice of dancers.
The event is curated by resident choreographer at the Royal Ballet, Wayne MacGregor, whose science-inspired ultra-modernism is the perfect foil to the august tradition of the Royal Ballet. He’s also a man of varied tastes, and the evening promises an unpredictable mix of classical and contemporary movement.
In an informal, work-in-progress setting, it’s a pleasure to see those dancers usually hidden in the uniformity of the corps coming to the fore in choreography that privileges their idiosyncrasies.
Who to expect (maybe…)
The names of this year’s choreographers won’t be announced until shortly before the performance, perhaps to keep us all in suspense… but if previous years are anything to go by, there will be a mix of young but already experienced choreographers, alongside the new contributors. Ludovic Ondiviela, whose Cassandra is a much anticipated billing at the Linbury Studio in October 2014, and Kristen McNally, recent creator of the BalletBoyz’ Metheus, have both contributed works for three or four years in a row, along with Aakash Odedra and the National Ballet of Canada’s Robert Binet, choreographer and dancer.
The event has also provided surprises in the past, such as a slapstick romance from the dignified soloist Thomas Whitehead; and English National Ballet Director Tamara Rojo’s dark, bondage scenes in Into the Woods in 2012.
For real aficionados of the Royal Ballet, London events like this are a rare treat. For dance at the cutting-edge of creation, Draft Works will be a highlight of the Royal Ballet season 2015.
Find more ballet and ROH tickets click here.
The event is curated by resident choreographer at the Royal Ballet, Wayne MacGregor, whose science-inspired ultra-modernism is the perfect foil to the august tradition of the Royal Ballet. He’s also a man of varied tastes, and the evening promises an unpredictable mix of classical and contemporary movement.
In an informal, work-in-progress setting, it’s a pleasure to see those dancers usually hidden in the uniformity of the corps coming to the fore in choreography that privileges their idiosyncrasies.
Who to expect (maybe…)
The names of this year’s choreographers won’t be announced until shortly before the performance, perhaps to keep us all in suspense… but if previous years are anything to go by, there will be a mix of young but already experienced choreographers, alongside the new contributors. Ludovic Ondiviela, whose Cassandra is a much anticipated billing at the Linbury Studio in October 2014, and Kristen McNally, recent creator of the BalletBoyz’ Metheus, have both contributed works for three or four years in a row, along with Aakash Odedra and the National Ballet of Canada’s Robert Binet, choreographer and dancer.
The event has also provided surprises in the past, such as a slapstick romance from the dignified soloist Thomas Whitehead; and English National Ballet Director Tamara Rojo’s dark, bondage scenes in Into the Woods in 2012.
For real aficionados of the Royal Ballet, London events like this are a rare treat. For dance at the cutting-edge of creation, Draft Works will be a highlight of the Royal Ballet season 2015.
Find more ballet and ROH tickets click here.
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| What | Draft Works, Royal Ballet |
| Where | Royal Opera House, Bow Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 9DD | MAP |
| Nearest tube | Covent Garden (underground) |
| When |
On 24 Feb 15, 7:45 PM – 10:00 PM On 26 Feb 15, 7:45 PM – 10:00 PM |
| Price | £TBC |
| Website | Click here for more information from ROH |