Observe that she’s, among other things, dancing en pointe on that guy’s shoulder.
Charlie Martin writes on science, health, culture and technology for PJ Media. Follow his 13 week diet and exercise experiment on Facebook and at PJ Lifestyle
But…take a look at her feet sometime in a few years or so. The ancient Chinese custom of foot binding has little, if any, more claim to mutilating feet than dancing “en pointe.”
She was en pointe on his head and the palm of his hand! Astounding gymnastics! But I wonder, what does that contribute to the rendering of the story? One-upmanship in presentation with no gain in the art, I think.
Man, we’re talking about a whole damn ballet based on a fairy tale, in which the whole point is to present Tchaikovsky and the pretty effete and rarefied dance of 19th century ballet, and this girl is doing things that ballet dancers don’t dream of in pursuit of increasing the impact of the story. I think it’s artistic merit is undeniable.
It’s wonderful for what it is. It’s not so much Swan Lake as an acrobatics performance *to* Swan Lake. Much like a trapeze act version of Pirates of Penzance.
It added a lot of excitment to a dance that has been done so many times that, more often than not, it has become stale. Kudos to the Chinese for raising the bar.
i thought tchaikovsky’s score was supposed to be the central focus of the ballet with the dancers adding to the overall presentation of the music.
You did? Why? In general, the ballet is supposed to be the focus, the music there to present the ballet. (Note that hardly anyone does a ballet of the 1812 Overture.)
my first exposure to the “ballet” (only nutcracker, swan lake, and romeo/juliet) came from old records– not a live performance; so if i have trouble clearly hearing the score then i feel gypped
Incredible, Charlie!
it was a circus show
Which makes it less amazing how?
Unreal. Thanks for posting that.
That gives new meaning to the phrase, “I’m going to go dance on that guy’s head!”
I’ve seen Chinese acrobats in various tourist venues, and they are unreal.
Dancing or acrobatics?
Isn’t it both?
This is the most amazing thing I have ever seen.
Nice, but more gymnastics than ballet.
There’s something terribly wrong about this. . .wonderfully, terribly wrong.
Among other things, his head, too. Impressive.
But…take a look at her feet sometime in a few years or so. The ancient Chinese custom of foot binding has little, if any, more claim to mutilating feet than dancing “en pointe.”
She was en pointe on his head and the palm of his hand! Astounding gymnastics! But I wonder, what does that contribute to the rendering of the story? One-upmanship in presentation with no gain in the art, I think.
Man, we’re talking about a whole damn ballet based on a fairy tale, in which the whole point is to present Tchaikovsky and the pretty effete and rarefied dance of 19th century ballet, and this girl is doing things that ballet dancers don’t dream of in pursuit of increasing the impact of the story. I think it’s artistic merit is undeniable.
It’s wonderful for what it is. It’s not so much Swan Lake as an acrobatics performance *to* Swan Lake. Much like a trapeze act version of Pirates of Penzance.
Personally, I preferred it when Miss Piggy danced Swine Lake with Nureyev.
Acrobatic yes, balletic, no. Typical Chinese tastelessness.
It added a lot of excitment to a dance that has been done so many times that, more often than not, it has become stale. Kudos to the Chinese for raising the bar.
i thought tchaikovsky’s score was supposed to be the central focus of the ballet
with the dancers adding to the overall presentation of the music
this version feels more like a hoighty toighty circus show that ultimately interferes with the composer
i thought tchaikovsky’s score was supposed to be the central focus of the ballet with the dancers adding to the overall presentation of the music.
You did? Why? In general, the ballet is supposed to be the focus, the music there to present the ballet. (Note that hardly anyone does a ballet of the 1812 Overture.)
i should have prefaced my statement a bit
my first exposure to the “ballet” (only nutcracker, swan lake, and romeo/juliet) came from old records– not a live performance; so if i have trouble clearly hearing the score then i feel gypped
ahhh!!!! so amazing!