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lucyfarmer
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Joined: 26 Jun 2007
Posts: 42
Location: London
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 Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 4:00 pm Post subject: Strictly Gershwin |
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Hope you like it!
Lucy
Strictly Gershwin
by Lucy Farmer
More elegant and sophisticated than dazzling and decadent, Strictly Gershwin is a beautifully nostalgic evening of song and dance. The production combines ballet, ballroom, jazz and tap to the toe-tapping rhythms of George and Ira Gershwin’s biggest hits from Broadway to Hollywood. The English National Ballet are joined by guest Principal dancers Tamara Rojo and Guillaume Cote, and Lilia Kopylova and Darren Bennett who you might recognise from 'Strictly Come Dancing'. The dancers are backed by a 50-piece jazz orchestra led by an energetic conductor, plus the Maida Vale singers and the remarkable Barbara Cook to add some old-school glamour.
Admittedly the opening number fails to excite. It feels more like a practice routine than a show-stopping opener. But after an unsure start the show finds its feet with some world-class dancing. Agnes Oaks and Thomas Edur’s performance of ‘The Man I Love’ is mesmerising. The married couple have danced together for 20 years and move almost as one in a swirl of romance. Lilia and Darren bring some sassiness to the stage and prove why they’re British Latin and Ballroom Champions and the Tap duo show off some crowd-pleasing footwork.
Strictly Gershwin is one of the Royal Albert Hall’s in-the-round productions making for some thrilling choreography. In ‘An American in Paris’ the company leaps and pirouettes in impressive formation and interweaves in a cacophony of colour and movement. An army of Fred Astaire’s and Ginger Rogers’ glide around to ‘Shall We Dance’ and ‘Strike Up The Band’ even has performers on bicycles and roller skates. Video screens of twinkling starlight showing the iconic faces of the age back the stage; the effect is magical.
In true theatrical style Strictly Gershwin saves the best ‘til last. The unmistakable whining clarinet begins ‘Rhapsody in Blue’, a tremendous finale. The company emerges in a wave of sparkling blue tutus, tiptoeing to the delicate piano and bounding to the powerful timpani. A magnificent performance that would have the Gershwin brothers smiling. |
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pickles
MyVillage
Joined: 10 Apr 2007
Posts: 297
Location: Kernow
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lucyfarmer
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Joined: 26 Jun 2007
Posts: 42
Location: London
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| Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 12:40 pm Post subject: |
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| Thanks, it looks great! Oh, and its Lucy ;) |
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pickles
MyVillage
Joined: 10 Apr 2007
Posts: 297
Location: Kernow
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| Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 12:45 pm Post subject: |
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doh! sorry lucy.
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