Report of an interview of David Drew, Natalie Decorte
and Johannes Stepanek by David Bain
Swedenborg Hall, London
11 July 2002
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A packed audience attended the Association’s July meeting to hear a
lively account of the Australian tour. As always the meeting started with
the drawing of raffle prizes, but unusually this was followed by an auction
of a picture donated to the Association by Angela Yeomen. David Drew displayed
his skills as auctioneer in drawing bids out of a surprised audience.The proceeds
will go towards the Association’s funds.
Eventually we settled back to discuss the tour, although much of the evening
centred round the social life of the tour rather than dancing, giving members
a flavour of what it is like to be away on a six weektour. The tour started
in Brisbane. David was not on this part of the tour, so it was left
to Natalie and Johannes to describe the initial traumas. A number of dancers
were ill following the long journey to Brisbane. These included Jonathan Cope,
who had been due to dance Siegfried with Darcey Bussell on the opening night.
His place was taken by Gael Lambiotte, a guest from Boston Ballet, whom some
members will have seen last year dancing with Dutch National Ballet. Gael
was expecting to dance the second night with Tamara Rojo, but Tamara’s
previously injured foot swelled upon the flight and she eventually had to
have an operation on her toe. Consequently she danced not a step, but found
time to return to Spain to receive a prestigious award from the King for services
to the arts, equivalent to being a “dame”. This she had to receive
on crutches! The second night saw the debuts of Jamie Tapper and Robert Tewsley.
Robert was expecting to partner Leanne Benjamin later in the tour, as he did,
but Jamie had not expected a show. Notices for her two performances were excellent,
as were they for another debutante, Ivan Putrov who gave two performances
with Miyako Yoshida. Six performances in Brisbane of Swan Lake saw only one
established cast, Leanne Benjamin and Johan Kobborg.
Natalie, an Australian, had never been to Brisbane and was surprised by it.
Returning home for the first time on a tour she was worried that maybe all
Australia had changed. She need not have worried, Sydney and Melbourne were
much livelier as many dancers discovered! Asked about audiences, the dancers
said that whilst first nights were full, audiences in Brisbane and Sydney
were generally disappointing. One performance of Giselle was cancelled and
audiences for the triple bill were very disappointing. In Melbourne, most
performances were full. Melbourne is a very English city and the base for
Australian Ballet. It also, as many discovered has a large casino. Asked how
often he attended, David Drew indicated, to laughter, that he only watched.
However, he gave an excellent mime of playing Pokies (one arm bandits).
In Sydney, performances were at the Capitol Theatre. A very ornate building
that had once housed a circus and had a ceiling displaying the stars in the
southern sky. It is generally used for musicals and lacked space in the wings.
It was not a deep stage, giving less exits than usual for the corps. Studio
floors were very hard, so most did class on stage. The Company takes its own
flooring for the stage on tours. The Company did not dance at the Opera House
as the stage is too small for anything other than small productions. A great
building from outside, the architect left the project before the inside was
designed. The Royal Ballet would not have been able to get a production on
stage. At all theatres rehearsals were difficult. Giselle had to be rehearsed,
including the dress rehearsal, without costumes or scenery. Placing was difficult.
Most dancers stayed in apartment blocks. Those that shared rooms had washing
machines in their apartments, which helped ease pressures of the tour. In
Sydney apartments were close to the theatre, near Darling Harbour“which
was great”. It involved a walk through Chinatown, which is being rebuilt.
In Melbourne, the Company performed at the Victorian Arts Centre, the home
of Australian Ballet. Facilities were much better, although for many a coach
trip was needed back to their apartments after performances, as it was a long
walk.
Unfortunately Sylvie Guillem had to drop out of Giselle in Sydney, through
a combination of illness and injury. She arrived in a blaze of publicity for
“Marguerite and Armand” and also danced one “Giselle”
in Melbourne. Alina Cojocaru gave an extra performance of Giselle, as did
Darcey and Leanne. Jonathan Cope had recovered by Sydney.
Dancers enjoyed Sydney. Many made the most of their time.Natalie appeared
to be hosting relations continuously. Many went on trips,especially on the
three day break between Sydney and Melbourne. Some went on harbour trips.
David, along with Marianela Nunez, Gael Lambiote, Ivan Putrov and Jane Burn
attended the supporters group (known as WOMBATS) harbour trip - made notable
by David Drew’s attempt at aboriginal dancing led by two extremely interesting
Aborigines who gave a display of their dance, folk lore and music.The dances
had been handed down from fore-fathers. As now in London, cows were everywhere
in Sydney. David described a dramatic piece of sculpture of sheep in Sydney
and Johan Kobborg found its equivalent in Melbourne, called “Coming
and going” with six sheep in different stages of entering or exiting
boxes. Some went on trips to the Blue Mountains, others to beaches, whilst
some cuddled koalas.
Injuries continued. The pressure on Jamie Tapper resulted in her becoming
injured and having to drop out of performances in Sydney andMelbourne. This
resulted in Lauren Cuthbertson making her debut as one of the four girls in
“Tryst”. She made a very good impression, particularly as she
only celebrated her eighteenth birthday in Sydney. Amongst other Gemma Bond
and Ilona Loots were also injured.
There were many notable debuts. Not least, for the writer as it was his reason
for going to Australia, Alina Cojocaru’s debut in Swan Lake with Johan
Kobborg. Because of Tamara’s absence she had three performances and
received critical acclaim. Marianela Nunez made her belated debut as Myrthe
in“Giselle” with Alina and Johan. She was very fierce. Other notable
debuts,which we forgot to report included Monica Mason as Berthe in Giselle
and Mara Galeazzi dancing the lead in “Leaves are Fading”. David,
Natalie and Johannes felt it difficult to comment about colleagues performances,
but I could confirm thesuccess of each debut. Reviews were strange. Some were
fulsome, some nit-picking. Some highlighted performances of one dancer whilst
ignoring another. Good reviews of Alina in Sydney were unnecessarily critical
of Darcey.
Apart from a last night party, there was only one reception for all the Company.
This was in Sydney, but unfortunately clashed with England playing Denmark.
Dancers found a bar to slip out to. The World Cup led to much good natured
teasing of colleagues of different nationalities. Someone sewed an English
flag in Johan’s Albrecht cloak! Only Pietra Mello-Pittman, who is half
Brazilian, was eventually happy.
Ashley Page gave his last performance as Rothbart to Alina’sOdette/Odile
in Melbourne to much acclaim from Alina. He leaves at the end of the season
to take up his role of Director of Scottish Ballet. His last performance is
yet to be decided. It may be Lorenzo in “Don Quixote”, although
he may return as a guest jailor in “Manon” next season. Leire
Ortueta and Jenny Tattersall are also leaving this season. Donald Macleary
is retiring at the end of the season, although it is hoped he will return
as guest repetiteur next season.
Quite a few children came with dancers, some husbands and wives and other
family. Some ex-dancers were seen. Ann Jenner, now a teacher, made it known
how proud she still felt of having been a member of the Royal Ballet.
On asked who decides what ballets to take on tour, David said a balance had
to be struck between commercialism, what the promoter wants,and what shows
off the Company to best advantage. The programme taken - Swan Lake, Giselle
and a triple of Tryst, Leaves are Fading and Marguerite and Armand should
have been a success. Getting them in to the theatres on time on a tight tour
was a problem. Ticket prices were a major issue. There were no cheap seats.
Prices ranged from $90-$150 with concessions only on the top price. Old cinema
type theatres mean that everyone has a good view, so many seats are top price.
There was a different orchestra in each venue. The playing of James MacMillan’s
score for “Tryst” in Sydney left something to be desired!
The corps girls suffered most on the tour. Limited rehearsal time and 20 Swan
Lakes and 8 Giselles left many exhausted, some injured, But it didn’t
stop dancers enjoying themselves. A gay karaoke bar was frequented by many,
including David Drew, who acted as a “bag lady” looking after
the belongings of others as they moved to dance. Others went swimming with
sharks in Melbourne’s Aquarium.
Asked about a funny or embarrassing moment, Johannes related incidents in
Giselle. In two performances, Hilarion blew the horn and the corps turned
towards the audience awaiting the sound of the horn in reply, only to hear
a mobile phone reply instead.
David Bain concluded by thanking the dancers for attending.They had arrived
back in England on Tuesday morning and, except for those dancing principal
roles, were not starting back until Friday morning. Johannes had been rehearsing
Lensky in “Onegin”. We are privileged that members of the Company
are willing to come and talk freely to members, particularly at this end of
a tiring season. David presented flowers to Natalie and wine to David and
Johannes.
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© The Ballet Association 2002
Report by David Bain, based upon notes taken by Joan Seaman, and corrected
by David Drew, Natalie Decorte and Johannes Stepanek
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