Christopher Hampson, Life after Grainger
Christopher Hampson, a dancer and young choreographer with ENB, has been keeping a diary for us on the creation of his new piece called ‘Country Garden’. The premiere was in Truro on the 14th April 1998. Here is a link to the previous column in the series. The 'Country Garden' tour finished over a month ago, and it is only in the past few days that I've convinced myself that there is little point in constantly re-choreographing it. On Monday, I decided to put the Grainger CDs back on the shelf, where they should gather dust quite nicely until next year. I've been busying myself with various other projects ranging from organising a job in Japan to jet-skiing in Dorset (just what bank-holidays are for). I leave for Japan on July 3rd, 48 hours after the final performance of 'Romeo and Juliet' at the Royal Albert Hall. I'll be out there for ten days to dance in a gala on the 11th. It seems so far away - it's difficult to see beyond 'Romeo and Juliet' at the moment. The rehearsal period for this production has been a test of patience: the schedule often reads simply "MON-SAT. R&J FULL CALL 12-6 p.m.". Your patience is really tested when, after not being used for perhaps two hours, you are told to "come back at 5 p.m." - with no guarantee of being used then either. Those sorts of days do, however, give me time to do odd jobs like arranging dates and times for future projects and writing the diary - and also to watch Lynn Seymour rehearsing her role of Lady Capulet. Very educational! When I do get to rehearse, it is for the Ballroom scene, and the role of Paris - which I'll dance with Agnes Oaks. As soon as I have learnt the role and know where the front is (very hard when performing in the round) I will start choreographing again. I'll be creating a solo for Daria Klimentova to take to a Gala in Russia. We'll have to rehearse this at the same time as R & J as Daria goes to Russia the day before I leave for Japan. "Can I fit anything else into the day?", I thought two weeks ago, when I had nothing to do and nowhere to go after locking myself out of the house. I'd been walking around Brixton for over an hour, and wished I could jump in the car and go for a drive; until I realised I didn't have a car and couldn't drive - so now I fill my mornings with driving lessons. Off now to rehearse Act I of 'Romeo and Juliet', and more planning: this time, a weekend of jet-skiing, drinking, listening to music that isn't Percy Grainger, and a spot of teaching - hopefully in that order. STOP PRESS: Good news! I have just been permission to go to New Zealand next autumn, to take up a commission to choreograph a new piece for the Royal New Zealand ballet. The première will be on September 11th 1999. Earlier Hampson     Later Hampson
{top} Home Magazine Listings Update Links Contexts
../jun98/christopher_hampson_8.htm revised: 4th June 1998 Bruce Marriott email, © all rights reserved, all wrongs denied. credits written by Christopher Hampson © email design by RED56