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Christopher Hampson,
Tutus on Tour... | |||||||
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Tens of works down the line and Christopher is now an internationally known and respected choreographer. So which far flung place is he in this time...
Here is a link to the previous column in the series.
Can't remember if I concluded the Double Concerto trip to Sweden. The company gave an excellent performance on opening night. Even though this ballet has had quite a few outings since it's first performance in the UK, I'm always nervous watching it. Nervous for the dancers that work hard to keep up with the speed I want the music and nervous that they enjoy and put something of themselves into the work. My heart was in my mouth when Jan Erik Wikstom ran off stage early in the first movement. I ran back stage and worst fears were confirmed as I opened the pass door and could here him screaming in pain being taken into the lift up to physio. By the time I got into the wings the first movement was coming to an end. Instructing to the stage manager to bring in the curtain is not a decision made easily, but it's rather difficult to perform a pas de deux without a leading man. The orchestra played through the second movement while backstage we were deciding what to do. The third movement of Double Concerto has only one short solo (about 30 seconds) for the Principal Man so we could continue with that. The company performed with an added dash of adrenalin and we made it through to the end. Not the most ideal European premiere I'd hoped for, but the company were really remarkable that evening and the next night Anna Valev and Dragos Mihalcea and the rest of the company gave me the full version of Double Concerto up to speed and sparkling. Jan Erik is in the process of recovery and I'm sure will be on stage soon. Before New Zealand I was working with ENB on Nutcracker. Some new people in some of the roles and the opportunity to get a double tour out of Kevin Richmond's Grandpa kept me busy through November and December. Meanwhile, here in New Zealand the company prepare for their triple bill that will include Esquisses. The programme is called Tutus on Tour in which the Royal New Zealand Ballet split in two. One group touring the North Island and one the South Island. They tour identical programmes and manage to perform in about 50 venues throughout the country. I think that's impressive. I arrived a week ago and spent some time in Auckland with R&J designer Tracy Grant. Great to see her again and to spend time looking through work and hatching new plans. Down to Wellington after four days and started teaching Esquisses straight away. Already making changes, adding new sections and re-choreographing about a third of it. In the meantime, I'm collaborating with designer Bruce French (Cannciones, Christmas Carol, Giselle) on my new work for Atlanta Ballet, which premieres in May.
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