Ballets: Alice in Wonderland ballet

[cakers]

My daughter's company will be performing Alice in Wonderland for their spring recital, and she (dd) likes to watch performances of the ballets to "study" the roles. Does anyone know if there is a full length DVD available of the ballet? I have found short clips on YouTube, but the only DVD I've found, by the Prague Chamber Ballet, is nothing remotely like I consider ballet. Any suggestions?

[Victoria Leigh]

Cakers, there is no standard Alice in Wonderland. Every production is different, usually choreographed for the one company. Houston Ballet did one by Ben Stevenson years ago, and Toni Pimble (I think that is the right name?) did one that she has staged in a few places, but usually the director of the company choreographs it.

[CDR]

Who is the music by for Alice in Wonderland?

[cakers]

Cakers, there is no standard Alice in Wonderland. Every production is different, usually choreographed for the one company.

 

So I'm figuring out. Not that it's a big deal. It's not like she's never done roles "blind" before, and in some ways it's kind of fun for her to go into a ballet with no preconceived notions of the roles.

But, when she has the chance she does tend to like to immerse herself in the ballet. Did I mention she's kinda serious about this stuff?

[Clara 76]

Haha!!! Aren't they all????

 

Can she ask if they are doing an existing work and who the choreographer is?

[Victoria Leigh]

CDR, I think that the music is also something decided by each choreographer! There is no music for Alice as a ballet, to my knowledge.

[ami1436]

Derek Deane has a version for English National Ballet, with music by Tchaikovsky (a compilation, as Ms. Leigh indicates).

 

http://www.ballet.org.uk/alice-in-wonderla...wonderland.html

[gav]

And, Christopher Wheeldon is choreographing a new version (to original music by Joby Talbot) on the Royal Ballet and National Ballet of Canada to premiere spring 2011, first at the Royal in February and then at the National in June.

[vicarious]

Bossov Ballet is performing Andrei's Alice again this spring. I think he last staged it in 2002.

[cakers]

Derek Deane has a version for English National Ballet, with music by Tchaikovsky (a compilation, as Ms. Leigh indicates).

 

Yes, these are the clips I have found on YouTube.

[Mel Johnson]

That score is made up of Tchaikovsky pieces (mostly solo piano literature) orchestrated and arranged by Carl Davis.

[dancingcupcake39]

I love love love this version of Alice in Wonderland!!

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTLY0Z5xggk

[Clara 76]

It is pretty brilliantly done isn't it, dancingcupcake?

[bayadere]

Dancingcupcake, I caught up with that youtube of The Queen of Hearts a week ago! This is from Christopher Wheeldon's Alice in Wonderland, performed by the Royal Ballet. Clara 76, "brilliant" is how I'd describe it, too! I loved the humor, the takeoff on Sleeping Beauty, the sets, the costumes, the music, and the dancing. I thought Zenaida Yanowsky was incredible in this role, exhibiting both beautiful, strong technique and a wicked sense of humor. My favorite parts were too numerous to describe completely, but here are a couple of points.

 

Wheeldon taking the idea of the Rose Adagio, and giving it to the evil queen whose four nervous suitors fear they may be next to lose their heads -- a stroke of genius! Instead of the roses which Aurora receives from the four princes, The Queen of Hearts is presented with tarts (of course!), which she comically devours. I was laughing so hard!

 

I noticed that there are other excerpts from this ballet on youtube, and I look forward to viewing them in the not-too-distant future.

[Clara 76]

Right???!!!