In the beginning was the Brother Grimms' tale 'Sleeping Beauty' and its heroine, the beautiful but cursed Princess Aurora. The graceful girl was soon (well, after a long sleep - to be true) to escape from the book only to rule over a wider territory, spanning in fact the big and small screen, cartoons, the stage and even dance. A famous ballet revolving about her was written by Tchaikovsky in 1889-1890. Since then, many ballerinas have donned her frilly finery, one of the most remarkable being Rosella Hightower. famous for dancing the role with Rudolf Nureyev as prince charming. In 1981, twenty years later, having become the dance director of the Paris Opera, Hightower undertook to choreograph and stage the famous Russian composer's work, entrusting the young principal dancer Elisabeth Platel with the role that she herself had danced to tremendous success.
Very interested in this handing over, the dance-loving director Dominique Delouche obtained permission to film the former and the new Aurora at work together before the performance. It was a unique opportunity for him to capture on film this important moment in the history of ballet. It is indeed fascinating for him like for us viewers to witness the elder directing the younger ballerina and to see how the latter adjusts to the steps and dance figures she is being taught.
Like in 'L'Adage' (1964), Dominique Delouche prefers to show the audience work in progress rather than the finished product, the performance, magical as it may appear. At ease when it comes to filming dancers, he always knows where to place his camera: keeping his distance most of the time in order to make us appreciate the ensemble, he deftly varies the shot angles and frames to bring us closer to the two artists when necessary; and without interfering. The show is riveting: passion and benevolence on the part of Rosella, passion and concentration on the part of Elisabeth. One generation passes the baton to the next, and it's very moving.
If you wish to be associated to this event, just watch "Aurore" and you will be happy to find out that, whatever some grim(m) tales claim, princesses never sleep.
Very interested in this handing over, the dance-loving director Dominique Delouche obtained permission to film the former and the new Aurora at work together before the performance. It was a unique opportunity for him to capture on film this important moment in the history of ballet. It is indeed fascinating for him like for us viewers to witness the elder directing the younger ballerina and to see how the latter adjusts to the steps and dance figures she is being taught.
Like in 'L'Adage' (1964), Dominique Delouche prefers to show the audience work in progress rather than the finished product, the performance, magical as it may appear. At ease when it comes to filming dancers, he always knows where to place his camera: keeping his distance most of the time in order to make us appreciate the ensemble, he deftly varies the shot angles and frames to bring us closer to the two artists when necessary; and without interfering. The show is riveting: passion and benevolence on the part of Rosella, passion and concentration on the part of Elisabeth. One generation passes the baton to the next, and it's very moving.
If you wish to be associated to this event, just watch "Aurore" and you will be happy to find out that, whatever some grim(m) tales claim, princesses never sleep.