ToThePointe Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 The Romeo and Juliet thread started to go off on a tangent so I thought it would be nice to start a new thread. Are there any strong female characters in ballet/dance? If so, who? I have mentioned Odette as she sacrifices herself to break the spell... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiz Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 Gamzetti, but it doesn't end well! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiz Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 Also Countess Larisch in Mayerling but again, she causes tragedy. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sim Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 This is giving me much food for thought. I guess it also depends on how we would describe what a strong woman is!! Aaarrgggh I have a meeting now, but more later. Starter for ten: how about Lise, in Fille? She isn't quite a woman yet, but she stands up to her mother and the rich farmer down the road and point blank refuses to marry the man chosen for her. Most unusually, it ends happily all round; even Alain would prefer his brolly to a woman!! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Newcombe Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 Also Countess Larisch in Mayerling but again, she causes tragedy. There was a survivor. Off to USA and survives an abusive husband and finally dies in Nazi Germany. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 How about Tatiana? She somehow finds the strength to reject Onegin. As recently seen with NB, Julia in 1984. Giselle - she may be a Wili by Act 2 but she saves her man. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 Starter for ten: how about Lise, in Fille? She isn't quite a woman yet, but she stands up to her mother and the rich farmer down the road and point blank refuses to marry the man chosen for her. Ah, but does she? She's really rather reactive rather than proactive. After all, the reason she doesn't end up marrying Alain is because her honour is compromised. It's not as if she deliberately set up the reveal of her and Colas in her bedroom. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToThePointe Posted October 26, 2015 Author Share Posted October 26, 2015 i think Tatiana is one of the strongest females in ballet actually. Her strength is actually what moves me most in Onegin because she has made a vow to her husband and she refuses to break it. By the time Onegin realises he loves her, it's too late....ahhh gets me every time! 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 We need some new ballets IMO...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trog Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 Kitri in Don Q - she seems to be in control. Titania in Midsummer Nights Dream - a match for Oberon. Fortuna in Carmina Burana - very scary! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two Pigeons Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 Myrtha. I well remember seeing Giselle with SWRB in the 80s. It was at the old Sadler's Wells and we were sitting on the end of one of the first 3 rows. When Siobhan Stanley told Hilarion to go away and die my friend almost found himself creeping out he was almost that scared. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two Pigeons Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 P.s. Maggie Hobson. She is the only real man in the ballet. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sim Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 Ah, but does she? She's really rather reactive rather than proactive. After all, the reason she doesn't end up marrying Alain is because her honour is compromised. It's not as if she deliberately set up the reveal of her and Colas in her bedroom. No, but I think we all know that there is no way Lise has any intention of marrying Alain. And how do we know it wasn't planned? That was the one sure way to be caught. I mean, why else would they be snogging right at the door and not in her bedroom, if they didn't want to risk anyone finding them? The scenario screams 'please find us' to me! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAB Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 Carmen: I suspect we'll be discussing her at length very soon. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 No, but I think we all know that there is no way Lise has any intention of marrying Alain. And how do we know it wasn't planned? That was the one sure way to be caught. I mean, why else would they be snogging right at the door and not in her bedroom, if they didn't want to risk anyone finding them? The scenario screams 'please find us' to me! Not sure about that. It screams "the audience needs to be able to see this" to me . Never mind, we can agree to differ. Does Alice (Wheeldon's, at least) count, or is she too young? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 Kitri in Don Q - she seems to be in control. Titania in Midsummer Nights Dream - a match for Oberon. Fortuna in Carmina Burana - very scary! Agree with the first and third, and to an extent with the second - Titania is certainly strong-willed, but OTOH Oberon still has the upper hand. She's the one who capitulates. Actually, staying with Shakespeare, I'd say Hermione and Paulina in The Winter's Tale, as well. It must take a lot to face down your husband, the king, when he accuses you of adultery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two Pigeons Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 Thinking of The Bard should we consider Katherina in the Taming of the Shrew, not least as BRB are performing this in the Summer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMM1 Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 Swanhilda in Coppelia? She refuses to put up with a love rival, goes to investigate and then runs rings around the men... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMM1 Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 Thinking of The Bard should we consider Katherina in the Taming of the Shrew, not least as BRB are performing this in the Summer? Based on the play, as I haven't seen the ballet, Katherina starts off as a strong woman but by the end it very much depends on how you interpret the production/Shakespeares' intentions. Most modern mainstream productions try to hint that Petruchio & Katherina have tamed each other but there are plenty of differing views out there in print. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J_New Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 I agree with TTP - for me it has to be Tatiana. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two Pigeons Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 Back to Katherina, the doyenne of ballet critics, Mary Clarke, was adamant that Katherina tames Petruccio. Not the other way round. I agree that there is a lot of room for different interpretations of the story. Either way I am really looking forward to seeing the ballet again. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pianolady Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 I agree, definitely Giselle and Odette Swanhilda in Coppelia-cheeky, defiant, not willing to stand any nonsense from her silly love-struck suitor who's fallen for a doll Juliet- strong willed, passionate and fiery- esp in the Nureyev version I saw on Saturday where she is the one who arranges the marriage- I can't remember if that is the case in other productions or in Shakespeare's play I agree about Paulina in The WInter's Tale- she seemed in the end to have almost mystical powers -I loved her character I think so much depends on the choreography and interpretation especially in the nineteenth-century ballets 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sim Posted October 29, 2015 Share Posted October 29, 2015 Pianolady....yes, Juliet initiates the marriage in the play and therefore in the other productions as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sim Posted October 29, 2015 Share Posted October 29, 2015 i think Tatiana is one of the strongest females in ballet actually. Her strength is actually what moves me most in Onegin because she has made a vow to her husband and she refuses to break it. By the time Onegin realises he loves her, it's too late....ahhh gets me every time! Yes, I would also agree that Tatiana is up there amongst the strongest, especially if the dancer really puts across the momentary weakness wherein she almost capitulates, then head overrules heart and Onegin is sent out of her life forever. The contrast in those two moments sums up the whole sadness of the story and, like TTP, it wrenches my heart every time. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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