alison Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 I've been catching up with the links today, and was quite surprised to read in Graham Watts' interview with David Bintley (http://londondance.com/articles/interviews/david-bintley-interview-part-1/) "... although we haven’t actually been at full capacity for awhile, partly because I can’t find people good enough." Food for thought? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aileen Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 Yes, I had read that. It's hard to believe that there aren't enough good enough dancers in the entire world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna C Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 I find it hard to believe that there aren't good enough dancers graduating from our own Upper Schools! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barton22 Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 I wonder what "good enough" means if you are Bintley. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Autumn days Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 I think that many people just don't realise just how exceptional you have to be to be good enough! This is seen time and time again on this forum and elsewhere. It is not enough just to be an amazing dancer. I thought my dd was a good dancer - a very good dancer - until she started the audition round last year when we found that she was merely average and nowhere near good enough. These top companies go way way beyond that and I am sre that the likes of David Bntley know what they are talking about!! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aileen Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 Is David Bintley going to feed back to the schools what he is looking for and what qualities their graduates are lacking? 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pas de Quatre Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 But at what level does he mean? It may be that the graduates are good enough, but that he can't find soloists/principals with that extra bit of magic! Rather a throw away remark really. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harwel Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 (edited) I thought he said it, by saying they have to be an artist, a performer, it's not just about technique. I think that's the missing ingredient with many, the trouble is, artistry comes later when in a company. Somehow the students have to convey enough artistry and performance to make AD's believe they can go further when given the company rep. Edited to say - I agree that it's not at all clear at what level he is discussing. Edited March 19, 2015 by Harwel 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Newcombe Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 I think there may have been a misunderstanding here. I know Bintley is on record as to saying why he had not replaced Ambra Vallo. He also has four very exciting young female dancers in Shang, Mizutani, Doorbar and Day who are dancing solo and principal roles and he has some very good young male dancers such as Bracewell and Lawrence. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted March 19, 2015 Author Share Posted March 19, 2015 Ah, yes, that might well have been it. I was wondering whether he meant that he was looking for something he wasn't finding at or around entry level, but if it actually meant he wasn't replacing principals but giving young up-and-coming dancers a chance that's rather different. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aileen Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 It's not clear what level he is referring to. His comment is ambiguous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxi4ballet Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 I find it hard to believe that there aren't good enough dancers graduating from our own Upper Schools! Yes, especially when our ballet schools are internationally renowned, and the rest of the world is queuing up to get in them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLOSS Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 I think it may be connected to something that David Powney has mentioned in connection with the changes needed in training when he mentioned the need to develop artistry.Given the size of BRB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLOSS Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 Sorry I had to answer the door and got cut off in mid flow.What I meant to say was as follows. Unlike the Royal Ballet. which because of its size has the luxury of being able to employ some specialist dancers such as Paul Kay and Ed Watson. BRB has to cover an exceptionally wide range of repertory from a smaller pool of dancers.This means Bintley needs dancers who are technically strong but who are sensitive to the choreographic and stylistic demands made of them. He needs artists rather than technicians.Perhaps that is what he was talking about. The whole issue of what dance training should provide is aired regularly here and elsewhere.I think that it is interesting that even the Director of the RBS has expressed concern that the current emphasis on physical and technical perfection from the outset might not be doing anyone any favours.It seems that the powers that be may gradually be coming to realise that the current criteria would have denied Seymour access to the school and a career in dance. Perhaps the interview in the Dancing Times will throw some light on the subject. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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