
The first production was 'Theme and Variations' with music by Tchaikovsky and choreography by George Balanchine. It looked gorgeous with huge billowing blue curtains framing the stage and chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. It was what I consider a bally to be - lasses in tutus and men in tights - you know what you're getting with tutus and tights. It was the shortest of the three ballys but it was wonderful to see the classic moves and simplicity of the production. I admit to wincing every time the lasses went up on tippy-toes - that must hurt and ruin their feet. But it was lovely to see the grace and beauty they created on stage.


At this point I made up my own story to the bally, with the mother and father figures dancing while the younger son intercepts a telegram and shows it to them and they react with joy - confirmation that their elder son is alive. The production ends with a photograph of the extended family. It was all very touching, especially since Remembrance Sunday is only a few short weeks away.
After another half-time we moved on to the final bally, 'The King Dances' with music by Stephen Montague and choreography by David Bintley with some incredibly dramatic lighting by Peter Mumford. This tells the tale of how the Sun King, Louis XIV invented bally, inspired by a horned devil and some homoerotic dancing. It was very spectacular and opened with dancers bringing on burning flames that surrounded them to raise the tension. It worked. This was the longest bally at 38 minutes and it was spectactular.
We follow the king through an evening and night of terrors until the king emerges again, the Sun King in all his golden glory. It was all terribly wow-inducing and then we see the king in all his glam-rock glittery finery at the end with his courtiers. Clap clap clap!
These were three very different and very spectacular ballys and all were great in their own ways. It was a nice reminder that bally isn't solely about dancing - like any public production, it was also about costume, stage design, lighting and music. Put it all together and you get something worth seeing. I'm very pleased I saw these productions and well done to everyone involved.
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