INTERVIEW
ell us about Swan
the ballet. What are the qualities that make it a mustwatch show? A.
Swan Lake might be an old ballet, but its key message— that love conquers all— is as true today, as it was 122 years ago , when it premiered for the first time. It is a fairytale based on real emotions that everyone can relate to, regardless of the epoch or geography. Swan Lake is known for its demanding technical skills, making it the most difficult to perform and yet the most enchanting classic ballet ever. Interestingly, the ballet did not get any positive response on its debut or premiere show. Today, critics believe that this was because it was ahead of its time in terms of complexity and choreography such that the audiences, a century ago, could not absorb the production’s finer nuances. It was only after Tchaikovsky’s death that the ballet grasped the light of fame. All the aspects of the ballet, from its symphonic music, complex choreography and disciplined performances make it the benchmark it is, for all the art forms in the world.
Q. Swan Lake has already been adapted as a film, the much-acclaimed
Do you think cinema can help promote this art form further? A.
We certainly believe that adaptation of classical ballets into mainstream cinema can play a pivotal part in popularising the genre. Given that ballet is still an art form consumed only by niche audiences, and that cinema continues to be a mass influencer, a confluence of the two can go a long way in piquing the interest of more people. Black Swan, particularly, was a beautifully made film that did justice to the essence of ballet. Such productions are important to help audiences discover the marvels of the art.
Q. How central is the role of music in ballet? Can it be experimented with, in terms of the genre and style? A.
Originally, music composed for ballets and traditional classical symphonies were fairly different in style. Somewhere along the way, as ballet became more popular, several classical composers began to compose especially for the art form. In present times, ballet is performed to a variety of musical genres. There are many different routines that dancers learn, and each genre demands different techniques. While ballet is still widely performed to classical music, you might hear jazz, contemporary fusion or thematic compositions with dramatic or romantic music in several modern adaptations of the classics.
Q. You have showcased ballet in different venues around the world. How varied is the response to ballet internationally? A.
For any performing artist, audience response is a mixed bag. All kinds of responses do help in improving your performances. In some countries, people are more visibly expressive, in others they are subtle. Nevertheless, for us, it is an experience to perform for a variety of people, cutting across different ethnic backgrounds.
Q. Are you planning to take ballet to places where people are less aware of this form? A.
We are certainly looking forward to taking the ballet to as many different countries and audiences as possible. However, the Swan Lake production isn’t an easy one. It requires great technical complexity and a lot of infrastructural facilities for proper execution. Moreover, it is imperative that wherever we perform, the audience has a basic understanding of ballet and has evolved artistic sensibilities to appreciate the performance and its intricacies. Therefore, we are indeed taking the ballet to newer audiences but we are proceeding in a thoughtful manner.
Q. Could you give us an insight into the importance of costumes in ballet? A.
Dance costumes are an extremely important part of any performance. Costumes help bring to life the performance that dancers work so hard to master. Moreover, without the right costumes it would be impossible to create the right ambience on stage. In fact, costumes can often play a key metaphorical role and can further enforce the
“We certainly believe that adaptation of classical ballets into mainstream cinema can play a pivotal part in popularising the genre.”