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| Julius Szacsvay (Franz) - Tessa Karle -Swanhilda(masquerading as Coppelia the doll) - Jessica Tonkin (Dr. Coppelius) Photo: Greg Primmer |
Music by Leo
Delibes
Original
Choreography by Marius Petipa and Enrico Cecchetti
Reproduced
by Jackie Hallahan
Designed by
Thompson Quan Wing
Presented by
Dance Development Centre
Gungahlin
College Community Theatre 5th and 6th December, 2017
Reviewed by
Bill Stephens
Having directed
a full production of “Coppelia” for the Canberra Youth Ballet and the Canberra
Youth Orchestra many years ago in the Canberra Theatre, it was a no-brainer that when the Dance Development
Centre announced that it had included a modified version of this ballet in its 2017 end- of-
year program, the opportunity to renew acquaintance with this ballet would prove irresistible.
For her
version of "Coppelia", which comprised the first half of the program, Jackie
Hallahan, worked with the original Petipa and Cecchetti choreography, cleverly compressing
the full-evening ballet into three short scenes, neatly retaining the important
dances, and enough of the storyline, for the ballet to make sense.
In the first
scene the audience was introduced to Swanhilda (Tessa Karle) and her
friends,(Jade Allen, Amelie Coleman, Charlotte Fisk, and Lauren Morfoot). They
also met Dr Coppelius, (Jessica Tonkin) who, wisely, relied on the choreography
for her characterisation.
The
highlight of this scene was a lovely pas de deux, which was superbly danced by 16 year- old Tessa Karle as Swanhilda, and guest artist, Julius Szacsvay as
Franz. Szacsvay, who teaches in the Sydney studios of DDC, stepped in at short
notice when an injury forced the original Franz to withdraw. Szacsvay, who’s danced
professionally with the Australian Ballet and Ballet Basel, proved an attentive,
accomplished partner, who danced his solos with winning élan.
At the end
of this scene, attracted by the pretty “Coppelia" doll in the window, Swanhilda and her friends decide to break into Dr Coppelius’ toy shop in search of his
masterpiece, the doll, Coppelia ( Georgette Wood) .
The second
scene takes place inside the toyshop where the girls discover several
mechanical dolls, a Balinese doll (Gwynneth Wise), a Spanish doll (Isobelle France) , a Scottish doll (Madeleine
Wells) and a Rag doll (Stephanie Robertson), as well as Dr. Coppelius’s prize Coppelia doll. While her girl-friends amuse themselves setting off the various
dolls, Coppelia decides to surprise her friends by swapping clothes with the doll
and pretending to be Swanilda.
Dr Coppelius
returns unexpectedly, and, trapped in her disguise, Swanhilda convinces him that
his Coppelia doll has come to life. He discovers her deception, and Swanhilda and her friends escape, leaving Dr. Coppelius heart-broken.
The final
scene is a wedding scene, which commences with the triumphal wedding procession
for Swanhilda and Franz. Beautifully staged, this scene took advantage of the opportunities
for junior members to take part in the pretty ensemble dances, all of which
were meticulously rehearsed and confidently danced.
Again the
grand pas de deux, impeccably performed by Tessa Karle and Julius Szacsvay,
proved the highlight. Karle shows
remarkable promise for one so young. Besides possessing a beautifully honed classical
technique, she has the remarkable ability to draw your eyes to her, even when
dancing anonymously in an ensemble, as experienced later in the program.
A stylish, versatile
setting, designed by Thompson Quan Wing, together with appropriately pretty
costumes, and an excellent recording of the lovely Delibes music, added professional
gloss to a charming production, which proved a delightful showcase for DDC’s
current crop of immaculately groomed dancers.
The second
half of the program consisted of three short ensemble works, each of which
confirmed the excellent impression made by “Coppelia”.
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| "A Tribute to West Side Story" Photo: Greg Primmer |
Renee
Hallahan drew inspiration from a suite of dances from Leonard Bernstein’s “West
Side Story” to create an exhilarating short work for the full-time students,
entitled, “A Tribute to West Side Story”.
Commencing in pretty frocks, and then incorporating a lightning quick
costume change into jeans and tops, the work was joyously performed by the
dancers who revelled in the opportunity to display their impeccable classical
dance techniques in this cleverly conceived contemporary work.
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| "The Reapers Dance" Photo: Greg Primmer |
Staying with
Delibes, Jackie Hallahan and Tara Chapman devised a lovely work for the part-time
students, entitled “The Reapers Dance”. Performed in elegant mauve costumes, “The
Reapers Dance” was prettily performed by the young dancers, who included two
young men, who impressed with their elegant demeanour.
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| "Vertical Flight" Photo: Greg Primmer |
The climax
of the program was an exciting work created by Paul Knobloch to the driving music
of Ezio Bosso and the Ezio Bosso Trio. Entitled
“Vertical Flight”, and performed by the full-time students, “Vertical Flight”
was performed in black unitards which featured a wide red stripe on each
side. Knobloch made ingenious use of these
stripes to create and resolve a succession of constantly changing images. Dazzlingly
executed by the young dancers, this work would do a professional dance company
proud, and proved a stunning finale for an evening of impressive dance.