Apart from seeing Antoinette Sibley and Anthony Dowell performing part of Frederick Ashton’s ‘Thaïs’ (1971) in this footage, we also first get to sit in on the choreographer rehearsing the dancers in the ballet.
It’s very interesting listening to Ashton indicate what expressive effects he wants at various points in the ballet and how these may be realised in movement.
‘Concentrate with your eyes. Something strange is arriving.’
‘Do this lift as if you we're in a dream.’
‘Push her there so that it flows off’.
The music is that of Jules Massenet taken from the three act opera 'Thaïs' of 1894 by Louis Gallet, after a novel by Antole France.
The costumes for this Royal Ballet production were designed by Anthony Dowell.
The first performance was a Gala Performance given at the Adelphi Theatre, London, on the 21st March 1971.
At the premier, Ashton took a curtain call as choreographer and, as the ballet had been such a success, asked the audience if they’d like to see it again! Sibley was horrified as they were exhausted and has not once gone through the ballet from beginning to end! But the special relationship between the two dancers got them through the second showing.
Enjoy!
