Ballet Night: From the 19th Century to the 21st Century presents brilliant short performances by modern masters, whose creativity inspires us to reflect on whether dance is born from the spirit of music and if it exists beyond time and space.In the first act, there are three ‘white ballet’ pieces, inspired by European classicism and Russian Romanticism: alongside misty images and flights of fancy are mature and serious choreographic works. We see Pas de Quatre (a dance for four) and Flower Festival in Genzano, as well as Pas De Six from La Esmeralda, by Cesare Pugni.
Pas de Quatre was created in the summer of 1845, featuring four great ballerinas: Marie Taglioni, Carlotta Grisi, Fanny Cerrito and Lucile Grahn. All were in London at the same time, inspiring the Director of the Her Majesty’s Theatre, Sir Benjamin Lamley, to create a stellar performance, to grace the stage before Queen Victoria. Prominent chorographer Jukes Perrot undertook this ‘honorary order’ and Cesare Pugni’s music was chosen, being a legend of the Romantic age. As time passed, the choreographic composition became a poetic benchmark for every ballerina.
Combining romantic ballet moves with a unique performance style and requiring great artistic and technical capabilities, the work is named after those for whom it was created. Since then, many have created their own variations on Pas De Quatre.
In the second and third acts of the programme, other landmark performances include acknowledged one-act neo-classical masterpiece Serenade, by the outstanding 20th century choreographer George Balanchine, and Six Dances (Sechs Tдnze) by Czech modern dance genius Jiřн Kyliбn. There is little doubt that the show will delight audiences.
