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Cecchetti
Centre Boys' Class
Anyone who likes doing what they love doing best, on a Sunday, namely
dancing, could not have gone amiss by attending the Cecchetti Centre
Boys' Class organised by Cara Drower and presented by Richard Slaughter
on 10th February 2002.
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| Richard
Slaughter rehearsing the Chinese Dance from The Nutcracker. Photograph:
Cara Drower |
Richard
gave a strong, careful and particular barre, emphasising placing, pliés
'knees over toes', hips 'eyes front', backs straight and 'tall'. In
centre practice he worked on the retiré position - again hips
'eyes front'! This progressed to pirouettes which the boys desperately
desired to try.
They
then attempted 'turning gallops en diagonale' to improve spotting. The
younger ones managed amazing birdlike flying, turning pas de chats which
brought spontaneous applause from onlookers.
The
most anticipated part of the afternoon was a repertoire workshop on
the Chinese Dance from The Nutcracker. The boys learned the use of chopstick
hands which crossed and waggled, with many bows and bobs. The boys were
amazingly focused and intense, practising over and over again until
the smallest member of the group accomplished the sequence.
The
boys had worked hard and long, loving every minute with the gentle coaching
and beautiful demonstration of William Palmer and Branislav Henselmann
(courtesy of Richard Glasstone, Rambert School). As they all filed out
they were asking about the next boys' day, and I thought the true artistry
and giving of Richard Slaughter and the outstanding diversity of music
from Stuart Marsden had been fully appreciated.
Alison
Dos Santos
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