The 2013 Season of the West Australian Ballet is set to be one of romance and passion, with productions including ‘La Sylphide’, ‘Romeo and Juliet’, ‘Onegin’, and ‘Peter Pan’. I spoke to Young Artist Samuel Maxted, and Full Artist André Santos about the upcoming production of ‘La Sylphide’, which opens on May 17th.
La Sylphide is based on the tale by French author Charles Nodier, and was originally choreographed by August Bournonville in 1836. Maxted says that it has been a while since the company has done traditional, classical ballet. Santos explains, ‘We did more traditional ballets a few years ago, but we haven’t done pure classical ballets in a while, so I think it will appeal to a lot of people.’
This new production has all the elements of great Romantic-era storytelling, including fairies, witches and magic. Set in Scotland, ‘La Sylphide’ tells the story of a forest sylph who uses her magical powers to attract a young man on the eve of his wedding. He ends up leaving his fiancé at the altar to chase after the sylph, and what follows is a tale of unrequited love. “It’s one of the greatest romances,” says Santos, ‘It has love, heartbreak… everything.”
I asked Maxted how he feels dancing in a kilt, “it’s thrilling actually… feeling the weight of the material and how it follows your movement is quite different.”
At the end of 2012 Maxted graduated from WAAPA with Bachelor of Arts in dance, and joined the West Australian Ballet fulltime as a Young Artist in January 2013. “As a dancer, the part I’m really enjoying dancing at the moment is the reel. It’s the character Scottish dance that the whole ensemble dances in the first act. It’s a wedding dance, so the bride and groom are out the front… it’s a lot of fun.”
Born in São Paulo, Brazil, Santos was a finalist at the Youth America Grand Prix in New York where he won a full scholarship to the New Zealand School of Dance. Graduating in 2009, he made his debut with West Australian Ballet in January of 2010 as a guest artist for the Company’s season of ‘Romeo and Juliet’.
I ask the dancers how they are liking their new digs in Maylands. “We’ve been here for a year now…” says Santos. “It’s amazing. Having our own building and facilities is incredible. It’s such a great space, and it’s easy to get to.” Maxted agrees, “the great thing about being in this building, is that there are multiple studios, so when the principal dancers need to rehearse their solos, they can be in the main studios, but then at the same time you can have other rehearsals going on… we can get more out of the day this way.”
‘La Sylphide’ opens on May 17th, and runs through to the June 1st. Bookings can be made through Ticketek.
Photography and Interview: Claire Alexander
