1978 - The Dream - Anthony Dowell and Merle Park Choreo Frederick Ashton

I ABJECTLY APOLOGISE FOR THE QUALITY OF THIS TAPE IT WAS RECORDED ON VHS IN 1983 AND HAS NOT HAD AN EASY LIFE.
Dowell is in his late 30's when this was danced when The Dream was first choreographed Dowell was 21
Created in 1964 for Shakespears Birthday, Sir Frederick Ashton choreographed this masterpiece of British dance for Anthony Dowell and Antoinette Sibley. Sibley embodied Titania, wild and headstrong a creature of air and fire. Dowell's Oberon was a perfect fit for her Titania. Unlike other dancers of this role Dowell, fleet of foot with impecible technique, becomes the spirit of the deep woods unhuman, unearthly, capricious, arbitrary; cruel: the leaf that falls, the twig that snaps, the creaking of trees, the breeze that catches one unaware.
I hope despite the technical flaws you can enjoy this.
CAST:
Oberon: Anthony Dowell
Titania: Merle Park
Puck: Wayne Sleep
Botton: Garry Grant
Lysander: Derek Rencher
Hermia: Vergie Derman
Demetrius: David Drew
Helena: Rosalind Eyre

[@susannevollmer2347]

Thank you for showing us the original cast!

[@iestynovich]

It isn't. It was Sibley originally, not Park. Both wonderful!

[@susannevollmer2347]

@@iestynovich Thanks for the iformation, they have been I´m sure!

[@pheart2381]

Anthony Dowell-beautiful.

[@LinHiril]

I saw this in NYC in 1976. I was in the standing room at the back of the orchestra beside one of the ushers, a young man who had gotten a job at the Met because he was studying opera. It was one of those breathtakingly magical performances, every moment exquisite. As the ballet ended to the totally rapturous silence in the house,this young man exhaled a whisper, "beautiful." He was not a ballet fan, but I think he was made one that night. It was one of the most memorable performances I ever saw. I feel very, very lucky to have had that extraordinary experience. I adore this ballet, an amazing, perfectly elegant danseur's signature role! Thank you.

[@judithbooth4855]

Tou are so welcome! Thank you for sharing this beautiful memory!

[@valeriepagendarm6376]

Breathtaking. Thank you for sharing!

[@kaythomas8521]

Anthony Dowell.was a truly gifted English ballet professional danceur..... eloquent, precise, artist in its truest form never given his highest credit while Rudolf was lurking in the wings. Not to take away from Nureyev's talent and prowess, but. The unfairness , at the time, that guys like Dowell. And even Sleep and Blair had to stomach. Must of been painful

[@susannevollmer2347]

A longe time every principal couple had to exist in the shadow: it was the hype about Rudi and Margot Fonteyn.

[@pediatrapaola]

wow wayne sleep a great dancer and a nice man .

[@judithbooth4855]

have you met him?? He is fne and so fit for this role --

[@pediatrapaola]

judith booth yes l knew him in london in late 70's

[@LinHiril]

Wayne of course is fantastic also and a sweet guy. Was sitting in the lobby over by the ticket office one day writing in my diary when he just strolled over to chat. I think he still has the record for the most entre chats ever: 12 crosses, one jump, the fastest feet of any dancer ever. Nijinsky could do 10. :)

[@judithbooth4855]

Another wonderful memory. To bad there are so few videos of the RB available. I will be uploading more the end of April, but in the meantime I am putting some up on google+ if you care to join my circles!

[@alastairmacaulay1]

This is misdated. The performance was in early 1978 (probably January), at the same performance at which “A Month in the Country” was performed (also with Dowell). I was in the Amphitheatre, and remember vividly. Merle Park had danced Titania since 1964, but the performance indubitably would have gone to Antoinette Sibley were it not for her long knee injury (1976-1980). Sibley, the original Titania in 1964, returned to dance the role in 1984-86.

[@judithbooth4855]

thank you -- I will change the date.

[@karenkaren3189]

there is a better quality version of the same performance on youtube

[@judithbooth4855]

I just got a better copy as well

[@alyssagrady3744]

Thanks for the upload! Any chance it is on DVD or VHS still?

[@judithbooth4855]

It never made it to DVD and I don't think it ever made it to VHS either -- sorry wish I had a better copy

[@pheart2381]

There used to be a clearer upload on youtube but it seems to have vanished.