Monica Mason on The Rite of Spring (The Royal Ballet)

Learn from Monica Mason, the original 'Chosen One', on how the work originally developed. Find out more: www.roh.org.uk/...
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[@RoyalBalletAndOpera]

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[@cierraevans144]

I watched Claudia Dean do a showing of this and I have watched it so many time something about the music is just eerie.

[@tedsler]

Muscle memory works in a very different way. I danced a version of Rite of Spring in 1998 just after I left ballet school and to this day, I can remember bits of choreography when I hear the music even though I haven't danced much professionally in the last 5 years as I took another direction with my skills. I also think Rite of Spring is something that stays with you more than other ballets because you have to rehearse it so much to get it into your body.

[@paulineiv878]

Yes I also danced the "other" version I believe my teacher called it Nijinski version which is the original it's more a primitive dance scary at Some point though yet I still remember some parts when I hear the music I love RB version as well!!♡

[@81lavy]

what a wonderful creature is Monica Mason!!!

[@tedsler]

I love Monica Mason. Shame she didn't stick to the part where no principals were involved but only corps and soloists.

[@ernestcastro6238]

tedsler I agree the corps and soloists like the original production.

[@djboo7779]

As a musician, rite of spring is very tricky rhythmically, and incredibly nuanced. Wouldn’t want to touch this as a dancer. But props to them

[@ckrause81]

Mcrae I feel is not a good fit for this role. He dances it to precise and clean. It looks to much like a jazz piece when he dances it. His arms are to sharp I find.

[@bobloblaw9679]

i used to use this song for interval training

[@Suite_annamite]

Happy 100th anniversary to the very first première of "The Rite of Spring" (Весна священная) at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, 29 May 1913.

[@KimCarmenWalsh]

Love Monica Mason!! 🧡

[@znamoperu]

McRae is one of the best - great, clean technique. But here he suffers from not being able to detach from the form.

[@cf8595]

I see that too, but it might just be a product of Royal Ballet in general - I find most of their dancing very stiff and unemotional. This is probably the best example of "letting loose" RB could find!

[@esejsnake1503]

@@cf8595 What do you think of Zenaida Yanowski?

[@cf8595]

@@esejsnake1503 I think she expresses fire/strength. A lot of their dancers are really lovely - my comment above is not a critique of individual dancers but how the company prefers they express a certain aesthetic that I find limiting, but could also understand as very regal (aka "royal"!). I mostly think it has to do with less upper body fluidity - stiff necks atop squared shoulders...like wearing invisible neck braces. What do you think? Do you see differences in company aesthetics and do you have a preference?

[@analuciagonzaleznoriega110]

@@cf8595 *He not she. You don't even know Steven Mcrae, do you?

[@111Jabberwocky]

The rite of spring is really cool

[@stephaniehand503]

great