Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - The Caterpillar (The Royal Ballet)

[@RoyalBalletAndOpera]

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[@kackfrosch1109]

dude just doing the worm in classical ballet, i love it

[@heyryanisonx3141]

literally! lol

[@liobu3097]

I think this is not classical ballet.

[@michaelewens6441]

@@liobu3097 you cant stay in the dark ages...you have to move with the times Christopher Wheeldon is one VERY TALENTED CHOREOGRAPHER

[@villainessy]

Wouldn’t this be contemporary?

[@liobu3097]

michael ewens Except classical ballet is ONLY classical ballet when it’s made from the Romantic era. You can try calling it « classical ballet » but by definition it’s contemporary.

[@idraote]

The male dancer is not only good but also very expressive, he has a mobile face despite the effor of dance

[@andynonymous6769]

I was really impressed by his character work. He's just so fun to watch

[@ThePopushi]

That last body roll with the trailing body parts is what I live for. It looks so cool. God if I have Covid to thank for anything, it's giving me the time to fall into the rabbit hole that is professional ballet

[@summerinspringville-hill]

allusion intended?

[@ctrlmorgann]

Pun intended with the rabbit hole right

[@lxmieses]

Sure

[@lou626]

Haha rabbit hole

[@tomtuduc8227]

This redefines ballet, just incredible. color, music, choreography, and performers. What a masterpiece. LOVE LOVE LOVE.

[@rosypink1856]

I also love the blend of other dance styles, such the Caterpillar having a middle eastern style and the Mad Hatter having a blend of tap and ballet

[@frostfang1]

Just wait until they get their act together and add bellydancing to scenes like this. Whole mother level.

[@yyg4632]

yes indeed

[@yyg4632]

@@frostfang1 didnt they add some elements

[@pinkwings8036]

I love how you can almost always hear a clock ticking in the music

[@1violalass]

@@ea6022 What on earth makes you think there would be a metronome?

[@neil_1707]

The clock ticking rhythm is pretty common in Indian music

[@sergekuznetsov108]

they wouldn't use a metronome in a stage performance, those are normally used for practice. it's supposed to be ticking because of the clock theme in alice in wonderland lol, it's a really nice nod in every scene

[@meganholmes4996]

No Shit Sherlock yeah it’s a motif in the show. i love it

[@rubenm.621]

most of the scenes alice is in you can make out a clock

[@OneAllysa]

3:15 is now the way I enter a room

[@madeleine1042]

OneAllysa me walking into the club like

[@xrainbowmintx]

I just died xD

[@madeleine1042]

xrainbowmintx I feel so accomplished

[@ShebrewQueen]

Okay!!! 😂😂😂

[@lilithadams7306]

😂 Agreed

[@l.b.437]

1) The male dancer 2) Alice's look of amazement at 3:13 3) The sparkly pointe shoes! The dancing and acting was amazing as well!

[@Natiree]

Yasss!!!! That whole comment is ditto for me!!

[@danuhhh]

sparklezzzzzz!!!

[@tinahuisenga8707]

Liesel Bollina ditto

[@anildo1372]

THE MALE DANCER

[@andrijanarackov5260]

Liesel Bollina t

[@MaddieFishblob]

The intensity of his eyes! Idk why but it just gives him a special flair

[@Curlie_Mermaid]

I know right! I can't stop replaying from 1:52-2:00, especially the expression in his eyes when he looks side to side. I love it!!!

[@emilysmith9049]

Don’t get me wrong I absolutely love traditional ballets like Swan Lake, but this is INCREDIBLE

[@melonie_peppers]

Its ok to love both

[@Londongirl666]

This even surpassed The Nutcracker for me

[@blumenlieder]

​@@Londongirl666Ambos os ballets me transmitem sensações completamente diferentes e incríveis. Para mim é impossível ter um preferido...

[@russiandollie]

Combination of Arabic dance style with ballet in this awesome performance, wow. Usually when I see our eastern culture being performed in the West they mix up Indian dance styles or mess up with too many complex moves that don't fit. But this is PERFECTION. Truly how a performance should be. Marvelous 👏🏻

[@voice_0f_reason]

Very beautiful

[@MeaghanMariesCuriosities]

For ‘better’ or worse the caterpillar in the original novel was stepped in middle eastern stereotypes and Victorian orientalism. Granted, as a human of the cracker variety my two cents come with a grain of salt when I say I think the way they handled this scene is a great improvement.

[@lefinlay]

@dem0cr4tsareresponsiblefor52 I think it’s alludes to the caterpillar smoking sheesha in the book/Disney film

[@thebabymomo2709]

As an Arab, I approve this middle eastern inspired music. Eric is such a good ballet dancer

[@yahalomren]

As a middle Eastern but not an arab, I approve too

[@baldbaldrik655]

The way he gets up at 0:45, such a small detail, but it adds so much to the Caterpillar vibes. That's the sort of thing that makes this choreography great.

[@juanagarcia1811]

I didn't know that the caterpillar had sexy legs

[@Sophia-db8fu]

I know right

[@emilykeeling5873]

I'm enjoying his back a bit more, but whatever floats your boat...

[@sonyia]

Emily Keeling I think she is talking about 3:20 (the ballerines legs)

[@notasimplesponge]

Emily Keeling she’s taking about the catapillar at 3:20

[@alexac4293]

I am loving the torso movements

[@cthoniccassandra7526]

The dancing is superb but I personally can't get over the music for this. It's gorgeous, has flair and pizazz, while still having the sophistication and grandeur of a true ballet. I have this on loop just so I can hear it over and over. I would totally buy a full soundtrack of every piece used in this version of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland!

[@I_am_a_starfish]

Do you know the name of the music cause I can’t find it 😭

[@cthoniccassandra7526]

@@I_am_a_starfish So when I first saw this, I tried to find it too, but could not for the life of me. I do know the composer is named Joby Talbot. I searched just now to see if I could find his discography, and found a few sites that play previews of the songs he made for this ballet with Christopher Austin. The Caterpillar one does not seem to be anywhere, and it's so sad! I did find the score itself, so this song definitely exists (it plays in Act II) and it's supposed to come right after the score Alice Alone, and once The Caterpillar score is done, Back in the Hallway comes after (also not found anywhere). That's all I know. But since we do not have the song to purchase (please do this someday Talbot or ROH!), the next best thing is to loop it. If you're on your computer, right-click the play button on the video and you should have an option to loop. If you want to loop it on your mobile device, you have to make a playlist, put this one video in it, and click repeat. That's what I've been doing because I can't hear it any other way. Sorry I couldn't be of more help! I've been checking on and off since finding it. lol :')

[@marinefougeres3565]

omg those sparkling pointe shoes

[@marinefougeres3565]

and the dancers, and the music, and the lights and pretty much everything in this video actually

[@jewelryao2434]

True

[@kimberblake7496]

Glitter pointe shoes>

[@peccantis]

Ok but I am FASCINATED by how cleverly and seamlessly the choreography manages to marry the elements of ballet and raqs that complement each other best, and how beautifully all the dancers perform. Alice's part is short but has such good narration, you can tell just from the way she joins in that she's not in her element but is adapting and learning while adding her own notes. Absalom is pure delight to see. The chorus keep fading into and out of the backdrop with their veils and undulations, multiplying the dreamlike feeling. Overall I adore how the entire ballet uses different traditions of dance as the many-splendored elements of wonder for the Wonderland.

[@eluna34]

i love that they bedazled the pointe shoes, like what an awesome touch! but all in all i love this modern+classical ballet cory its just wow, one of my favourite pieces, and the music is superb!

[@GpD79]

The caterpillar worm type thing at the end.... AWESOME!!!! Where's the rest?! You just brought it out!

[@Mike25z]

That’s the climax when he leaves. He gave her the piece under the mushroom and he is moving on! Great performance.

[@geeel149]

Dear film & tv directors, when there are people on the stage dancing, do not cut to a shot of the one person sitting still. Love, every dance fan everywhere.

[@alexandraginter4727]

+Gee EL Right?! It would be nice if they didn't cut at all!

[@geeel149]

+Alexandra Ginter Not cutting and not focusing solely on a dancer's face is always preferable, but if you absolutely must cut, let's just rule out the stationary people.

[@Rach227204]

+Gee EL YES!

[@mikroraptor]

Cutting to another can be annoying when you're interested in a specific dancer. However, the reason they cut the performance to different shots and angles is to make the video of the performance more interesting and like a film. Usually, when watching movies, people tend to get bored of a shot after five seconds. The cuts back and forth between dancers is to benefit the storytelling of the piece, since it is hard to see certain expressions and movements when you're watching a full shot of it on a tv or computer screen.

[@geeel149]

No, it can be annoying when you're watching a ballet and they're cutting to someone SITTING STILL. Also, it's Ballet, they've been telling stories just fine for centuries with out the benefit of close-ups. And while I'm very familiar with film techniques, they are largely unnecessary and even detrimental to a dance piece unless the piece was specifically choreographed for the camera.

[@Leila-hr9xf]

This is one of my favourite ballets, it's really unique and beautiful ! I love Eric Underwood's tattoos.

[@MrKlausbaudelaire]

how clever, the dancers are supposed to be the body of the caterpillar, thats why they mostly dance in a line

[@teamsmith7663]

ohhhhh that makes sense😆 that’s is clever ☺️

[@disgruntledradish6106]

No shit sherlock

[@lefinlay]

my name is nobody, ikr?

[@fabiana7157]

You figured that out all by yourself?

[@AnaisAzuli]

Jeez y'all are aggresive

[@taylornoelle3130]

I love the question mark tattoo, whether or not it was intentional it payed a wonderful tribute to the caterpillar’s line, “WHOOO ARE YOU?”

[@lou626]

Yes , it was intentional , bc in the australiano version another actor got the same tattoo (the one that playa the Caterpillar)

[@doranefermigliaro1903]

The male dancer is magnific, the ballerinas wonderful legs and points, the music and choreo graphy fantastic. I love this ballet, we need somethig of this in Uruguay. We have a Julio Bocca directing ballet in our first group Sodre, but this sort of new form of ballet I think is what we need here. Thank you.

[@lou626]

Oooooh en argentina estaría re copado en el teatro Colón

[@judiejodia]

I absolutely adore the ladies' costumes, the veils go beautifully with their choreography!!

[@Twocryingkittens]

Last I remembered the caterpillar was a stoned fat bug not some literal Greek god??!?

[@Mopsbpv]

SAME

[@chastitymarks2185]

I would see him more as a prince out of "The Arabian Nights"

[@rebekahjcowan]

Wrong culture buddy

[@alicelu5691]

you crazy?

[@thorsten8790]

Since when are greek gods sub saharan african lol

[@Wytchvvood]

SPARKLY POINTE SHOES!!

[@janedoex8345]

Elena Rickert At the end on all eight pair of legs? Hard to overlook....

[@lisarousselet9370]

That's the kind of solo mâle dance that I love! It's original, expressif,... there is not enough piece like that! ^^

[@natashak9335]

First time seeing incorporation of Indian classical dance moves and ballet....and it looks amazing!!!😍😍

[@hazelpastinionie]

yeah it was amazing

[@christinacody8653]

I've seen it used in both La Bayadere and The Nutcracker, both both are a bit appropriative.

[@ratkid6859]

@@christinacody8653 how so? Genuinely asking, I don’t know much about Indian culture, but some of the other comments said this was inspired by Middle Eastern dancing

[@astrosci1109]

​@@ratkid6859 yes even I didn't find anything like inspired from Indian dance moves.

[@cythompson3286]

The colours, lighting, costumes, choreography! What I would give to see this live, absolutely amazing!

[@PeerlessCucumberPiercingTheSky]

The fabric on the girls' headdresses is stunning and moves so beautifully!

[@MadDirectionerGirl]

This might just be my favourite ballet of all time! Everything about this production is genius! And this solo? I can’t stop watching it! It captures the character so perfectly and I love everything about it. The choreography, the set, the costume. Ugh. I want to see this ballet again!

[@yyg4632]

the strength, control and precision in his body are incredible

[@susieqwiedeman547]

3:15 me and the boys walking into class late

[@chloe.mason_23]

This was absolutely beautiful.Two of my favourite dancers,Eric Underwood and Sarah Lamb

[@pinellafranich6007]

Yes i totally agree

[@LCMM2150]

I'm so glad you mention the dancers' names! I was rolling down all comments looking for somebody who would bring that info up 😀

[@thorefaust]

@@LCMM2150their names are always stated in the description

[@OpP-if6gw]

1:52 This little reveal is such a delight, I audibly gasped. I love how the lead male dancer's movements totally embody that serpentine/wormlike energy with those broad, continuously flowing arm and body movements, and his facial expression is so intense! What evocative acting and dancing. I wish I could experience art of this caliber in person.

[@RoxieHeart603]

This is by far the best ballet I have ever seen. If you havnt already go watch the whole thing. It is incredible.

[@SpencerMusicSchool]

I'm in love with this ballet!!!!!! I have always been a huge Alice fan.. love the costumes, choreography, and music! Brilliant!

[@blubb2010]

He made this role so magical and fun to watch. Fantastic dancer

[@steemdup]

I love Eric Underwood, here as the Caterpillar, or anytime I see him dancing. He is amazing. And guess what? He's from Washington, DC, but don't hold that against him. lol 'Sup, Eric!

[@naomiwit7222]

steemdup being from dc shouldn’t be a shock to be a good dancer. There are a lot of elite dance schools in dc for one I go to one of them

[@LucianCorrvinus]

Talent knows no Nation...

[@Jayjen35]

Wow!!! That's some caterpillar! Thank the heavens that they have kindly made it available to those of us that can't fly into London to see it!

[@s-a-r-a-h]

The costumes, the fusion dancing, the music, everything was perfect!

[@susanbaskerville5239]

One sexy Caterpillar Eric Underwood is sublime BRAVA !!!!!

[@angelaburrow8114]

This is one ballet I'd love to see live. I've only managed an online version. It seems so original.

[@mikhailashetler865]

Love this music

[@mrlopez-pz7pu]

Mikhaila Shetler yes the composer was channeling Les Baxter for sure. So electrifying!!!!

[@jesuselias3912]

what's the song name?

[@larissapsalc2582]

This might be my favourite clip of ballet I’ve ever seen… male lead is fantastic, ladies are magical and alice is perfect, costumes, the dark colours and the mysterious blue fog, Arabian style with the music is just brilliantly done I cannot stop watching this😅

[@crystallineblue7790]

The way the cloth moves like a mist when the ladies dance is beautiful!

[@chris.mc.8627]

I love the control the man has on his body everything is tense coiled, and graceful

[@lilgrogu1187]

The caterpillar dancer! He was so mythic and enamoring, I wish I was actually there sitting in the audience 😭😭

[@tdavis8119]

Eric dances so beautifully!

[@idkidc1467]

His moves are so perfect that he looks animated, wow!

[@s.ren.a2183]

The Caterpillar was so graceful along with all of the other dancers, their legs are like jelly that they can control, so beautiful.

[@danceconsortium]

Brilliant to see ballet being used in such an accessible, engaging way for those new to the style, as well as ballet lovers.

[@한여21]

dancers have the BEST bodies and IMMACULATE control over their movements... sooo cool.. ballet is so cool!!!

[@gioiannadigiorgio3579]

I wish I had a copy of the entire production! The clips I've seen are absolutely fantastic!

[@estellethegamerfox6336]

that was mind blowing I love how the royal ballet don't stick to the same old stuff like swan lake they spice ballet up with new moves new preformances,it gives the audience something they wont get bored through,they are wanting exitment and something to be mesmerized by and THIS IS IT

[@justanotherhappyhumanist8832]

Every clip I’ve seen of this production is just incredible. The dances are inspired and unique, the dancers are unfathomably skilled, the set and lighting choices are aesthetically pleasing, and the music is surreal yet beautiful. This is really one of the best productions I’ve seen.

[@bart234465]

That caterpillar is serving it, honey!!!

[@LadyLocket]

Stunning and so mesmerizing. My only criticism is the constant shots of the Alice dancer just sitting or standing there in the middle of the current dancers performance. I want to see the whole dance being performed not cuts of the side dancers watching it sprinkled in at random moments.

[@magicianrexofficial]

The theatrics and the movement! Very interesting! I love that everyone is talking about how sexy the caterpillar is and not the actual adaption of the choreography lol

[@steviewilson5033]

one word: STUNNING! Absolutely beautiful in every single way! In love with the way Eric moves across the stage; such finesse and yet still incredibly powerful and held together. Beauty in its purest form is what this is.😍💕

[@megihysi6376]

I love the mystery and the magic shown in this scene. Amazing costumes too!

[@MeepMeep193]

The most extraordinary, resplendent, beautiful, and absolutely genius thing I have ever watched in my entire life. ALL HAIL MR CATERPILLAR.

[@charlieflower101]

@julia schneller I think the tattoos are a part of the character, at least some of them. If you look one is a question mark and the caterpillar is known for asking questions

[@Theyungcity23]

Yeah the character still has those tattoos when played by other dancers

[@kissatitir1713]

I can't stop watching this that is what we call a three minutes in the heaven 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@songbyrrd4138]

Eric Underwood c'est magnifique!!!

[@PunzieGDoll]

I love that they took a Middle Eastern approach with the Caterpillar. I played the caterpillar in the play Alice in Wonderland, and I told my director that we should have the caterpillar be sort of middle eastern. This was before I even saw this. Great minds think alike.

[@ernovincze2900]

I guess it's because he smokes a hookah in the book, which is associated with Middle Eastern culture?

[@Ghidorah96]

Persephone did you just write that comment in an effort to call yourself great? Pretentious nitwit.

[@mixusup]

@@Ghidorah96 on top of witch its much more south asian feeling in my mind, at least with the way teh back up dancers were dressed

[@6ftofmisery636]

The dancing seems heavily inspired from bharatnayam a classical indian dance

[@tenacious-e3o]

Persephone 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@Aguiar412]

Shout out to the marimba player at 0:30! Such a cool sounding piece

[@בתאלישראלי-ח3ד]

one of the most beautiful dances I ever seen

[@madeline2282]

I would do anything to see Sarah Lamb as Alice live. She has this cheekiness about her I haven't seen in other Alices

[@ardeladimwit]

never enough of this ballet-- please post the entire thing for us poor blighters who will never have chance to see it on stage.

[@karahvangelder793]

I never tire of watching this and am enthralled by all the artists onstage.

[@LucianCorrvinus]

The acumen of the dancers here is breathtaking. Especially the man, the perfection of turns is almost unreal.....bravo RB, bravo...

[@riakun]

Not sure why this is being recommended to me 6 years later, but I love it and I'm glad I found this rabbit hole. I look forward to watching this ballet again on KZbin in another 6 years, if not a lot of sooner xD

[@gojiberry7201]

Wow, what an awesome number!!!

[@TsubasaDreams]

Eric Underwood is everything in this

[@vickyalba1915]

Have seen this production live and LOVE Eric Underwood, he will be a big miss at the ROH but wish him all the best for whatever comes next. That's one cool caterpillar! Loving the sparkly pointe shoes too.

[@wastrouss]

Oh my gosh. THAT. WAS. GORGEOUS. I am stunned every time I watch something from the Royal Ballet. Even though I KNOW they're amazing, I am stunned every time!!! And forgive me, but I have to: this really gives new meaning to the phrase, ”No, I said ballet dancer, not belly dancer!”

[@AlcyoneSong]

I love the mixture of comedy and ballet

[@GBG585]

Love the absolute sass walk of the black dancer at the end when he goes full caterpillar

[@rani-bw8mx]

I love the dance style influences in this whole ballet😩

[@pandora846]

The costumes are spectacular

[@raquelalves2394]

I am in love with this man! His moves are so amazing!

[@alexkao3439]

I want to play in the orchestra for this SO BAD!

[@PrettyDrawings]

wish i could like this a thousand times

[@elisakneisel8660]

I always keep returning to this video.. I don't really know why, im writing something for university oder eating breakfast and suddenly I feel the urge to see the caterpillar dance again. Maybe because its so hypnotizing and sexy, and his dancing is incredible - or maybe its the sparkly pointe shoes

[@konstantina9876]

This is officially my favorite ballet video ever

[@aleanzures1162]

what a beautiful pair of point shoes

[@pinemarten7509]

My ballet school did Alice in wonderland last year and everyone were crushing so hard on the guy who danced as the caterpillar(he had green eyes and a six pack so yeah lol). Definitely one of the best shows my school has ever done😁

[@baronislove3063]

Imagine you were doing 15 years of ballet and you were casted as a worm leg. 🐛

[@edgarolivas5407]

The ending is absolutely fantastic!!

[@sanemiko5848]

ABSOLUTELY amazing, alice in wonderland is incredibly eccentric and unique LOVE IT

[@deniz1234]

The music, the choreography, the costumes are AMAZING! Also the cast is so beautiful and talented 😍😍😍

[@ayoladenika]

They're such good actors as well

[@thunderstorms2112]

I like this. It shows how much fun they are having on all of the scenes from wonderland.

[@noraschlegel4268]

This was incredible!!! I loved every second of it!

[@jimk8592]

Didn't expect it to end that fast! They did an amazing job and the music is really getting in to you!

[@Isa1131000]

I'd really like to see this ballet, but I live in Germany. But now I read that the ballet is shown in cinemas. Maybe I can go there and watch this beautiful ballet.

[@lauracrimson]

You can also buy it on dvd or bluray, I live in the netherlands and I have it :-) You can find it on amazon and the royal ballet web shop :-)

[@rebeccamcelroy1000]

It will be in cinemas this year: www.roh.org.uk/showings/alices-adventures-in-wonderland-live-2014

[@shaunteljordan9869]

Hi! Please help me find this version. I’ve looked everywhere and I can’t find the one with Sarah Lamb. Can you include the web link for it please?

[@UtterQueerNightmare]

Went to see this with my gran, so glad I found this. Its one of my favourite moments.