Woolf Works - Orlando pas de deux (Natalia Osipova, Edward Watson; The Royal Ballet)

Wayne McGregor’s award-winning ballet triptych is inspired by the writings of Virginia Woolf, with an original score by Max Richter. Principals of The Royal Ballet Natalia Osipova and Edward Watson perform the Orlando pas de deux. The DVD of Woolf Works is now available shop.roh.org.u...
Virginia Woolf's writing defied the order of narrative conventions to depict a heightened, startling and poignant reality. Each of the three acts springs from one of Woolf's landmark novels: Mrs Dalloway, Orlando and The Waves - but these inspirations are also woven with elements from her letters, essays and diaries. Woolf Works expresses the heart of an artistic life driven to discover a freer, uniquely modern realism, and brings to life Woolf's world of 'granite and rainbow', where human beings are at once both physical body and unconfined essence.
Woolf Works (2015) was Resident Choreographer Wayne McGregor's first full-length work for The Royal Ballet. The production was a union
of his distinctive choreography with the sensory aesthetic of Virginia Woolf’s modernist writing. Both have broken new ground, a century apart. A stellar creative team and new score by Max Richter, who previously collaborated with McGregor on Infra (2008), challenge us to experience Virginia Woolf's work in a new light.

[@RoyalBalletAndOpera]

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[@lepolhart3242]

These two dancers are absolutely incredible as they are equally as good at contemporary ballet as well as classical ballet. I feel very privileged to watch them both!

[@kualumpurzagreb3408]

Utterly Magical ! What fabulous Chemistry between Natalie and Edward. Splendid ! We love it !! 👍👍❤❤❤

[@josephhuth3714]

Natalia Osipova is an artist of brilliance and depth. She goes deep, deep, deep.

[@fahriyedemir5495]

I also think the futuristic, alien theme of the pas de deux is very poignant and reflected through the intertwined bodies and elastic moves.

[@fahriyedemir5495]

Brava Natasha and Bravo Edward! They both individually have so much artistry. So, when they combine their efforts together, they are magical! I just love how their bodies are perfectly intertwined with each other! They are my favorite couple in Mayerling too.

[@TeresaDancerGirl]

Ah! I love Natalia Osipova!!

[@pinkwings8036]

Such physicality! And Natalia is so muscular its crazy, she's enchanting to watch.

[@teresamesa1232]

I'm not a fan of contemporary pieces but Natalia Osipova is amazing and Edward Watson is an equally brilliant dancer.

[@arielburrow9433]

She’s so stunning😍

[@robinavalyn9513]

Brilliant ! Such great choreography. Such talented artists.

[@jordanwhite694]

GORGEOUS

[@savagexbabe4378]

I'm absolutely in love with this

[@Bottleofwater-n5y]

What if this is the future of Ballet! I already love it

[@carmen9330]

Ah, those two...✨the real deal! ❤️👌

[@francischannel7]

Wow Just beautiful !

[@mangoshateu361]

Ballet Is so mesmerizing

[@emziedodd2445]

nothing compares to this ballet, or it’s cast.

[@VoxUrania]

I started watching on an iPhone. Better idea was the HD and sound system. So much more satisfying.

[@dimipimenta8554]

So beautiful

[@PatricioDiStabile]

this is SOOO AMAZING !!!!

[@ultimafermata9700]

Beautiful

[@alexialaurie7228]

Her feet are incredible

[@Sandrah326]

Belíssimo!🙏❤️💐👏👏👏🇧🇷🖖

[@rupertsfriend64]

I’m sure I can say ... that was hard work .... Not my style .. but ... I appreciate it very much

[@brendaswanson3313]

Beautiful amazing creature's

[@PatricioDiStabile]

thanks for sharing i would love to see the whole piece

[@hm2011100]

The full length ballet is free on marquee tv

[@brenna6784]

If I did this I'd probably knock the other dancer out or something

[@thabimajija856]

Wow. 1st one. Cool

[@jolantaboguszewska5325]

The first and the third part of that triptych is absolutely stunning, I had tears in my eyes watching Alessandra Ferri in The Waves. But Orando seems too acrobatic imao. I can't see emotions, rather super perfect form; it's rather like acrobatic gymnastics not dancing. The dancers are briliant, but Orlando is like sport not art. I had the same impression when watching Metamorphosis by Pita/Moon. Edward Watson - an outstanding artist - was doing unbelievable things with his body, but I wouldn't dare call it dancing.

[@mariajosemuruais7242]

La magia .lo demás desaparece

[@gaiaspinella4555]

Wow

[@jennyw5976]

She looks a lot like Bjork in this

[@kirsiihalainen2858]

Wau

[@BittaJam]

I don't know. It's almost pornographic. Either way, too graphic for me. Maybe I'm just too old. But this choreography seems to be about something that should be only between two, not public, even if it's the pure art (which it is, for sure). Meh, don't listen to me, I am too old and too grumpy, I guess.

[@fahriyedemir5495]

McGregor's choreography really takes some getting used to. But in my opinion, Woolf Works is his best work. The first, second, and third acts all evoke different styles. So perhaps you would prefer the other acts' choreography.

[@BittaJam]

@@fahriyedemir5495 I am going to take my chance on it, thank you. Though I'm still way too deep in the old school, to me Giselle is still the pinnacle of choreography, and I still think of Bolero as Modern. So yes, I'm a little outdated, I think. I remember watching the Golden Age, thinking that it was so on edge! :) The modern art really takes some getting used to, that's for sure. It is definitely not for everyone, but I truly enjoy the idea of it: nowadays everyone can find something perfectly suited for his or her mind, and you don't have to care if anybody else likes or understands it. And it's beautiful!

[@fahriyedemir5495]

@@BittaJam I actually agree! I'm not that much of a fan of contemporary, modern dance or art. But if it's done right, I can see the beauty in it. In fact, I have heard people refer to McGregor's ballets as vulgar before. But I think you would like the first act because the choreography is much more lyrical and neoclassical, and the mood is somewhat jubilant and free. Simply put, it's very much a narrative act and soooo beautiful since its based on Woolf's texts. The third act is a bit more melancholy and reflective but lyrical too, with much of the choreography exhibiting the same "intertwineness" of the bodies seen here but in a non-sexual way (since again, the mood is somewhat melancholy). On a side note, Giselle is my favorite ballet too! -- especially when danced by ballerinas who have somewhat a Taglioni style when dancing romantic ballets such as Osipova or Maria Alexandrova.

[@isoldamontero1239]

Pity you think so. I’m pretty old myself but the beauty of these movements that fit so well the music make me feel alive!

[@miavas4851]

I won't take my kids to see this.

[@salpsalp]

Those are great dancers, but in my opinion this is really not a good choreography. I don't see the point, the music the movement... Ok, she's flexible, she's sprawling, he supports her, it gets repetitive after the first 20 seconds, and then it doesn't go anywhere... I think it's a good thing to try to modernize ballet, to make it into something contemporary. But I think in order to do that you must keep in mind that ballet is not only about flexibility and the beauty of form. It's also.about the meaning and emotion behind it. And I see all these "contemporary ballet" choreographers like Wayne McGregor and Christopher wheeldon and I really truly don't understand what the fuss is all about... Their choreography seems very shallow.and superficial to me, very untrue to the nature of ballet and its style. Yes, ballet is pretty, and it can be virtuosic, but it is also very deep and meaningful.

[@mitzypinks1338]

Ohad Raps I completely agree. I can’t get into it at all. I’m just a watcher of ballet and by no means any kind of expert but I prefer ballets where I can clearly follow a story or at the very least some theme that makes sense with the movement and music. I don’t like it when the music and movements don’t make sense together . I don’t know 🤷🏼‍♀️ maybe I just don’t understand it. It gets repetitive as you say, but that’s not to diminish their obvious ability and beautiful form. They are wonderful dancers. Maybe I’m just old fashioned but I prefer the more traditional ballets like Giselle , Manon and La Bayadere etc. When a storyline comes together powerfully with the movement and music it can move me to tears like the end of Manon for example. This leaves me somewhat cold and confused. I think the worst of it for me that I’ve come across recently is vocal music with contemporary ballet, it doesn’t seem to work for some reason I’m not sure why. I think it might be that singers demand our attention and the dancers also do so, and therefore they compete and conflict whereas an orchestra takes more of an accompaniment position. Also very often the words sung seem to bear little connection to the ballet.

[@salpsalp]

Mitzy Pinks also, I'm not a traditionalist. I don't say ballet can't be used in different ways than what we're used to. And I didn't say there has to be a story or a narrative, but the choreography has to be true to it's origin, to its source, to its base. It is based on ballet, so it should use everything ballet has to offer, not only one color of it. Ballet is not just legs and arms, up and down and stretch. It is a lot more than that. Otherwise the piece becomes bland and shallow.

[@mitzypinks1338]

Ohad Raps I never said you did say those things so I’m not sure why you say that? I was just expressing my thoughts and feelings . I agree with you that ballet is more than just the movement.

[@julieartemova]

Ohad Raps I agree. Is this even a dance? I'm a former ballerina and although I like new and innovative Choreography, this is just very average. If the choreographer didn't have a uber flexible dancer, there will be nothing to showcase. How may other dancers can even do this piece? Not, impressed.

[@dianamora6768]

Thank god there is still people like you in this world Ohad. I completely agree with you.

[@giokaustubha]

So boring...what does it mean? What dance is this?

[@markgurvich7082]

It’s not a good choreography, if there is some. But besides that, Edward can barely handle Natalia’s weight. :). So it looks very awkward when he tries to lift her while she slips.

[@user-rv3ut7hl3f]

Это уже не балет, а чистая гимнастика. Не трогает совершенно. Наташа, займитесь чем-нибудь более эстетичным.

[@sable54]

Two very fine dancers, whom I've seen in quite a few other pieces, but I must say this strikes me as less dancing than as three and a half minutes of... undulating.

[@tamarastikes4319]

Не видела ничего более гадкого и безнравственного ,чем эта хореография ,,,,.парнуха нашего времени ,,,,,

[@user-rv3ut7hl3f]

Согласна с вами на все 100.

[@user-vl5ob3qe2f]

предатели долго не живут

[@aloudialoudi8783]

Can you please quit doing dance and do something else

[@giasharie274]

What do you mean by this statement?

[@nikeecalunsag]

Edward's support though...ugh!