In-studio Q&A with Devon Carney, Choreographer
In-studio Q&A with Devon Carney, Choreographer
Q: The Sleeping Beauty choreography is by you, but “after Petipa.” What does that mean?
A: The Sleeping Beauty was first performed in 1890 (with choreography by Marius Petipa). Stylistically, I wanted to preserve the artistic feel of the original. But dancers move differently from how they did 120 years ago. Legs go higher. Turns last longer. Dancers of today are more technically proficient. They display more movement, more buoyancy, more freedom. Dancers are more exuberant.
Q: What challenges do you face in working with our exuberant, buoyant dancers?
A: The challenge is to give them the opportunity to show off their technical capabilities but not get too far outside the parameters. I try to meet them halfway. I’m not going to force them into a 120-year-old box.
Q: Speaking of that 120-year-old box, what inspiration can you draw from Petipa?
A: Less is more. Choreographically, they did less (in 1890), but they demonstrated more. They took more time to pantomime the narrative 100 years ago than we do today. Getting a dancer as powerful as Oğulcan to slow down? It’s a challenge – but it’s also an opportunity for him to broaden his horizons.
Q: What do you want the audience to gain from this performance?
A: I want them to have a good time, to be taken off to a fairyland. I want people of all ages to enjoy dance and movement.
