Symposium
Kenneth MacMillan pushed the boundaries of classical ballet, exploring all aspects and extremes of the human condition. Today, 17 years after his death, his powerful expression electrifies classically trained dancers who relish the dramatic challenge, and audiences worldwide who are increasingly drawn to his expressive choreography.
MacMillan touches their core - and demands in return an equal response.
However, in tandem with his ballets is a personal story of psychological struggle with acute depression and anxiety as MacMillan's creative life was constantly undermined by a hostile press, his authority often questioned by his management and his peers - as is revealed in his forthcoming biography 'Different Drummer', in which we also discover how MacMillan consulted psychoanalysts and psychiatrists throughout his creative life: his journey of interior personal discovery informing his creative imagination.
This Symposium will offer rich opportunities to explore the relationships between physical expression and emotional impact in MacMillan's work - and discover what parallels might be drawn between his personal anguish and creative brilliance.
It is an opportunity to consider MacMillan’s work outside the usual parameters of dance criticism. This rare public dialogue between artists and psychoanalysts, will explore how MacMillan translated movement and gesture from the traditions of classical ballet to investigate subject matter and issues relevant to the contemporary world and in so doing to achieve powerful emotional and psychological expression. As well as observing how MacMillan’s choreography ‘works’ on the dancers themselves, there will be examination of what and how an audience ‘reads’ from the ballet and how they react to what they see (not always comfortably). Equally, MacMillan’s own choreographic development was often in advance of his times and his managements who would try to stifle him: to what end did this increasing struggle with critical adversity fuel his creative energies?
During the day, there will be a series of set pieces – videos, master classes, presentations – interspersed with many opportunities for discussion – both among the participants on stage and also members of the audience.
There are four separate sections:
MacMillan’s Language:
Gesture & Emotion Observed & Expressed
Including extracts from rarely seen recordings of ‘Carousel’,’Manon’ Mayerling’ ‘Gloria’ and ‘New Wave Ballet’ and footage of MacMillan himself.
MacMillan’s Creative Methods:
Working with Dancers’ Bodies
Previously unseen film of MacMillan at work choreographing for ‘A lot of Happiness’ - and a live master class with Monica Mason and Royal Ballet dancers and Pas de Deux from ‘Mayerling’ Act 1.
MacMillan’s Subject Matter:
Breaking the Rules
Film of MacMillan speaking with extracts from ‘The Invitation’ and ‘Isadora’ - and a live master class with Wayne Eagling and English National Ballet dancers with ‘Manon’ Act 1 pas de trois.
MacMillan and the Institutions:
Creativity in Spite of Adversity
Film of MacMillan speaking, with comments from Peter Wright, Deborah MacMillan, Clement Crisp and Clive Barnes - with discussion leading up to consideration of the creation of ‘The Judas Tree’ - with artists involved in its first production
Followed by a screening of the complete ballet ‘The Judas Tree’
by kind permission of NVC Arts/Warner Classics and Jazz.
And a concluding celebratory party where the audience will have the opportunity to meet and talk with the participants.
Taking Part
Psychoanalysts who have a strong personal connection and interest in ballet.
With:
- Dame Monica Mason, Director, Royal Ballet
- Wayne Eagling, Artistic Director, English National Ballet
- Nicholas Hytner, Artistic Director, Royal National Theatre
- Birgit Keil, Artistic Director, Baden State Theatre Ballet
- Vladimir Klos, Director, Mannheim Academy of Dance
- Clement Crisp, Dance Critic, Financial Times
- Jann Parry, MacMillan’s biographer
- Nichola McAuliffe, actress and writer
- Brian Elias, composer The Judas Tree
- Martin Yates, conductor
- Henry Roche, Head of Music Staff, Royal Ballet
- Dancers Edward Watson, Cindy Jourdain, Iohna Loots
- Viviana Durante, Michael Nunn, Stephen Wicks with colleagues from the Royal Ballet and English National Ballet
The Symposium is moderated by the broadcaster Natalie Wheen.
Participant biographies ›
