Blog
My tribute to Norman Morrice - Mikaela Polley
Posted by: Mikaela Polley on 7 October 2008
Currently I am preparing the Company for their performances in High Wycombe. This week we have a première called Two Solos as a Tribute to Norman Morrice with one of the solos being my own choreography.
I had originally choreographed a piece called Phantasy, set to Phantasy Quintet by Ralph Vaughan Williams, for Rambert's Season of New Choreography 2008; first performed at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in February. The piece which has been taken into the company repertoire, to be performed as a tribute to Norman Morrice this week, is the third movement of Phantasy Quintet (Alla Sarabanda: Lento).
The fact this is a tribute to Norman Morrice is particularly poignant to me as he was my teacher of Choreographic Studies at The Royal Ballet Upper School when I was there between 1988-1990. During the time I was a dancer for Rambert, Norman Morrice came to watch a rehearsal of Anthony Tudor's piece Dark Elegies in which I was dancing the fourth movement solo, and after many years apart he approached me with tears in his eyes to hug me - he recognised me! It was very sad for me to hear of his passing earlier this year and I'm very honoured that my choreography has been chosen as a tribute to him.
Alongside rehearsing my own choreography this week we are very busy rehearsing Carnival of the Animals, Infinity and Eternal Light, all being performed at the Wycombe Swan, High Wycombe. Since the new season started I've made the transition from dancer to full-time Rehearsal Director as part of the Dancers' Management Team and I'm relishing the new challenges this is presenting to me. I was fortunate enough during my last two years as a Rambert dancer to have the opportunity to develop the skills needed for my current role by being part of the Dancers' Management Team as well as a dancer.
So, tomorrow I am off to High Wycombe with a small group of dancers to do some technical rehearsals in preparation for the rest of the Company arriving on Wednesday. Wednesday we'll be rehearsing the full programme that will be performed Wednesday evening through to Saturday evening, and the rest of the week days will be filled with more rehearsals including Swansong in preparation for our visit to Norwich.
I'm looking forward to Sunday when I get to eat a nice big roast dinner and relax in front of the TV before another touring week begins.
Comments
There are no comments for this post