DANSOX (Dance Scholarship Oxford) Lectures

***UPDATE***
Because of the current COVID-19 situation this event will now be ONLINE. Contact Susan Jones and Marcus Bell to make sure you receive the link personally. Those who have been in touch already will be sent the link. Regrettably the dinner has been cancelled. The lectures are free but there will be an opportunity to support DANSOX - and to join Dame Monica and Jane in raising a glass to toast to this year's programme. 

Dame Monica Mason (Royal Ballet; Honorary Fellow, St Hilda's; Patron, DANSOX) and Jane Pritchard (Curator of Dance, V&A) present 'The Sleeping Princess and The Sleeping Beauty'.

Dame Monica Mason and Jane Pritchard will give two illustrated presentations to celebrate the centenary (1921 - 2021) of performances in Britain of the iconic Tchaikovsky ballet. As dance archivist of the V&A and internationally renowned historian of dance, Jane will reveal the history of the great Russian classic. She will focus on the first performance in London (1921) of The Sleeping Princess, which followed the 19th century choreography of Marius Petipa, sets by Leon Bakst. Danced by the famous Diaghilev Ballets Russes, this was a lavish production that nearly bankrupted the great impresario.

Dame Monica will discuss subsequent productions of The Sleeping Beauty, which again followed the original music and choreography, and became the signature work of the Royal Ballet, establishing the national company as one based on classical traditions. Dame Monica's involvement in the work over her long career with the Royal Ballet as Principal Dancer and Director will include her experiences of coaching today's dancers and give us insight into her own stunning interpretation of the role of the 'outsider' - the wicked fairy, Carabosse.