Sandpaper Ballet
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
War Memorial Opera House
| Sandpaper Ballet | |
|---|---|
| Choreographer | Mark Morris |
| Music | Leroy Anderson |
| Premiere | April 27, 1999 War Memorial Opera House |
| Original ballet company | San Francisco Ballet |
| Design | Isaac Mizrahi James F. Ingalls |
Sandpaper Ballet is a ballet choreographed by Mark Morris to music by Leroy Anderson. It was created for the San Francisco Ballet, and premiered on April 27, 1999, at the War Memorial Opera House.[1]
Choreography
Mark Morris's Sandpaper Ballet was created for the San Francisco Ballet.[2] Tina Fehlandt, a frequent collaborator of Morris who had staged the ballet, said Morris "loves ballet, and he uses ballet vocabulary [...] But he likes to use it in a different way." She noted that this ballet is "very classical."[3] The ballet is performed by sixteen women and nine men. Fehlandt said Morris deliberately used an odd number of dancers as a challenge as he "loves spacial patterns and moving large groups of people around" and "wanted to challenge himself."[3] She also said Morris wants the dancers to be individualistic, "so there's not a sense they're performing at you. Although, that said, if you didn't feel good on a particular day he'd want you to pretend."[3]
Music
The ballet is set to music by Leroy Anderson, who was associated with the Boston Pops Orchestra.[4] All eleven scores used by Anderson are three to four minutes long,[5] though "Sleigh Ride" is used as an overture.[6] and "Sandpaper Ballet", from which the title of the ballet is taken, is not featured.[5] It was Morris' first piece with a full orchestra,[3] and he called the music "little gems; one-liners that really show off the band."[7]
Designs
Isaac Mizrahi designed the costumes, with the dancers in blue and white tops, lime green unitards and gloves, plus skirts for women.[2][6] James F. Ingalls designed the lighting.[2]
Performances
Sandpaper Ballet had its premiere on April 27, 1999[1] at the War Memorial Opera House, conducted by Emil de Cou.[2] The company had since revived the ballet, most recently in 2020.[6] The company will release a video recording of the full ballet online in 2021 as a part of their digital season, which will be held in lieu of the premiere of a new Morris ballet and the 2021 repertory season, both of which had to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the San Francisco Bay Area.[8]
The Houston Ballet performed the ballet in 2005, staged by Fehlandt, and Morris completed the final touches.[3]
Original cast
The ballet is performed by 25 dancers. The original cast includes:[2]
- Evelyn Cisneros
- Stephen Legate
- Julia Adam
- Julie Diana
- Joanna Berman
- Yuri Possokhov
Music
All the music used in Sandpaper Ballet were composed by Leroy Anderson, including:[1]
- "Sleigh Ride"
- "The Typewriter"
- "A Trumpeter's Lullaby"
- "Saraband"
- "Balladette"
- "Jazz Pizzicato"
- "Jazz Legato"
- "Fiddle-Faddle"
- "The Girl in Satin"
- "Song of the Bells"
- "The Syncopated Clock"