|
One concern I did have for the performances of DGV was my hair. As the opening at Sadler's Wells came closer, I felt I needed to have my hair cut for Le Jeune Homme. But Melanie, who does my hair, didn't think it was possible to get the style required for DGV if my hair was shorter. So that would mean having my hair cut the morning after my last show - which just happened to be the day of the first show at Sadler's. My Mum came to the rescue, cutting my hair just before the stage call - she used to cut it when I was younger - and I really appreciated her help.
Another problem I had in the run-up to Sadler's Wells, was finding more rehearsal time with Alistair for the pas de deux. We could only meet once a week, which was not ideal, and we knew that we would have only one stage call at Sadler's. Rupert being injured just ten days before the show was like having the wind knocked out of me. We had worked on it for so long. What were we going to do? I asked an old friend and colleague Billy (William) Trevitt. Billy has been working with Michael Nunn on a documentary on Chris Wheeldon and he was due to fly out to Russia on the Saturday but, after changing a flight, he was able to perform with me. Billy did an amazing job of learning the piece in two days and it was great working with him again.
Usually you would rehearse a new work the day before the first show, but this time there was no way our schedules would allow that. I'd been working with Igor over the weekend and then on Monday night had both The Four Temperaments and DGV, which are both hard. If I'd had a choice I would never have scheduled six performances in one week.
I'd been excited about guesting in Igor Zelensky's shows at Sadler's Wells, though I wish now that I'd been able to get more involved in the planning stages, having enjoyed putting everything together for my own show, Darcey Bussell and Friends. Igor and I had been planning to create a new piece together. Unfortunately, there was no time for that because of an illness in his family.
I'm very glad to have had the opportunity to dance Le Jeune Homme in London with Igor. He's wanted to dance the ballet with me for such a long time and it was fantastic that Roland Petit was able to come over and rehearse us. The sets and costumes were brought over from La Scala and I'm looking forward to dancing Le Jeune Homme again in January, although a much-needed rest comes first, before working on Apollo and Theme and Variations in February.
After that I will be counting down to my last shows with the Royal Ballet in June. Even though Monica and Johnny say you should never put a date on your last show, I feel happier doing that. I do, however, have other plans that will be revealed in time.
Off stage I've been working on a Swan Lake documentary which I actually started at the end of last season but didn't finish filming until the beginning of this one. It will be broadcast in January 2007 to accompany a performance of Swan Lake by the Kirov: part of the BBC's 'Winter Celebration of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky'. Unfortunately I couldn't go to Russia for the filming as I was too busy, but I hope you like the finished product. I did get some help from Roberto Bolle for the dance sequences. I've also been finishing off my new Pilates Book which is out in January so I have been doing some publicity for that too.
Then, on the 12th of December, I had all the excitement of being given my CBE at Buckingham Palace. I took my husband and the girls with me - who were so thrilled. It was an amazing experience, but explaining it all to Phoebe beforehand was quite hard as she had a lot of questions. Were we going to see The Queen? Why were we going to The Palace? Why was I receiving an award? Was it because I'd been a good girl?
Thank you again to everyone who has sent cards, letters and gifts to me at the Opera House; I really appreciate your support. Sorry for the delay in replying to some of them - I am still working my way slowly through the pile, so if you haven't heard from me yet, you will soon. Thanks also for the comments regarding this site but unfortunately I'm unable to offer any personal advice.
I hope you enjoyed the newsletter and have a really Happy Christmas and a wonderful 2007. Please come back again to see what I have been up to.
Enjoy your dance.
|
