THE elemental forces of wind, earth, air and fire are explored in the Melbourne Ballet Company's performance of Archè, which will be coming to the Horsham Town Hall on Saturday, July 30.
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Archè premiered in Melbourne in 2015.
Archè director and choreographer Simon Hoy said while the company had been in talks to come to Horsham in past years, this was the first time an appropriate space had been available to stage a ballet.
The redevelopment of the town hall, and the introduction of the new theatre space, has resulted in the ballet scheduling in a Horsham stop in 2016.
Mr Hoy said the tribute to classical ballet, featuring a cast of 12 dancers, was accessible for ballet lovers and newcomers alike.
“It is very entertaining, with a story that is very easy to follow,” he said.
“There are emotional high points and it is all very well balanced dramatically.”
In creating Archè, Mr Hoy said he began with the elements.
Research led him to discover the Greek Arche, the principal element ‘of everything’, which also appears in Irish mythology.
Traditionally, the element has been embodied by the figure of a swan, a symbol associated with divinity that has become central to classical ballet.
During the development of Archè, the story evolved into a version of Swan Lake, taking inspiration from Odette and The Dying Swan.
The ballet explores and embraces much of the original narrative and some of the classical repertoire.
The dancing has been coupled with a powerful score by Joan Jeannrenaud, Ennio Morricone and Ludovico Einaudi, drawing on Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake.
Mr Hoy said the principal dancers, particularly Kristy Lee Denovan, were classically strong, with beautiful expression and technique.
He encouraged people to experience the power of the ballet, dancers performing in a “dynamic and physically challenging” way, in Horsham.
“It is very emotional. We’ve had some people cry at the end, certainly, and people have certainly enjoyed it,” he said.
This first time performance by the Melbourne Ballet Company in Horsham will be staged at Horsham Town Hall on July 30 at 8pm.
Tickets are $35 for adults, $30 for concession and $25 for students and children.