Newspaper Article

G2: Arts: Mayhem and magic: It is exactly 100 years since Diaghilev's Ballets Russes stormed the west and changed ballet for ever. Judith Mackrell on how today's choreographers are paying tribute

Mackrell, Judith

2009

نظرة عامة

They were the leading lights of Serge Diaghilev's company, Ballets Russes - and now, 100 years on, dance companies around the world are marking the centenary of that tumultuous first Paris season. Scottish Ballet is creating a new version of the 1911 piece Petrushka, the Royal and the English National Ballet are presenting programmes of Diaghilev repertory, and London's Sadler's Wells has commissioned four works, inspired by the Ballets Russes. It's an unprecedented act of homage, and fitting for the company that changed ballet from decorative entertainment to an avant-garde art form. For Alistair Spalding, artistic director of Sadler's Wells, Diaghilev's achievements still dwarf anything today: \"You look at photos of all those great [people] he gathered together, and there is such an aura about them. These days, if you approach any major artist about a project, they'll say, 'OK, I could do that in about 2013.' Back then, the world was so much smaller. But Diaghilev was still the one who came along and made the magic.\" [Javier de Frutos] has already choreographed four versions of The Rite of Spring, and two of Les Noces (another Stravinsky score for Diaghilev). \"Every time I research a new work, even if it's nothing to do with Diaghilev,\" he says, \"I find that something associated with him comes up.\" He sees Diaghilev as the greatest role model: \"He would have sold his soul to create new work for the company. He had the charisma to make anyone do anything for him, and he wasn't bothered by political correctness. Those were the glory days when people would sleep with you to get a job. And some of the best slept with Diaghilev\" *

• الناشر: Guardian News & Media Limited
• موضوع: Nijinsky, Vaslav / Pavlova, Anna / Rubinstein, Ida