This is my very first self practice session of Mercutio's Variation in the Ball scene in Act 1. Nureyev's choreography is extremely fast and rich in steps: there is almost a step for every note! This solo is also very long: 3 - 4 minutes depending on the tempo. Of course it's far from the longest male variations of the repertoire! For example, the adagio variation of Prince Desire in Nureyev's sleeping beauty reaches 8 minutes in length!! Nevertheless, this is one of the most difficult variations that I've seen and danced. It's long yet it's terribly fast which makes it very hard for the stamina.
Mercutio is a comic character in the story. He's one of the closest friends of Romeo. In this scene (Capulet Ball scene, Act 1), while Lady and Lord Capulet presents Paris (rich and charming prince) to Juliet, she meets Romeo and the two main characters fall in love with each other immediately, which makes Paris, Lady and Lord Capulet annoyed. There comes Mercutio's intervention, trying to distract everybody in the ball from this embarrassing situation.
I decided to practice alone because I'm only an understudy and I cannot dance it full out in rehearsals. Instead, I would just learn and mark the steps at the back. I think it's necessary for me to do it several times before the show starts so that if ever I get a chance to replace in Mercutio, I would have worked a bit before and hopefully it would look okay.
As usual, I'm sharing this private linked clip with you exclusively in this blog. Please do not share or spread on the internet. Even though I still have A LOOOOOT to work on, I hope you enjoy it. :)
Mercutio is a comic character in the story. He's one of the closest friends of Romeo. In this scene (Capulet Ball scene, Act 1), while Lady and Lord Capulet presents Paris (rich and charming prince) to Juliet, she meets Romeo and the two main characters fall in love with each other immediately, which makes Paris, Lady and Lord Capulet annoyed. There comes Mercutio's intervention, trying to distract everybody in the ball from this embarrassing situation.
I decided to practice alone because I'm only an understudy and I cannot dance it full out in rehearsals. Instead, I would just learn and mark the steps at the back. I think it's necessary for me to do it several times before the show starts so that if ever I get a chance to replace in Mercutio, I would have worked a bit before and hopefully it would look okay.
As usual, I'm sharing this private linked clip with you exclusively in this blog. Please do not share or spread on the internet. Even though I still have A LOOOOOT to work on, I hope you enjoy it. :)
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