Is It Sport? Is It Art? No, It's Ballet
In the final movement of Jewels by the Kirov Ballet at the Hippodrome, it finally struck me. Ballet is the synchronised swimming of the dance world. Plenty of opaque smiles, lots of legs high up in the air and whatever's going on beneath the surface is out of sight and out of mind.
I can't help placing ballet in the same category as rhythmic gymnastics or figure skating. Whatever the costume colour or music style, you've got to produce officially-recognised positions of a sufficiently high quality in order to qualify. That's sport for you - not art.
I'm not knocking the ability of your average professional ballerina, gymnast or skater. I could no more balance on the toes of my left foot while my right leg hovers somewhere in the 12 o'clock position than execute a flying open Axel sit spin (though I did do my bit by sitting up very straight). If I begin a campaign to make ballet an Olympic sport, it's not because I can't see the skill. I just can't find the meaning.
Sport is about attainment. Art is about communication. With everything else I've seen in the IDFB, by the end my brain's buzzing about what was expressed by the piece. In contrast, I left the Hippodrome thinking the audience should have been supplied with a scorecard each rather than a programme.
The rubies, emeralds and diamonds that inspired Jewels are an apt metaphor for ballet. They look pretty, they cost a lot, but ultimately they're cold and unyielding to human touch.
Claire Boot
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Interesting comparison between art and sport. I used to judge the artistic elements of freestyle skiing. Our athletes used to train with dancers and vice-versa.
Were the Kirov jewels cold and unyeilding? Did the audience smile? Someone sat in the same row as me shed a tear. (Sport can have the same effect it's true)
Admittedly the only spontaneous (mid-performance) applause was when a principal male dance span and leapt off into the wings (the ballet equivalent of a quadruple lutz), so there might be something in what you say.
PS Here's a link between the Lifestyle and Business blogs
Interesting comparison between art and sport. I used to judge the artistic elements of freestyle skiing. Our athletes used to train with dancers and vice-versa.
Were the Kirov jewels cold and unyeilding? Did the audience smile? Someone sat in the same row as me shed a tear. (Sport can have the same effect it's true)
Admittedly the only spontaneous (mid-performance) applause was when a principal male dance span and leapt off into the wings (the ballet equivalent of a quadruple lutz), so there might be something in what you say.
PS Here's a link between the Lifestyle and Business blogs
That an audience member was moved to tears does undermine my more-sport-than-art argument - but, like you say, sport can have that effect too so maybe it still stands!
Plus hear what you say about the epidemic of 'International' popping up in titles. But wouldn't the 'Dance Festival Birmingham' suggest only local companies? Come to think of it, that's not such a bad idea - bring on the Abbots Bromley Horn Dance!!
Hello - I'm back. This festival should DEFINITELY have the 'International' tag; it's been a real smorgasboard of choreography and artists from across the globe, and has certainly given me an insight into different cultures through dance.
My opinion goes the other way. Gymnastics, synchronised swimming, diving and ice skating are all "Art" not "Sport". "Sport" is about who goes furthest or fastest, or who scores the most goals/tries/whatevers. If the winner is decided by the opinion of judges, then it's a talent contest not a sport contest.
Hey, that gives me a great idea to offset the cost the 1012 Olympics. "The Gold Factor" Ant 'n' Dec can host a live ITV program from the Olympic Gymnasium, and TV viewers around the world can phone in (on premium rate phonelines, naturally) to vote for their favourite gymnast. A new independant regulatory body "OFMED" can be appointed to make sure their are no irregularities.
(Meanwhile on BBC1 Lord Coe hosts "The Loneliness of a Long Distance Runner" where 1500m runners compete in heats to be selected for the Olympic final, and on Channel 4 "I'm an Decathelete, Get Me Out of Here" where competitors must complete tasks earn points, enabling them to live in the remote "olympic village")
But in gymnastics etc there's still a winner, based on who did what best (great idea to throw it open to the phone-voting public though :).
I want to say there are no winners - and, therefore, no losers - in art, but I suppose the Oscars, the Turner Prize, even your school award for Best Clay Pot all prove me wrong . . .
No - I'm sticking by my original point. Attainment in sport can be objectively judged by a panel of experts. Communication through art is ultimately up to each one of us to judge for ourselves.
But in gymnastics etc there's still a winner, based on who did what best (great idea to throw it open to the phone-voting public though :).
I want to say there are no winners - and, therefore, no losers - in art, but I suppose the Oscars, the Turner Prize, even your school award for Best Clay Pot all prove me wrong . . .
No - I'm sticking by my original point. Attainment in sport can be objectively judged by a panel of experts. Communication through art is ultimately up to each one of us to judge for ourselves.