Scottish Ballet plans a return to stage and screen this autumn with Gene Kelly’s ballet ‘Pas de Dieux’, given a new twist for its UK premiere.
One of the first choreographers to bring the ‘American style’ to Europe, the legendary Gene Kelly was invited to create an original work for the Paris Opera Ballet in 1960. Dancing the lead role of Aphrodite was the ‘Étoile’ of Paris, Claude Bessy, who had worked with Kelly in Hollywood and encouraged him across the Atlantic.
His jazzy, joyful ‘Pas de Dieux’ was highly acclaimed at the time as ‘a breath of fresh air’ and is now being given a new set of wings for its UK premiere.
In collaboration with Kelly’s widow, Patricia Ward Kelly, Scottish Ballet’s CEO/Artistic Director Christopher Hampson and designer Lez Brotherston (The Snow Queen, The Secret Theatre) have lovingly revived the original ballet and added a delightful new twist.
Set within the glamour of Paris in 1960, Starstruck recreates a world where jazz meets ballet, gods masquerade as mortals, and the stars align. Set to Gershwin’s effortlessly cool Concerto in F, with extracts from Chopin; Starstruck is exactly the evening of entertainment audiences have been longing for.
It is hoped that Starstruck will mark Scottish Ballet’s long-awaited return to the stage, with an autumn tour of Scotland planned, subject to venues being able to reopen to significant capacity. The production is also being created as a new feature-length film, with tickets available to the public later this year.
The news of this new film comes hot on the heels of Scottish Ballet winning the prestigious ‘Best Dance Film’ at the National Dance Awards for its first feature film The Secret Theatre at Sunday’s awards. The Secret Theatre was released in December 2020 and watched by 55,000 people over three days.
Alongside the announcement of Starstruck, Scottish Ballet has launched a ‘Fit for the Gods’ Costume Appeal, asking the public to help bring the ballet to life. Donations will support the creation of nearly 100 stunning new costumes, reimagined by Tony and Olivier award-winning Designer Lez Brotherston.
The glorious sixties Parisian designs will add lustre to Kelly’s energetic choreography, and the mischievous adventures of Aphrodite and Eros. After a year and a half without box office income, this public support is vital to help the company return to touring.
Christopher Hampson, CEO/Artistic Director of Scottish Ballet said: “Gene Kelly’s pioneering choreography and much-loved style influenced a generation of dance-makers, and we honour his creative legacy with this playful new production. We are very proud of the distinctive dance films we have made over the last few years, and look forward to adding this to our canon.”
Lez Brotherston, designer of Starstruck, said: “It’s a simple story that we aim to tell in a sophisticated way. I hope it will be a great event to get people back into the theatre and remind them of the fun of being there.”
Patricia Ward Kelly said: “It took over two decades for me to find the right home for Gene’s ballet, but I am certain now that it is in the right place and in the right hands… Gene would be very proud.”
