Ballet British Columbia

Watching the Dance Go By

When John Alleyne decided to create a new full-length ballet for Ballet British Columbia based on Tennessee Williams' famous play A Streetcar Named Desire, I was asked to write a weekly diary following its evolution from first rehearsals through to the world premiere on April 6, 2006.

It was a challenging request that I felt compelled to accept since it would give me an opportunity to experience firsthand the labour intensive work that goes into creating new art. This on-line diary allows me to share that experience with you. With luck this project will turn out to be an exciting new way to initiate audiences into a world that largely remains a secret to those of us who are not dancers but merely plain mortals.

We learn about dance by watching and comparing over and over again until we begin to understand why one dancer dances better than another and how the finest nuances in execution can make for a memorable performance. My hope is that by sharing this unique experience I can be your eyes and ears, exploring the complexities of creating dance, seeing how a full-scale production ultimately makes its way to the stage against all odds, and acknowledging the enormous physical and emotional toll it takes on all of its creators.

This is definitely going to be fun.

Richard Forzley

Ballet British Columbia's A Streetcar Named Desire Residency is made possible with the support of the Kay Meek Centre, West Vancouver