What is One @ the Ballet?
Held once a month on a Saturday, One @ the Ballet was initiated in 2009 as an in-studio dance presentation which aims to break the barrier created by the stage, bringing audiences one step closer to the dancers. These part-narrative sessions conducted by our Artistic Director, Janek Schergen will explore a wide spectrum of dance topics which will enable individuals gain a greater insight into the world of dance. From something as detailed as the little rituals that dancers perform before they go onstage, to the creative process a choreographer undergoes to create a new work, the audience can expect to enhance their knowledge of dance and also watch our dancers up-close and personal as they perform excerpts from our main performance seasons.
PROGRAMME DETAILS
Dates: Refer to monthly schedule below
Time: 1.00pm – 2.15pm (Registration opens at 12.45pm)
Venue: Singapore Ballet – Founder’s Studio
Fee: $20
- Children aged 3 and below will not be admitted.
- On the day of presentation, registration starts at 12.45pm and seats are free seating.
- *Registration for a session will be closed when event has reached its maximum capacity.
Upcoming Presentations
25th November 2023
Cinderella
In the last session of the year, we will focus on our new production of Cinderella. This new production features Singaporean talents with costume designs and stage settings. What goes into creating a new full-length ballet and a special preview of this ballet will be the highlight of this session.
28th January 2023
The Architecture of Ballet
Classical ballet is based on creating designs in space, both with bodies in motion and patterns of dancers onstage. The intricacy of the smallest gesture carries meaning, as well as the boldest of choreography invention. Choreographers are experts in devising how bodies move in space and combine that with visual impact and musical sophistication. We will show you the magic behind the structure of ballets and how the interweaving of movement, music and motion combine into spectacle.
25th February 2023
Don Quixote
Don Quixote, originally choreographed by Marius Petipa, has become well known as a classical ballet of a unique sort. The music for the ballet is by Ludwig Minkus and the story is drawn from the famous tale of Cervantes. It was first created for the Bolshoi Ballet in Russia. We’ll give you a glimpse of the production in rehearsal with its elaborate costumes and props before it goes on stage.
25th March 2023
The Core of Ballet
For any major classical work, the heart and soul of the ballet is determined by the dancers who form the corps de ballet. The term, in and of itself, it indicates any group of dancers performing together, but over time it has been redefined as the picture of ballet in works like La Bayadere with the Kingdom of the Shades, the swans in Swan Lake or the wilis in Giselle. Neoclassical ballets like Serenade and Theme and Variations, advance this idea by asking every dancer on stage to perform at a soloist level. The unity and precision, as well as the character of a work is established primarily by group work, which we will show our audience with various highlights from our repertoire.
29th April 2023
How to Dress a Dancer
Learn the story behind how pointe shoes, ballet slippers, rehearsal clothes, simple and elaborate costumes, which are part of the magic of the ballet world. The history of a ballerina’s tutu, tiaras, headpieces, and decoration will be shown with wonderful examples from our wardrobe on display. We will show costumes a wide range of our costumes and how it has enhanced the entire look of a work of choreography.
27th May 2023
Ballet 101
The heritage and history of ballet is a story that is worth telling and how the development of modern dance morphed into contemporary dance theatre is part of this dialogue. What is it that has led classical ballet and contemporary dance to be considered one of the most respected of the international fine arts alongside literature, music, and drama? We will show you the daily lives of dancers, from morning class to rehearsal and into the experience of performance for them. You will experience greater insights and learn a great deal more than just attending a performance.
24th June 2023
The Art of the Pas de Deux
The pas de deux forms the central moment of many pieces of choreography. At the heart of pas de deux work is emotion, even in the most abstract of ballets. Often dancers develop partnerships that are based on several factors including personality, temperament, timing, and physical type. Dancers create important bonds of security and trust in working with each other on a daily basis. How dancers achieve complex overhead lifts, partnered promenades, pirouettes and balances will be shown and explained for a greater appreciation.
22nd July 2023
35 Years of Singapore Ballet
Singapore Ballet was co-founded as Singapore Dance Theatre in 1988 by Anthony Then and Goh Soo Khim with just seven professional dancers. In 35 years, we have grown to the point where we now have thirty-six dancers and six performance seasons that span though the calendar year, as well as international touring. The repertoire has included some of the most well-regarded international choreographer’s works in newly created and established pieces as well as full-length classical ballets. The company is now one of the most significant arts organizations in Singapore. The path we have travelled towards building the company will be shown with several examples of the 2023 repertoire presented in segments.
26th August 2023
Asian Choreographic Voices
The Asian perspective in classical ballet and contemporary dance has been redefined in the past decades, thanks to the emergence of talented Asian choreographers in both the worlds of ballet and contemporary dance. Much of this vanguard was brought about by a small group of determined and talented individuals, with the people who believed in them. Singapore Ballet has one of the largest repositories of Asian choreographers in the world and we will share with you, their journey.
23rd September 2023
Repertory Treasures
Dance companies are always asked what is ‘new’ in the repertoire. It becomes a matter of balance to present a mix of heritage repertoire and new works for our audiences. With an expanding repertoire, as the years progress for Singapore Ballet, certain ballets emerge as the identity of the company and new works are influenced by the style of those choreographic pieces. What continues and how we move forward is the alchemy that forms the unique identity and perspective of the repertoire for our audiences. We will show you what defines us as a dance company and where we are intending to go in future.
21st October 2023
The Three Pillars of Ballet
Dance companies are supported with a balance of their repertoire for their audiences. In most cases, this is defined by a conscious thought of how the development of the organization progresses from season to season. For Singapore Ballet, we have an established group of 19th century classical works, as well masterpieces created for other dance companies by well-known international choreographers and then brought into our repertoire to enrich it. Finally, we have ballets created especially for our dancers and audiences that show our own distinctive strengths and qualities. Examples of each of these important foundations to the repertory will be presented.
(Postponed) 29th May 2021
The Code of Terpsichore
Terpsichore is the Greek goddess of dance and ballet has been most closely identified as a predominately female art form. Ballet establishes manners, respect and heritage in our training, both onstage and off, in both classical and contemporary dance. The profound history of how this came to be will be the basis of this session and we will show segments of our repertoire in aid of this discussion and demonstration of dance pieces.