Western Symphony

The Two Pigeons

In sharp contrast to Western Symphony, Ashton’s more traditional ballet has a very defined narrative, but it’s so easy to follow that it’s kids-play. Sweet and romantic, it’s also very funny!

With her many birdlike moves, Ambro Vallo as the flighty young girl, plays it coy and charming - showing how bored she gets sitting still. She tries to charm her young lover, Chi Cao, but he is also restless and falls under the spell of a beguiling gypsy temptress.

The gypsy camp is a riot of colour and although the innocent young girl tries to compete with her sexy rival she just doesn’t have the right moves.

Two Pigeons - not at all unfathomable

Her shoulder shimmies and hip-wiggling, although funny for the audience, don’t have the sexually charged allure of the vampish gypsy girl.

Guess which the young man prefers?

The ending however is predictable with him returning to his innocent first love...accompanied by well trained white pigeon sitting on his shoulder while he dances.

As the two lovers are reunited in their final beautiful duet, so are the pigeons...so utterly kitsch! (or romantic depending on how cynical you are).

If you think ballet is elitist and unfathomable this programme would prove how wrong you are. I think it’s a bit like Kylie - rather short, perfectly formed and very entertaining.

* BRB return in March 2005 with Kenneth MacMillan’s full length dramatic masterpiece Romeo and Juliet along with a triple bill of Twyla Tharp’s Upper Room; Balanchine’s Prodigal Son and Oliver Hindle’s new work based on Vivaldi’s Four Seasons.