Anthony Dowell coaches William Bracewell, Principal of The Royal Ballet, in Daphnis's solo at an Ashton Rediscovered masterclass presented by the Frederick Ashton Foundation, 16 October 2022
I'm so glad I've got to see Sir Anthony coaching again. I was worried, because he had been gone for to long and I thought something happened. Sir Anthony is a National Treasure and has so much knowledge to offer. I'm amazed that at 80 he can recall such nuances in something he danced 60 years ago. God Bless him and I hope he is doing well.
This is probably the most perfect example of coaching I have ever seen. Such a difficult solo, but approached by both Dowell and Bracewell with sensitivity, respect, subtlety, artistry, musicality and a search for beauty and meaning in Ashton's choreography.
I could not agree more! Although i am from a very different corner of the ballet world, I recognize at once how much we all have in common, especially the magic of how our art is passed from hand to hand, generation upon generation, from one dancer to the next. Blessings to magnficent Sir Antony, radiant as ever -- and as clever a coach as he was a dancer.
Sir Anthony is life affirming and delightful. So much to learn from him (and not just about dance, but about creativity and process and being human) I love these rehearsals. Thank you for posting them.
This coaching was inspiring with so many Cecchetti principles including the full contre temps. Bracewell is a dancer of note, such an effortless technique and beauty of line. ❤
I's so good to see Sir Anthony Dowell again. Despite his preemptive apologies for bing unable to demonstrate as fully as he used to, after discarding his stick Sir Anthony seemed to become more mobile than with the aid! I'm sorry to hear him commenting that the previous two years had been difficult but, given his age and the tremedous wear and tear experienced by a ballet dancer throughout their career, he remains a revelation!
