Compañía Nacional de Danza

A DELICATE ROMANTIC CELEBRATION

Each character or theatrical character will always have its details and elements to sneak into our innermost feelings, as the sylph does when she enters through the window and turns upside down what is happening in Effie’s house (the preparation of the wedding between her and good old James) without caring too much about the consequences. Despite this and her carefree, whimsical and sometimes dramatic character, she always arouses our sympathy. This is precisely one of the keys of this singular character destined to remain in that eternal state of grace that distinguishes and draws him. The dancer must interpret all these nuances that are within the environmental fantasy that the libretto calls for and that must be made credible to the audience.

Although at times the tone of this ballet may seem festive, we must never lose sight of the fact that we are in Romanticism and that, underneath the action runs a drama that ends in the worst possible way. It can be interpreted that the sylph is a victim of her actions, her impulsiveness and her bad head. But there is something else that can also be a lesson: in her infatuated enthusiasm, she drags James into unhappiness and despair.

When talking about excellence in dancing perhaps the most important thing is that the technique we use is not noticeable, that it is contained in the dance, ordering the steps and making them a musical whole, but that the purely physical efforts are not evident. The sylph is the character of the great ballet repertoire that most demands this purpose. Technique is not an end, but a tool that allows us to interpret and tell a story, and the sylph passes before our eyes as something evanescent, light, almost incorporeal, and it is there that the dancer must give all of herself. There are no great displays of what is understood as virtuosity in Bournonville’s ballet. Everything is much more subtle and delicate, and that is part of the great challenge.

This great celebration of romantic ballet is an occasion that should fill us all with pride. The CND returns to an immortal title demonstrating versatility and talent with its staff.

Arantxa Argüelles