Ballet Ruse

It's tough in the tutu

Feature by Clare Sinclair | 12 Aug 2011

In the often serious world of dance, and in a society which craves idealised bodies and abilities, The Ballet Ruse at Dance Base pushes the archetypal idea of the ballerina, through this comedic and touching performance.

It is the poignant tale of choreographers Muirne Bloomer and Emma O'Kane: both aspiring ballerinas embroiled in the difficulty of attempting to achieve precise physical perfection in the world of dance.

Bloomer and O'Kane satirise the world of traditional ballet. Engaging the audience through their sharp take on being stuck in a chorus line, the piece segues from humour to poignancy within seconds: a particularly moving section around the expectations ballet dancers must exceed in order to make it in the cut throat, yet outwardly graceful, art form highlights how these are issues impact on the aspiring dancer. The stellar work of the dancers is unobtrusively framed by Monica Frawley’s simple and unfussy set design.

Bloomer and O’Kane bring their experiences to the piece. O’Kane – who studied in Russia – displays the harsh side of her Russian training while Bloomer tells of her battle with weight, and then height. It is evident throughout, that these dancers can use movement to capture detail and meaning, expertly reaching out to those watching through a flair for merging comedy, theatricality and satire into dance. Ultimately, this is a slick piece and is accessible to many, whether the practiced in dance or uninitiated.

Ballet Ruse, Dancebase, 6 21 August, various times

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