Christopher Bruce's Swansong

Christopher Bruces Swansong is a powerful work which deals with the timeless themes of human rights and the brutality of political interrogation. Created for English National Ballet in 1987 and set to an electro-acoustic score by Phillip Chambon, Swansong is a tour-de-force for three male dancers which depicts the struggle between a political prisoner of conscience and his
military interrogators. Set on a bare stage, the prisoner is tormented and brutalized by his two captors, who, in the process of trying to extract information from their victim, succeed only in bringing about his death. The intentionally unspecified setting could be a cell in Abu Ghraib, Iraq or Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Performed by Connor Walsh, Nicholas Leschke, and Ian Casady of Houston Ballet.

www.houstonballet.org

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Houston Ballet
• Christopher Bruce
• Stanton Welch
• torture
• interrogation
• Connor Walsh
• Nicholas Leschke
• Ian Casady

[houstonballet]

The lighting designer was David Mohr.

[nazzybbe]

aaaa my exams tomaz for the paper :( luking for the costume designer any one got any idea plzz help :O

[houstonballet]

costume designer for swan song? christopher bruce designed all the scenery and costumes for this ballet himself.

[Imagine24601]

it's not meant to be musical. Somehow, i dont think a full-blown orchestrated symphony will represent imprisonment and torture.

[solebaci]

What I'd really like, is a clip of the teasing guards part, where they do their sort of comedy double act. Would really love to share this with people! Sadly, these are the only two clips on the internet... =(

[missnoddy95]

@Mymusicc11 be powerful and strong and if its not a solo use contact work and think of bulling

[LatinDancer1990]

I remember doing this college, surprised that I can remember it! :)

[Mymusicc11]

im in year 10 and im doing this as part of my GCSE dance studdies. Its so confusing :'( x im literally the worst dancer in my class so im trying to work on this, do you have any peformance tips for swansong? x thanks, much aprriciated

[toffeebicuit]

@lekara3219 It's an electro acoustic score. So I think synths may be used? I could be wrong though.

[lekara3219]

heelllppp!! what instruments are used in this? apart from the drums....

[JasmineLoves1D]

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE IN THEIR DANCE EXAM IN LESS THAN AN HOUR NOW!!!! Just remember all the different dance relationships like Complimentary Phrases of Movement and Unison. Commedia Dell'arte is the word for the comedy double act where the red nose is used. You'll all be fine! Show your knowledge off.

[TheEponinepontmercy]

have had 3 hours of theroy lessons - great! am officially gunna fail the test on this 2 mo

[TheEponinepontmercy]

@MonkeyLoveXD it's not all online you have to buy the dvd! ive got it as well - im 14 and its my first exam ever! officially shitting it