Reviewing Literature in more depth

As I am reviewing literature in more depth I have begun questioning some ideas.

 In the article Art is dying warns sadler’s wells chief, in the Independent (2011, accessed 15/11/17), Alistair Spalding stated that ballet was a dying art because the leading companies were continuing to do the same ballets and not producing sufficient new material.

However, he also states that the classic ballets which companies are continuing to perform are selling and that the reason not so many new works are being created is because ‘’new things are difficult to sell; the audience isn’t expecting it.’’ This made me question is it because the new things are not as attractive, not because they are new, but because of their content or subject matter.

In this same article Homan’s, author of the book Apollo’s Angels (a comprehensive history of ballet) then goes on to say that ‘’Alistair is right, and we are at a conservative moment in ballet, and dancers need to feel they are doing new work. Unfortunately, for the most part, the new work is not living up to the old work.’’

This is quite a different thought. Perhaps it is not whether the ballet is known, but whether it is relevant and attractive to audiences today. Clearly there is still something in these classics that people love to see.

If anyone has any thoughts on this idea I would be interested to hear them.

 Bibliography

Sharp, R. (2011) ‘Art is dying warns sadler’s wells chief,’ The Independent, 3 April. Available at:  http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/news/ballet-is-dying-warns-sadlers-wells-chief-2261417.html (Accessed 15th November 2017).