Still Life at the Penguin Café

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Who is the choreographer?
David Bintley
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Who are the companies?
The Royal Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet
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When was it first performed?
March 1988
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What is the accompaniment and who did it?
Orchestral, combining classical, rock and country influences. Simon Jeffes and the Penguin Café Orchestra
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What is the costume and who did it?
Combines animal and human characteristics in a dream-like way; masks and headdresses have animal features such as curly horns and antennae; costumes and accessories have cultural and social references. Hayden Griffin.
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What is the lighting and who did it?
Lighting indicates beginnings and ends of acts; follow-spots highlight the dancers; colour is used to enhance the mood, bright in first half and dramatic towards the end. John B Read
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What is the set and who did it?
Set in a café with chairs and tables. After the opening scene the rest of the dances take place on bare stage. Props include waiters' trays. Everchanging colourful backdrops give a sense of environment, climate and scale. Hayden Griffin.
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What is the staging?
Proscenium
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How many dancers are there?
Nine soloists plus corps de ballet
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What is the dance style?
Modern ballet with a mix of social and cultural styles to suggest geographical locations. These include English Morris, Latin American carnival and African dance styles. There are also references to contemporary and post-modern dance.
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What is the choreographic style?
Episodic. Combines a range of styles and cultural influences to tackle a political theme. Theatrical, using characterisation and humour to good effect.
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What is the theme?
Endangered species.
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What are the starting points/inspirations?
The music and album cover for Still Life and the Penguin Café. 'The Doomsday Book of Animals' by David Day.
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What is the structure?
Introduction followed by eight sections.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Who are the companies?

Back

The Royal Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet

Card 3

Front

When was it first performed?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What is the accompaniment and who did it?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What is the costume and who did it?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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