"Spitfire - an advertisement divertissement" (1988) Flashcards
When was “Spitfire” created and performed?
Created in 1988, but performed again as part of the triple bill in 2012, celebrating New Adventures 25th Anniversary.
What are the constituent features of “Spitfire”?
Music: Classical ballet score from Don Quixote.
Dancers: 6 male dancers, muscular, athletic build.
Physical set: No set design, white underwear and tank tops.
What is the subject matter of “Spitfire”?
Bourne’s debut piece, which adapts the traditional rivalry of Perrot’s “Pas de Quatre” to explore and mock male vanity within the world of male underwear adverts.
Give a movement example from “Spitfire” that shows Bourne’s influence of Frederick Ashton’s characterisation, ballet influence, humour, link to the subject matter.
Movement - 3 dancers in unison, in a slow and controlled manner, lean over the 3 other men’s knee, CS, with their legs together in a floating arabesque. The man leaning over takes his one arm, then the other, out slowly in a balletic manner before bringing them both down, allowing his body to tilt forwards before he lifts his torso and opens his arms to an open fifth above his head.
Interpretation - This shows a subversion of the classical partnering seen in ballet, as if Bourne is mocking the “Pas de Quatre” due to the humorous facial expressions which also mock male vanity.
Give a movement example from “Spitfire” that shows a fusion of ballet and contemporary, Lea Anderson and Frederick Ashton influences, dancers as actors, link to subject matter.
Movement - In 3 pairs, in unison, in a triangle formation. One man lunges and the other wraps both legs, moving through attitude arabesque, around the back of the man in the lunge. In a slow manner, the lifted men bring their arms up flexed at the elbow to accentuate the muscular build of the dancers.
Interpretation - This shows a subversion of the classical partnering seen in ballet, Bourne’s influence of Lea Anderson is shown here by the contemporary arm lines, with angular flexed arms to accentuate the muscles of the dancers. The dancers move through arabesque to enter this position, showing the origin of ballet.
