Bolero - Extrait

Creators: Maurice Béjart

In 1961, Maurice Béjart created his Bolèro to music by Maurice Ravel, for dancer Duska Sifnios, which became one of his landmark works. It was revived by Maïa Plissetskaïa in 1974, then by Jorge Donn in 1979. While the rhythm is set by a chorus of dancers appearing around a round, red table, the melody is brought to life by the soloist, whose perpetual undulation and swaying amplify with the orchestra. Gradually, as the music devours the space, the dancers' scansion literally embraces the soloist, dressed in a flesh-colored leotard with her hair loose. This almost naked body reveals a deliberately erotic dance.