The dance rooster by Christopher Bruce is a short ballet loosely based on the life and death of Sergei Diaghilev, the impresario who founded the Ballets Russes in 1909. The ballet is narrated by a "Rooster" who presents Diaghilev's life in seven scenes.
Diaghilev is born in a small town in Russia in the 1870s and rises to prominence as an arts critic. He is captivated by the beauty of ballet and recruits dancers to form his own company, the Ballets Russes. The Rooster serves as a guide through the narrative and provides commentary on the rise and fall of Diaghilev's career, his relationships with dancers including Vaslav Nijinsky, and the eventual decline and death of the company in the 1920s.
Diaghilev's rise and fall are presented in a series of powerful dance sequences that capture the spectacle of the Ballets Russes. The ballet also explores Diaghilev's private life, including his homosexual relationships and his battles with drugs and alcohol. His demise is depicted as a tragic downfall that mirrors the disintegration of his company. The ballet concludes with a poignant pas de deux between Diaghilev and a young dancer that underscores the beauty of ballet and its ability to transcend life's tribulations.
_Rooster_ is an exciting and insightful look at the life of one of the most significant figures in the history of ballet. It is a captivating piece of dance that combines virtuosic choreography, evocative storytelling, and an unforgettable score to create a memorable and moving experience.