I do have news of Julian and how he is doing at SAB, but I thought I’d change things up a bit today. While I was in New York City I was contacted by email and offered the chance to air an “exclusive” video of Royal Ballet principle Rupert Pennefather speaking about some of the same issues I’ve discussed here on this blog: feeling different, injuries, “nailing it,” performing, partnering, and competition.
If you don’t know who Pennefather is, here’s his bio from the Royal Ballet in London: Born in Maidenhead, he trained with Julie Rose and at The Royal Ballet School. In 1999 he danced Albrecht in Giselle Act II and in the pas de trois from Theme and Variations at the School’s annual performance. He joined the Company that year, promoted to First Soloist, 2006, and Principal, 2008. His repertory includes Crown Prince Rudolf (Mayerling), Prince Siegfried, Espada, Romeo, Albrecht, Paris, Beliaev, Aminta, James, Prince Florimund, Officer (Anastasia), Prince (The Nutcracker and Cinderella), Oedipus (Sphinx), Florestan pas de trois, Don Quixote pas de deux, Birthday Offering pas de deux, Requiem, Consort to the Queen of Air (Homage to The Queen), Voluntaries, ‘Diamonds’ (Jewels), Serenade, The Dream, DGV: Danse à grande vitesse, Les Patineurs, Isadora, Symphony in C, Concerto and Acis and Galatea (The Royal Opera). In 2009 he created a role in Marriott’s Sensorium.
I was told the video is exclusive to My Son Can Dance; however, you can actually find the video on Youtube if you do a Google search, so I’m not sure what’s up with that. But I was quite honored and pleased that Pennefather’s media person actually found My Son Can Dance and thought the video appropriate and contacted me. So, here you go…a little insight into one of the great dancers of our time and the struggles he had when he was young.
Let me know what you think. I particularly liked hearing what Pennefather said about performing, partnering and competition. It gives us mom’s some insight into what our boys might be thinking and feeling on stage, when working with a ballerina (or partnering another dancer of any type), and attempting to succeed in a company. We don’t often hear our boys speak of these moments.
Thank you for posting this! For my son to hear Rupert speak about the injuries he has had to deal with was such a gift. The day you posted this, my son was really down about not being able to dance. He’s been out for 5 weeks due to having inflamation in the growth plate of his heel. Everything – jumps, spins – has been affected by the pain he had. 2 weeks in a cast caused him more problems, 3 weeks of acupuncture has been his saving grace. Seeing this video really cheered him up when he needed it the most. Thanks again!