The Hindu : International : Diana is now the subject of a ballet

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 20, 2005

International

International

Diana is now the subject of a ballet

By Stephen Brook

LONDON, FEB. 19. Its earnest creator insists his production is a world away from the American mini-series, the shortlived Nuremburg opera called A Lady Dies and the little-remembered German musical Lady Di — Diana — a Smile Charms the World.

But Britain will have to wait until next month to find out if it is ready for Diana the Princess, a "ballet of today" that tells her doomed story to the somewhat unlikely strains of Sir Edward Elgar and The Cure.

It is hard to tell from the billboard, complete with the icon's instantly recognisable silhouette, erected outside the Palace Theatre, Manchester, ahead of the March 8 premiere, that the show is not a parody but a "celebration" of her life. At least its creator has considerable artistic pedigree. "I cannot unfortunately change her story but I can celebrate her," said the choreographer, Peter Schaufuss, who danced with the Royal Ballet and the Bolshoi before becoming the revolutionary artistic director of the English National Ballet in the 1980s.

In the ballet, Diana dances romantically with Dodi al-Fayed. Another theme is the Queen and Prince Philip frequently turning their backs on her, and Prince Charles dances a pas de deux with Camilla Parker Bowles to "Love Song", by The Cure.

"This piece is not out to judge anybody or take sides," Mr. Schaufuss said, although people who have seen the production beg to differ.

Mr. Schaufuss admitted he uses caricature to make some characters instantly recognisable and it is unlikely that the royals will be particularly pleased to see Ms. Parker Bowles kitted out in riding gear and whacking the future monarch with her riding crop.

"In that particular piece you are almost watching a section of Spitting Image," Mr. Schaufuss said.

He is prepared for the accusations of poor taste that the production could generate in the run-up to the marriage of Prince Charles to Camilla Parker Bowles and ongoing inquests into the deaths of Diana and Dodi al-Fayed.

"I am very well aware that there will be people that ask those questions and think that. My only answer is to go and see the show.

"I hope they will feel what I have done is genuine."

The director said he was motivated to celebrate Diana's life after becoming friends with her when she began visiting the English National Ballet studios, which were opposite Kensington Palace. "When she was not away on an engagement she used to come every morning and train between nine and 10," he said.

"We were very lucky, there were 70 dancers in the building, an administration and a full orchestra.To cast Diana, Mr. Schaufuss turned to his partner of 14 years, the British ballerina Zara Deakin. "People tell me that I resemble her," Ms. Deakin said. "I really did not feel it myself as my hair was died black at the time," she said.

"I could not see that I was like her in any way apart from the fact that she was shy."

Their son, Luke Schaufuss (11), plays Prince William, who shares the stage with Prince Harry in the final scene after the princess's body is borne off stage wrapped in the Royal Standard, sparing the audience the Paris car crash. —

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