Badinerie means to jest or to tease and his intention is to make a suite of classical dances with an undercurrent of humour. The ballet is inspired by the paintings of Watteau which possess the quality of Romance and Nostalgia, a mixture in fact of Sweetness and Sadness.
A divertissement danced in Ponchielli's Opera GIOCONDA. Ballerina represents the moon, her partner the Sun and corps de ballet morning, afternoon, dawn and night.
Born in Cape Town south Africa, where he first studied ballet and became interested in the theatre. He started his career as both actor and dancer and on arriving in London, joined the Sadlers Wells Ballet (now Royal Ballet).
Alfred Rodrigues not only choreographed ballets but also produced both operas and musicals. His productions have been seen in London, South Africa, South America, Poland, Germany, Italy, Turkey and japan.
Born in London. She joined Sadlers Wells Ballet (later Royal Ballet) as the youngest of the company. She created roles in the ballets of Ashton, de Valois, MacMillan and Cranko.
On leaving the company, she spent many years as teacher at the Royal Ballet School. She left the school to join the Royal Academy of Dancing and became its artistic director.