Matthew Bourne won’t consider touring his all-male Swan Lake to Russia, but will a boycott help LGBT Russian artists, asks Judith Mackrell.
In a recent interview, the choreographer Matthew Bourne stated that he wouldn't, under present political circumstances, consider going to Russia with his celebrated production of Swan Lake. Given the precarious legal status of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in Russia, Bourne says he would be afraid for the welfare of his dancers, several of whom are openly gay. And he would presumably be nervous of the reception given to his production, considering the way it retells the original ballet as the story of an insecure young prince in thrall to a charismatic male swan.
Bourne isn't the only British choreographer to have announced a personal boycott of Russia. Last year, Ben Wright withdrew from a programme designed to bring western artists to remote regions of Russia and help isolated communities develop a contemporary arts culture of their own. As a gay man who draws on his personal experiences in creating work, Wright believed it simply wasn't safe or right for him to participate in the programme, and he published an open letter to explain why... Keep reading on The Guardian
In a recent interview, the choreographer Matthew Bourne stated that he wouldn't, under present political circumstances, consider going to Russia with his celebrated production of Swan Lake. Given the precarious legal status of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in Russia, Bourne says he would be afraid for the welfare of his dancers, several of whom are openly gay. And he would presumably be nervous of the reception given to his production, considering the way it retells the original ballet as the story of an insecure young prince in thrall to a charismatic male swan.
Bourne isn't the only British choreographer to have announced a personal boycott of Russia. Last year, Ben Wright withdrew from a programme designed to bring western artists to remote regions of Russia and help isolated communities develop a contemporary arts culture of their own. As a gay man who draws on his personal experiences in creating work, Wright believed it simply wasn't safe or right for him to participate in the programme, and he published an open letter to explain why... Keep reading on The Guardian