October Play On! Materials
ZÉLINDOR
This month, we get to learn about the opera Zélindor, with Music by François Rebel and François Francœur, and text by François-Augustin Paradis de Moncrif.
We get to meet some incredible artists: dancer and choreographer Julia Bengsston, and costume designer Anna Kjellsdotter. They guide us through the magical, musical world of Zélindor.
GUEST ARTISTS
Julia Bengsston (Photo: Paul Brissman)
Swedish-born dancer and choreographer Julia Bengtsson came to New York in 2012 to immerse herself in diverse opportunities that have ranged from classical ballet and experimental theater, to baroque opera and film. She has choreographed and performed at venues including Carnegie Hall, UN Headquarters, Bruno Walter Auditorium at Lincoln Center, and Alvin Ailey Dance Center.
Bengtsson performed in her first Baroque Opera in 2010 under director Karin Modigh and has since performed in European and American productions by the New York Baroque Dance Company.
Her experience has won her opportunities to direct and choreograph works for Opera Lafayette, Atlanta Baroque Orchestra, Burroak Baroque in St Louis, and New York Renaissance Chorus. She has presented her work at university seminars and conferences at Temple University, NYU Steinhardt, and University of Pittsburgh.
Her debut as opera director and choreographer for Opera Lafayette's “Venus and Adonis” (John Blow, 1683) was called “a fine evening’s entertainment” by The Washington Post. It was performed both in Washington DC and New York.
She greatly values the guidance of her mentor, historical dance pioneer and director Catherine Turocy.
Bengtsson received ten years of education from the Royal Swedish Ballet School and was a Scholarship Student at Joffrey Ballet School.
Anna Kjellsdotter is a costume designer and cutter specialized in historical costumes and active in research all over the world. After a few years at HongKong ballet as head of costume department she is now working at the Royal Swedish Opera as a cutter.
You can see some of the beautiful costumes she has created on her website!
Julia is a choreographer. What is a choreographer?
A choreographer makes up the movements of all the characters on stage.
Julia enjoys all different styles of dancing! She likes especially to use her imagination and explore the different ways that the characters like to move.
Below are three dances that Julia likes performing.
Ballet dance:
Dancer Julia Bengtsson
Victoria Ballet Gala 2017-2019
Courtesy Victoria Ballet Theater
Director Victoria Lebedeva
Baroque dance:
Dancer: Julia Bengtsson
Videographer: Liz Schneider-Cohen
Baroque guitar: Jason Priset
Violin: Dongmyung Ahn
Costume: New York Baroque Dance Company, artistic director Catherine Turocy
Contemporary dance:
Dancer/Choreographer: Julia Bengtsson
Dancer/Collaborator: Mauricio Vera
Musician/Composer: Neil Rolnick
What styles of dance do you like?
During the pandemic the theaters were closed and there were no dance performances, so Julia made her own dance performance at home:
Can you make a dance performance at home? Maybe you can ask a friend or a parent to film your performance and share it with us!
ALL THE MAGICAL CREATURES
How do you dance like a Salamander?
In the world of Baroque opera there are magical creatures, like the Salamander.
A Salamander is a big lizard that can spit fire! Not many people have seen a fire spitting salamander, he is a magical creature that is very rare. Together with Julia we will explore how a Salamander might like to dance.
Listen to this Salamander music Rebel and Francoeur, Zélindor, roi des Sylphes Scene 4: Air pour les Sylphes et Salamandres and imagine these two Salamanders from New York Baroque Dance Company dancing!
There are many other fantastical creatures in baroque opera…
What is a Gnome?
A Gnome likes the earth. He typically lives under a mountain. You might think it is very dark and lonely there, but the Gnome likes it just that way. Rebel and Francoeur, Zélindor, roi des Sylphes Scene 4: Air pour les Gnomes et Ondins
What is a nymph?
A Nymph is a graceful spirit of the forest. She enjoys spending time outdoors playing in the fields. Rebel and Francoeur, Zélindor, roi des Sylphes, Scene 3: Air pour Les Nymphes
Nymph danced by Caroline Copeland, New York Baroque Dance Company
What is a sylph?
A Sylph is taller and stronger than a human. Some of them have magical powers.
They are spirits of the air. Have you ever felt how strong a storm can be? Rebel and Francoeur, Zélindor, roi des Sylphes Scene 4: Air gai
Once upon a time there was a Sylph king named Zelindor. He fell in love with a regular human named Zirphé. What do you think the other sylphs will say if their king wants to make a regular human their queen?
The opera-ballet Zelindor was performed by Opera Lafayette in 2009, directed by Catherine Turocy. The photos of NYBDC dancers are taken by Luis Forget.
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