An Ode to Steven McRae and His Divine Musicality

While observing the Royal Ballet´s dancer Steven McRae in a YouTube video from the Royal Opera House (2017) it is possible to see in only 12 and 22 seconds of  simple allegro exercises at 55:33-55:44 and 57:06-57:28 seconds,  the most amazing and organic symbiosis between music and movement; to see music in motion. McRae, named Best Male Dancer at the Critic´s Circle National Dance Awards in 2011 (Lacey, 2021) blends his movements with the music completely while seeming able to spontaneously make informed internal decisions as to when and where in the music he will slightly pull out the music, where he will chase or follow the music, or suspend a crystal-clear shape, bringing total clarity of intent to the eyes and also to the ears. He seems to inhale the music and then on the exhale turn it into movement. In the footage he is dancing alongside some of the best dancers in the world, yet he captures my attention so that it is not possible to look elsewhere. With unparalleled accuracy he gives shape to each note and personal style to each step. He focuses his whole being on crafting ordinary steps into the extraordinary, and the ease with which he appears to do this is breathtaking- as if it is simply a game to him. Like a cat playing with a mouse, he attacks the steps while thoroughly enjoying the power he has over them. Suddenly, through watching his dancing one hears the music in far more detail than before and the steps are not the universal assemblé and changement etc., belonging to all who practice them - they seem to belong only to him and his story in that moment.

References

Lacey, H. (11. 12 2021). The Questionnaire Steven McRae. Von Financial Times: https://www.ft.com/content/4651e538-4e58-4a05-9345-67d4bcf8d749 abgerufen

Royal-Opera-House. (10. 10 2017). Royal Ballet Class in full-World Ballet day 2017. Von Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7pMXTTAJ§!$&pp=ygURUm95YWwgYmFsbGV0IDIwMTc%3D abgerufen