Royal Ballet first artist Amelia Townsend steps into some percussive new footwear this month because the tap-dancing Mad Hatter in Christopher Wheeldon’s fantastical Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, carried out by The Royal Ballet from June 13–28.
Whereas Townsend isn’t the primary girl to bounce the position of the Mad Hatter—that distinction goes to the Nationwide Ballet of Canada’s Chelsy Meiss—it’s nonetheless sometimes thought of a person’s position.
“I believe it is a prime instance of a job that may be finished by each sexes,” Townsend says. “It’s a pleasant second for individuals to comprehend that roles don’t essentially should be gender-specific. It’s about your interpretation. I hope there may be extra of this sooner or later.”
Pointe spoke with Townsend about remodeling into Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’s most uncommon tea-party host.
How did this casting come about?
I carried out walk-on roles in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland after I was in my third yr on the Royal Ballet College, and even then, I used to be so mesmerized watching the Mad Hatter. There was a part of me that knew I cherished tapping and checked out that position like, “Wouldn’t that be so enjoyable to do? However clearly I’ll by no means be capable to do it, as a result of it’s a person’s position.”
I used to be struggling a bit with an harm and dancing on pointe in the beginning of this season, and I used to be having a dialog with [artistic director Kevin O’Hare] about Alice. I made a pass-by remark that I can faucet, and it snowballed into what it’s turn out to be now. He was actually on board with making this occur, and I’m actually grateful that he gave me this chance.
Did you ever think about your self faucet dancing with The Royal Ballet?
In the event you had informed me I’d be doing this years in the past, I by no means would have believed you, ever. I nonetheless can’t fairly consider I’ve been tapping onstage with The Royal Ballet. It looks like a dream, to be sincere.
I haven’t tapped for, I believe, over 13 years. There’s some very scary footage of me doing a faucet solo at a couple of competitions. So I needed to scrub up on my method a bit. I took a couple of lessons at Pineapple Dance Studios and did a variety of self-practice to arrange for this position. I believe it’s a kind of issues like using a bicycle, the place when you be taught you all the time know do it.
How did studying the Mad Hatter differ from studying ballet repertory?
Once I was strolling to work, I’d take heed to the video of the choreography repeatedly to be taught the rhythm. It’s not like whenever you’re attempting to be taught ballet rep and also you’re analyzing the video considering “Okay, it’s a chassé right into a piqué arabesque.” Tapping is a lot extra in regards to the rhythm and the way it matches with the music.
What’s the transformation by way of hair, costume, and make-up like?
It’s a prolonged course of. My first look is in Act I, and that hair and make-up is just not too loopy. However from the second I get offstage, I’m going straight to the make-up room and sit within the chair for about 45 minutes.
Then I get modified, which takes some time as a result of I’ve a microphone pack round my waist and have to string two wires down my pant legs. Then now we have to do a sound examine the place I do a pair faucet steps after which it’s actually time for the tea celebration, so there’s actually not a lot respiration room.
Within the firm right here, when you’re not doing a principal position, all of us do our personal make-up and hair. In the event you’re doing a principal position, you get it finished for you. So it’s been a variety of enjoyable to get that remedy.
How did you strategy the performing facet of the Mad Hatter?
That was in all probability one of many greatest challenges about doing this position. I used to be watching a variety of movies of the completely different casts, but it surely wouldn’t have felt real if I used to be simply attempting to repeat what they had been doing. I knew I needed to make this my very own position.
On the first rehearsals, I used to be so hyper-focused on the tapping that including the character on high was the very last thing I used to be fascinated about. However at a sure level, I needed to belief myself that I knew the steps and actually simply give attention to bringing that character to life. As soon as I acquired onstage, with the entire wig, hair, and make-up finished, it was really easy to seek out the position. I’ve loved creating it every present.
In the event you may carry out every other position, which might you select?
Positively the Pink Queen. I’ve watched this ballet so many instances and each time I watch the Pink Queen do the Tart Adage, I’m nonetheless laughing one way or the other.