Royal Ballet first artist Amelia Townsend steps into some percussive new sneakers 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 lady to bounce the position of the Mad Hatter—that distinction goes to the Nationwide Ballet of Canada’s Chelsy Meiss—it’s nonetheless usually thought-about a person’s position.
“I believe it is a prime instance of a task that may be completed by each sexes,” Townsend says. “It’s a pleasant second for individuals to understand that roles don’t essentially need to be gender-specific. It’s about your interpretation. I hope there’s 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 once I was in my third 12 months on the Royal Ballet Faculty, and even then, I used to be so mesmerized watching the Mad Hatter. There was a part of me that knew I beloved 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 firstly 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 case you had instructed 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 seems like a dream, to be trustworthy.
I haven’t tapped for, I believe, over 13 years. There’s some very scary footage of me doing a faucet solo at just a few competitions. So I needed to scrub up on my method a bit. I took just a few lessons at Pineapple Dance Studios and did lots of self-practice to arrange for this position. I believe it’s a kind of issues like using a bicycle, the place when you study 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 hearken to the video of the choreography repeatedly to study the rhythm. It’s not like once you’re attempting to study ballet rep and also you’re analyzing the video pondering “Okay, it’s a chassé right into a piqué arabesque.” Tapping is a lot extra concerning the rhythm and the way it suits with the music.
What’s the transformation when it comes to 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 will not be 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 we now have to do a sound verify the place I do a pair faucet steps after which it’s actually time for the tea get together, so there’s actually not a lot respiratory room.
Within the firm right here, for those who’re not doing a principal position, all of us do our personal make-up and hair. In case you’re doing a principal position, you get it completed for you. So it’s been lots of enjoyable to get that remedy.
How did you method the appearing facet of the Mad Hatter?
That was most likely one of many largest challenges about doing this position. I used to be watching lots 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 excited about. However at a sure level, I needed to belief myself that I knew the steps and actually simply deal with bringing that character to life. As soon as I bought onstage, with the entire wig, hair, and make-up completed, it was really easy to seek out the position. I’ve loved growing it every present.
In case you might carry out some other position, which might you select?
Positively the Purple Queen. I’ve watched this ballet so many instances and each time I watch the Purple Queen do the Tart Adage, I’m nonetheless laughing by some means.
