Belle of the Ball
Choreography by Josh Walden
​When I first started exploring choreographic ideas for Beauty and the Beast, I immediately began researching French words associated with dance: Ballet, Can-can, Minuets, Vogueing, etc. Slowly I began creating a vocabulary that was honoring tradition and yet, at the same time, mixing in contemporary references. The combination felt fresh, ferocious and in full support of Marcia Milgrom Dodge’s vision for this production.
I then began thinking about the characters and their wants, their needs. I never create movement to simply exist for entertainment value. Every kick, every turn, every ball change needs to be deeply connected to the dramaturgical trajectory of the story. For example, in Be Our Guest, the characters that inhabit the castle finally have a glimmer of hope. They are desperate to overwhelm Belle with magic and wonder so she will stay and break the spell. Otherwise, they will be turned into inanimate objects forever. That's intense! I’m excited to help the actors achieve their objectives through purposefully structured movement beautifully supported by the lush orchestrations.
And, finally, I want to entice the audience with a bit of the unexpected. The Wolves will move like members of the gravity-defying dance company Pilobolus creating ominous shapes to intimidate and fright. The Enchantress will gain size and amazement by dancing en pointe. And our Townspeople will each find a physical language intrinsically linked to their character-defining occupation. All of these elements together will truly create an experience rich with beauty, surprise and a satisfying sense of childlike awe.
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--Josh Walden, Choreographer