​Natasha Watson

Artistic Vision

 

The opportunity to continue the tradition of classical ballet is a great inspiration to me and is one of the foremost reasons why I have chosen a career in classical ballet. I am truly passionate about the art form and aspire to become a principal dancer. I am inspired by many of the great ballerinas from Anna Pavlova to more recent dancers such as Sylvie Guillem.

Pavlova’s interpretation of the Dying Swan is instilled in my mind. Throughout her performance, I no longer saw a ballerina with faultless technique or wearing a beautiful tutu; instead, I saw a dying swan. Her performance touched my soul. I aspire to reach this level every day and the idea that my performances might touch someone’s soul is an inspiring one. Sylvie Guillem was the first tall classical dancer to challenge accepted practices when it came to performing principal roles such as Aurora and Odette/Odile. Guillem also pushed boundaries in the way that she used her body as a classical ballerina; she reached further, jumped higher and maximised on her height more than any of her predecessors. As a tall dancer, Guillem inspires me to push the boundaries of my own physique in order to express myself. I am drawn to the idea that I might too inspire young dancers in the future.

Another aspect of classical ballet that excites me is the idea that dancers constantly strive for perfection. I appreciate that perfection may only ever be achieved within a frame of imperfection; however, it inspires me to challenge myself each day. I strive for perfection in all aspects of classical ballet whether it be performing, choreographing or teaching.

Another great inspiration of mine is, of course, the music. Interpreting the music through the classical tradition but also in an individual way is a uniquely enjoyable experience. This means that, as an artist, I have the ability to grow and develop throughout each performance.

Choreography is another great passion of mine that I am particularly interested in pursuing. In my work, I aim to engage the audience throughout each piece by having very clear intentions yet always leaving scope for interpretation. My hope is that my choreography will encourage audience members to take a moment for personal reflection. For the most part, I love interpreting the music very closely so that my choreography reflects it as accurately as possible. I study the music in such detail that I can draw not only on the melody or clear musical phrase, but also on a particular note or underlying rhythm. In so doing, my objective is to ensure that the audience is able to organise both the music and the movements clearly in their minds. I hope that the musicality in my work might draw out particular aspects of the music that might otherwise be overlooked. I very much enjoy working in this way and feel that the final product is professional and has a sense of sophistication in terms of the music and movement choices. Occasionally, however, I decide to work ‘against’ the music in such a way that aspires to add elements of excitement and originality. I enjoy adding this element of surprise to my work and surprising the audience!