Senior Short Program  2007 - 2008

Masquerade Waltz

The Inspiration:

The short program is inspired by the mystery, fun and enchantment of the 19^th century masquerade ball.  The young women of the ball are gathered in the royal courts.  Huddled in small groups, their identities hidden by their individual masks, they are engrossed in idle gossip as they wait to be invited to dance. Upon being asked they demurely accept but as the waltz proceeds they become more daring and bold and the program culminates with the women throwing off their masks and revealing their identities.

The music:

Masquerade Waltz was composed in 1940 by Aram Khatchaturian for a production the 19^th century Russian play ‘Masquerade’.  From this score he produced a charming suite bringing to mind the aristocratic world of early 19th century St.Petersburg.  It begins with this happy Waltz.