KVN Dance Company will be ending their 16-venue UK tour of Coppelia at the Connaught Theatre.
Fusing classical ballet with contemporary dance and hip-hop, this version of Coppelia features the full classical score, thoughtfully remixed. This retelling explores eccentric toymaker Dr Coppelius’ intent behind creating a life-size clockwork doll, Coppelia. It explores the impact this has on his relationship with the community of villagers, and on Swanhilda’s relationship with her fiancé, Franz.
We spoke with artistic director and choreographer, Kevan Allen, to find out about his magical take on the classic ballet.
Q&A with Kevan Allen
How are you feeling about the upcoming show in Worthing?
We are all so excited to bring the show to Worthing. This will be the last stop on our 16-venue tour that has seen us share Coppelia with thousands of people across the UK, and we can’t wait to perform for audiences in Worthing.
What can audiences expect from Coppelia – without giving too much away?
This retelling of the ballet Coppelia utilises all forms of dance and music styles. We use a re-scored version of the original orchestral composition. It will appeal to everyone whether you are into classical, urban and electronic music or ballet, contemporary or street dance.
What inspired you to bring this story to the stage at this time?
The story of Coppelia had always fascinated me from when I originally watched the ballet as a child. But I could never understand why all the villagers were so accepting of a life-sized clockwork doll being placed in a window. I was more interested in the clockwork doll than any other parts of the ballet. I had always wanted to explore the background of the doll in more detail. Why was she created and why does she hold such a spell over the villagers? I love classic fairy tales and folklore and things that are a little twisted. So the story seemed to tick all the boxes! It’s a little bit dark, a little bit magical – with a lot of fun and glorious dancing. Plus it takes me back to the magic I felt as a child.
How does this new reimagining of the beloved ballet compare to the classical version?
In our Coppelia, the sugar-coated classical ballet version gets turned on its head. We delve deeper into the background of all the characters and why Dr Coppelius was so intent on creating a life-sized clockwork doll for himself. Through the story we see how the villagers’ perception changes. We see how he finally overcomes the prejudice and gossip that surrounds him, and he eventually becomes accepted. Is he an amazing inventor? Or does he possess magical powers that can cast a spell over the villagers through the beauty of his creation? Our wonderful composer Rickard Berg has also sensitively rescored the original composition, to bring it up to date and help resonate with audiences today.
How do the dancers prepare for their performance?
Before the tour started we had an intensive three-week rehearsal period to get the show ready. Then on tour we do regular company class in the morning, followed by rehearsals and then the performances. Our company of dancers all come from different backgrounds. Some classically trained, others trained in hip hop and commercial dance. So, they can each learn new skills and techniques from working together in the studio.
KVN dance is known for pulling from a diverse range of dance styles to appeal to a wide audience. How did the company find its stylistic niche?
The aim of KVN Dance was always to bring dance to a wider UK audience whilst bringing existing dance audiences together. I come from a very mixed background of dance training. So KVN Dance is my opportunity to incorporate everything I love about storytelling through all kinds of movement. Coppelia is my first full-length dance production and it’s a real mixture of every style of choreography that I’ve encountered throughout my career, on stage, camera and in concerts. It’s very rare to get the chance to highlight all styes of dance under one umbrella.
What advice do you have for someone thinking about updating a classic ballet?
I would try to stay true to some of its origins. Try to pay respect to how it was first created, as your audience will have the original version of the story in their head. So you want them to be able to recognise influences from that before you take them on a new adventure.
What are some of the biggest challenges you faced in creating/putting on this piece
Being a completely self-funded venture is probably the biggest challenge and learning curve we faced. But it also means that the whole company is completely invested in the success of the production. Following our London run in 2021 we planned to take the show on tour, which seemed like an impossible challenge. But here we are.
Do you have a favourite dance company, or a choreographer whose work you admire most?
I have always loved the work of Kenneth Macmillan with the Royal ballet and Jiri Kylian with more contemporary companies. But the most influential choreographer that inspired me was Toni Basil. Everyone knows of her through her music career, but she has always been and still is a very successful choreographer. She was one of the first choreographers /performers who incorporated all styles of dance in her work and mixed it all together. Introducing street styles such as locking and popping before anyone knew what they were amongst her classical ballet roots. She was voguing before Madonna and dancing in pointe shoes in her videos – when everyone else was in heels. I found it truly inspiring.
What has been a highlight of running KVN so far?
KVN Dance is solely my own project and it’s wonderful to have this opportunity to share my work with audiences across the UK. It’s really the world that lives in my head being replicated on stage. To be able to tell a story over an entire evening is a joy.
What do you think are the biggest challenges facing young dancers and choreographers in the industry today?
I think trying to find your own style and niche in the industry is quite hard today. We are all so open to seeing everything at a click of a button – that to stand out and bring something new to the table is increasingly more difficult. Also the industry is a business. So it can be quite harsh to navigate through if you get too lost in the creative side of everything.
Summarise the show in 3 words.
Magical. Twisted. Intriguing.
What do you hope audiences will take away from this show?
I hope to inspire and give audiences the chance to escape into a fantasy world for an evening filled with wonderful dance, music, and costumes.
Coppelia will be at the Connaught Theatre 7:30pm, Sunday 30th June. Don’t miss your last chance to catch this enchanting piece.