“The Sylph and the Scotsman” is back to the Palace of Fine Arts

Considered the first romantic ballet and the first to wear ballet shoes on stage, “The Sylph and the Scotsman” will be presented again with the National Dance Company (CND) in the Main Hall of the Palace of Fine Arts, with six performances that will take place from August 26 to September 1.

The choreographic creation, cataloged as one of the most important of the 19th century, is part of the IV program of the 2022 Season of the CND, which can be enjoyed within the framework of the #VolverAVerte strategy of the Ministry of Culture of the Government of Mexico and of the National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature (Inbal).

The montage is inspired by the ballet “La Sylphide”, by the Italian dancer and choreographer Filippo Taglionipremiered at the Paris Opera on March 12, 1832, with the participation of his daughter, the dancer Marie Taglioni, whose style would forever change the way of doing classical dance.

Based on the version by the American choreographer and director Terrence S. Orr, according to the original by August Bournonville, with music by Hermann von Løvenskjold, the main roles will be performed by the dancers Ana Elisa Mena, Mayuko Nihei, Blanca Ríos, Yoalli Sousa, Valeria Mariaud and Elisa Ramos, as Sylph, and the dancers Argenis Montalvo, Erick Rodríguez, Moisés Carrada, Roberto Rodríguez, Alejandro Hidalgo and Alejandro Mendoza, in the role of James.

Argenis Montalvoprincipal dancer of the CND, remembers this ballet with great affection, since it was the work he performed when he was promoted to principal dancer in 2015. “I have always respected the character of James, I find it interesting, as well as the dance style and the specific Bournonville technique, which has allowed us to improve certain steps and dynamics”.

For the protagonist, “The Sylph and the Scotsman” means a lot for all the creative process that he has developed with the teachers and because it is one of the most beautiful productions in the company’s repertoire. “I am excited to return to this character and this artistic challenge in the maturity of my career.”

“The Sylph and the Scotsman” deals with the story of a young man named James, who is about to marry his fiancée Effie, when, on the morning of their wedding day, a sylph (ethereal being) appears to him, steals his a kiss and makes him change his mind.

It was on May 29, 1990 when the CND presented this staging for the first time in the country’s highest cultural venue and, in June 2016, it made its most recent performance.

Now this production will shine again in the Main Hall of the Palacio de Bellas Artes with six shows that will take place on Friday, August 26 and Tuesday, August 30 at 8:00 p.m., Saturday 27 at 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. Sunday 28 at 5:00 p.m., and Thursday, September 1 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are on sale at the venue box office and through Ticketmaster.