Salamander at the Ballet

In 1957 the first production of The Prince of the Pagodas was choreographed by John Cranko, but much later, in 1989, the ballet took on its currently accepted form when Kenneth MacMillan radically re-thought it.  The music by Benjamin Britten had to be retained in its entirety and for music lovers it will form a major part of the attraction of any production.  Most remarkable is the dancing of the Prince of Pagodaland, who happens to be tragically trapped in the body of a salamander.  The stylised reptile like movements display the male dancer's beautiful physique to perfection.  Below we have some photographs from productions by the Royal Ballet, and at the end a small clip showing the salamander prince in action.  Oh yes - I suppose I should add that the salamander prince turns into a conventional handsome prince in the happy denouement!

And here's the vid clip.