Product Details

• Format: Classical, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Kultur Video
• DVD Release Date: June 26, 2007
• Run Time: 45 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000P6R6N8
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #191,983 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Music by Georges Bizet
The Australian Ballet

If you close your eyes at the opening of Divergence you will hear the familiar strains of Bizet’s L’Arlésienne and perhaps imagine yourself at a traditional performance. Whatever you do, don’t close your eyes. Not for a second.

Divergence is an adrenalin-charged and provocative work and must be seen in its entirety. From the opening movement, you will be startled by Welch’s vision.

Contradictions abound. It is both light and playful, alien and sensuous, serene and chaotic, cool and explosive. Stanton Welch believes in classical ballet. Yet your expectations will be denied and preconceptions challenged by this, his most original creation.

In Welch’s own words, "classical ballet is like any living creature, it requires fresh and dangerous sustenance to give it life."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rockin' Bizet, February 16, 2008

By 

David Thierry "[e-mail]" (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Stanton Welch - Divergence / Australian Ballet (DVD)

Here we have some terribly inventive and vital choreography from Down Under and ain't it grand. This is one of those efforts that is totally entertaining, never a dull moment, ladies gorgeously and uniquely costumed in each episode, a fine collection of brawny men, choreography that keeps you awake and watching,diverse, sensitive to the music, inspired, original, contemporary but always with classic ballet as it's foundation. You won't regret this one. It's a rousing night out. If only the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago would stop doing that damn boring Green Table and put this on instead. Try it.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Vitality, Brio, Style., November 8, 2009

By 

Gleeson "aging ballet fan" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Stanton Welch - Divergence / Australian Ballet (DVD)

This ballet reveals the Australian Ballet to be an sizzeling(?) tour de force. The choreography is fast and furious with subtle interludes and complex steps. There are almost too many fireworks but the music and the dancing sustains a unified and sensuous set of dances. I love it. I saw it live, with Suite en Blanc in a double by the Aust Ballet called Paris Match, and it was a wonderful pairing.
This DVD does the Ballet justice. The costumes are inventive and fun and the sleek corps de ballet and other principals and stars all dance with a sort of sexy knowingness which is cheeky and merry. Sad that Stanton Welsh belongs now to Houston ballet.

5.0 out of 5 stars exciting and Innovative, April 27, 2011

By 

ballet buff - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Stanton Welch - Divergence / Australian Ballet (DVD)

This was one of the few ballets that I have not seen the Australian Ballet do live. The cover and the music spiked my interest. WOW, I was blown away. Your attention is caught immediately. The dancing is energetic and exciting. The set design is stark with very effective use of light; anything else would detract from the dancers. The costumes,while look plain are very cleverly designed. This ballet showcases the very best dancing technique for which the Australia Ballet company is justly know. I watched it and immediatly watched it again. I have watched so often after I bought it, my husband was going to do something anatomically impossible with the dvd I just wonder why this ballet is not more well known and living in Australia I have to go overseas to purchase this.