Michael Ball defends opera and ballet after Timothée Chalamet comments
West End performer Michael Ball has spoken up for opera and ballet after comments by actor Timothée Chalamet questioned their relevance.
Speaking to Gaby Roslin on her Magic Radio show, Michael said singing and dancing have always been part of human culture and will continue to matter to audiences.
Timothée Chalamet recently made controversial remarks about traditional performing arts, prompting debate among performers and fans.
Michael told Gaby: “The human race have been dancing and singing since we could walk, since we came out of the primordial swamp, it ain’t going anywhere.
“Dancers go out and leave their hearts and quite a bit of blood on the dance floor because they love it and the audience absolutely are entranced.
“And for someone to diss that… And the training and dedication for opera is extraordinary, the musicality, the skill. And it wouldn’t be going if people didn’t enjoy it and didn’t want to see it and get something from it.”
Michael said the discipline behind opera and classical dance is often underestimated, pointing to the years of preparation performers must complete before appearing on stage.
He added that audiences continue to support both art forms, which is why they remain an important part of theatre and live performance.
Michael, a long-time West End star known for roles in major musical theatre productions, said the commitment of performers and the response from audiences show the continuing value of these traditions.
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