What Christopher Wheeldon is Watching on Marquee TV

For over 20 years, Christopher Wheeldon, OBE, has been redefining the art of storytelling through dance. From his early days as a dancer with The Royal Ballet to becoming New York City Ballet’s first Resident Choreographer, Wheeldon has brought a fresh perspective to stages across the world. With storytelling at the heart of his signature style, Wheeldon has created countless literary-inspired works for the Royal Ballet including Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (2011), The Winter’s Tale (2014), and Like Water for Chocolate (2022).  

Wheeldon’s unique vision stretches far beyond the world of ballet. He created a fiery feature for the Closing Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics with dance icon Darcey Bussell, and his work on Broadway with MJ The Musical and An American in Paris has earned him an impressive five Tony Awards. It’s safe to say that Christopher Wheeldon is a true powerhouse of the choreographical world. So, what does a creative mind like Christopher Wheeldon watch on Marquee TV? 

• Like Water for Chocolate – The Royal Ballet
• Degas: Passion for Perfection – Documentary
• Dances at A Gathering and The Cellist – The Royal Ballet
• San Francisco Dance Film Festival Collection
• Cinderella – The Royal Ballet
• Margot – Documentary
• Them/Us – BalletBoyz
• Hopper: An American Love Story – Documentary

Like Water For Chocolate – The Royal Ballet

Choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon in 2022 for The Royal Ballet, as a co-production with The National Ballet of Canada, this delectable ballet is full of dramatic intensity, enchanting visuals, and more than a little bit of magic. Based on writer Laura Esquivel’s acclaimed novel, Wheeldon blends vivid storytelling with expressive choreography, masterfully translating the layered richness of Like Water for Chocolate into a spellbinding ballet. With an evocative original score by Joby Talbot, a frequent collaborator of Wheeldon’s, brought to life under the baton of renowned Mexican conductor Alondra de la Parra, this production is an instant contemporary classic you won’t want to miss. 

Why Wheeldon likes it: “If I’m going to pick one of mine, and I should as Marquee has been generous enough to feature several of my works, it has to be Like Water For Chocolate. I’m particularly enamored by the performances of the principal dancers in this recording. All of them are the original cast. The Royal Ballet dancers remain for me the greatest actors in the dance world, fusing the movement with genuine emotion, performances that would challenge any great actor, and all of it of course wordless. Joby Talbot wrote one of his best scores capturing the essence of Mexico in this tale of withheld love and magical cooking.”

Degas: Passion for Perfection

Renowned for his voyeuristic portrayals of ballerinas, French painter Edgar Degas was a perfectionist driven by an unrelenting pursuit of truth in his art. Degas: Passion for Perfection explores Degas’ life and work, and his tireless pursuit of perfection. Offering rare glimpses of his most iconic works like The Ballet Class, Dancers in Pink, and Waiting, this film unearths the complexities of Degas’ genius through expert analysis, first-hand accounts from the artist’s friends and family, and even Degas himself. 

Why Wheeldon likes it: “So fun going back to the life of Degas in this comprehensive doc. I set my production of Swan Lake for the Pennsylvania Ballet in a ballet studio at the time of Degas. It was good to be reminded of how he was so eager to capture the grit and grist of a dancer’s life, the truth, in his work.”

Dances at A Gathering and The Cellist – The Royal Ballet

This double bill featuring Cathy Marston’s emotionally charged ballet The Cellist, paired with Jerome Robbins’s Joyous Dances at a Gathering is a beautiful showcase of the dynamic talent and artistry of Royal Ballet dancers. Based on the poignant true story of Jacqueline du Pré, the cellist whose skyrocketing career was cut short by multiple sclerosis, The Cellist captures the inexplicable connection between a musician and her instrument by personifying du Pré’s beloved cello as a key character in her life. On the other end of the spectrum, is Jerome Robbins’s Dances at a Gathering. With no plot to follow this piece is a pure showcase of the joy of movement set to Chopin’s piano works. 

Why Wheeldon likes it: “A program that showcases two very different works; one plotless, and one with fluid and poetic storytelling. I love how Cathy Marston captures the tragedy of Jaqueline Du Pre here, with a rapturous Lauren Cuthbertson and her relationship to her cello danced by Marcelino Sambe. This is sophisticated storytelling that still lives in a fluidly poetic world.

Dances at A Gathering was one of my first Principal roles when I joined the New York City Ballet in 1993. The great Jerome Robbins cast me as The Brick Boy danced here by Luca Acri. It remains a masterwork of abstract lyricism with the slightest perfume of reminiscence and Relationship.”

San Francisco Dance Film Festival Collection 

One of the most respected and influential dance film festivals, the San Francisco Dance Film Festival (SFDFF) showcases fresh, vibrant films from around the world through its screenings at historic San Francisco theaters and online on Marquee TV. Drawing over 500 submissions each year, SFDFF offers rich programming ranging from stunning screen dance shorts to compelling feature-length documentaries, ballet to bhangra, bringing the joy of dance to wider audiences. SFDFF also produces films through its Co-Laboratory Program, some of which are available to stream on MarqueeTV.  

Why Wheeldon likes it: “I decided to choose all of the SFDFF collection. Having had a past relationship with this wonderful festival, I’m excited to include these groundbreaking works from international dancemakers. The Bay Area continues to be a force in American dance and this festival is a large contributor to that success.”

Cinderella – The Royal Ballet

First created by the Royal Ballet’s founding choreographer, Frederick Ashton in 1948, Cinderella became the company’s first full-length ballet, and it was an instant hit. 75 years after its premiere, The Royal Ballet brought Ashton’s masterpiece back to the Covent Garden stage starring Marianela Nuñez to celebrate this landmark piece. With playful antics from Cinderella’s Stepsisters, to a visit from a sparking fairy, or two, this ballet shines from beginning to end. 

Why Wheeldon likes it: “I loved this score the first moment I heard it as a twelve-year-old sitting in the amphitheater of The Royal Opera House. Magic abounds in the weaving strings of Prokofiev, but throughout there is a mournfulness that keeps it from feeling twee. I remember watching Lesley Collier and Anthony Dowell in Ashton’s masterwork fairytale ballet. In this lush colorful new production, the contrast between the silvery pas de deux between Cinderella and her Prince and the slapstick theatricality of the Stepsisters – famously created by Ashton for himself and Robert Helpmann – particularly stand out. Royal Ballet heritage in a sparkly new setting. Funnily enough, it was an ankle sprain in Act One of Cinderella that set me on a path to America, so I have a lot to thank this ballet for.”

Act I

Margot – Documentary

Dame Margot Fonteyn was the most celebrated English dancer of the 20th century. This compelling documentary from director Tony Palmer tells her journey from a determined little girl growing up in Shanghai to her meteoric rise as an international ballet icon. Margot’s story is a testament to her unfailing resilience, even when she was deceived by those she trusted most.

Why Wheeldon likes it: “A fabulous and honest portrait of our greatest Ballerina. I’ve very much enjoyed watching this in tandem with reading her biography for research on a future project that involves elements of Fonteyn.”

Them/Us – BalletBoyz

This electrifying double bill from the BalletBoyz showcases their signature physicality and emotional depth through two contrasting works: Them and Us. Set to evocative scores by Charlotte Harding and Keaton Henson, Them is a groundbreaking collaborative piece created by the dancers that moves through individuality and unity. Us, choreographed by Tony and Olivier Award winner Christopher Wheeldon is a poignant exploration of human connection and intimacy. 

Why Wheeldon likes it: “I love working with the BalletBoyz. Michael Nunn and William Trevitt have over the years pushed me out of my comfort zone, daring me to create in sometimes uncomfortable new ways. They accompanied me to Moscow and made a very good film out of a rather harrowing creative process for me. And then when they formed their groundbreaking all-male company, they asked me to create on their dancers. One of the lasting results was Us, a duet within the program Them/Us that will soon have its debut on the main stage at Covent Garden with dancers of The Royal Ballet in an All Wheeldon Program. The minimal score is by Keaton Henson and plays beautifully against the more urban playfulness of Charlotte Harding’s composition.”

Hopper: An American Love Story

This striking documentary explores the life and work of American Painter Edward Hopper.  His works like the iconic late-night diner scene, Nighthawks, and the introspective Automat, capture the haunting simplicity and solitude of American life in the 20th century.  This documentary unravels the story of Hopper’s rise to fame from struggling illustrator to artistic icon featuring personal diaries, insights from art experts, and a detailed look at some of his most iconic works. 

Why Wheeldon likes it: “This is a fascinating documentary on one of my favorite American artists and his work. Most interestingly it explores the work through the relationships he had in his life, at the center of which is that of his wife Josephine. Hopper for me, is the artist who best captures the solitary urbanism of American cities like New York. An Americanism that inspired countless artists. I see elements of Nighthawks in the ballet Fancy Free by Jerome Robbins which was my last role at the New York City Ballet before retiring to become a choreographer.”

From timeless ballet classics like Cinderella to fascinating visual art documentaries, Christopher Wheeldon’s Marquee TV picks reflect his deep appreciation for storytelling, movement, and art that fuel his creativity. So, if you’re looking for your next great watch on Marquee TV, draw some inspiration from one of the dance world’s celebrated creatives, Christopher Wheeldon.

 

Marquee TV Titles featured in this article:

• Like Water for Chocolate – The Royal Ballet 
• Degas: Passion for Perfection – Documentary 
• Dances at a Gathering and The Cellist – The Royal Ballet
• San Francisco Dance Film Festival Collection 
• Cinderella – The Royal Ballet
• Margot – Documentary
• Them/Us – BalletBoyz
• Hopper: An American Love Story – Documentary