Donkeys en Pointe: What It's Like to Dance Bottom in "The Dream"

Next weekend, the National Ballet of Canada will perform The Dream, Frederick Ashton’s 1964 one-act version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Y’all know that dancing the roles of fairies, mischievous sprites, and star-crossed lovers is all in a typical day’s work for professional ballet dancers. What’s less typical for the three male dancers who perform as Bottom, the bumbling rustic who gets turned into a donkey? Dancing en pointe.

The NBC chronicled this terrific trio’s journey with their brand-new boots via a fascinating new short video. Our favorite moment? When second soloist Spencer Hack says that learning the role has given him a new level of respect for the female dancers who do this every. darn. day. One more time for the donkeys in the back!

The Dream: Men on Pointe | 2018 | The National Ballet of Canada
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