“Writing about music is like dancing about architecture.”
I first encountered this aphorism attributed to Elvis Costello. It tickled me. How true, Elvis! (It turns out, wouldn’t you just know it, that the quote has a longer and more complex history. That’s not for now, but you can read about it here, for instance.)
No, it’s just that the other morning I mentioned it to Ruth as we sat in bed with our morning cup of tea, and we had a bit of a laugh pursuing the idea of, indeed, ‘dancing about architecture’. Here are a few projects we’d pay good money to see:
The Royal Ballet’s interpretation of the Royal Palaces of Windsor, Sandringham and Balmoral through the medium of dance. Music by Harrison Birtwhistle.
Pan’s People do Top of the Acropolis.
The Strictly Come Dancing Professionals routine based on a medley of the council house designs of the 20th century.
The rooftops of Edwardian London feat. a load of chimbley sweeps. √ Done
The Brighton Pavilion seen as a mass hallucination at a rave.
Headington Morris performs the traditional dance The Dreaming Spires.
From the streets: cHip sHops as Hip-Hop. Yo!
Miss Newman’s Year 4 class being a tree house.
Chatsworth House, Bollywood style.
The Lloyds Building by Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein.
Any more suggestions? Please write in.
Kevin Adams 
Did you hear Radio 4’s programme ‘Playing the skyline’?
No I didn’t, Pat- but I will listen, it’s still available. Thanks for that 🙂