Freddie Mercury: A Royal Dancer
In the Autumn of 1979, a Freddie's dream came true.
Freddie went into rehearsals for a charity performance to be given by the Royal Ballet at the London Coliseum in October, on behalf of the City of Westminster Society for Mentally Handicapped Children.
'Bohemian Rhapsody' and 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love' were both choreographed and Freddie also added live vocals. It wasn't the first time Queen's material had been 'classiced up': in 1977
the London Symphony Orchestra had released their own classical version of 'Bohemian Rhapsody' as a single, and for inclusion on a 'Rock Classics' album.
The Ballet version was unusual and Freddie danced very well, thus receiving a standing ovation on 7th October.
"They had me practising at the barr and all that, stretching my legs... trying to do things in a week that they'd been doing for years. It was murder. After two days I was in agony. It was hurting me in places I didn't know I had, dear. Then, when the night of the gala came, I was just amazed at the backstage scenes. When I had my entrances
to do I had to fight my way through Merle Park and Anthony Dowell and all these people, and say, 'Excuse me, I'm going on now.'
What about his big moment, when he danced his scene while singing 'Bohemian Rhapsody'?
But how did Freddie consider his performance ?
"Singing upside down is wonderful. I was shivering in the wings with nerves. It's always much harder when you are put outside your sphere, but I always like a challenge. I'd like to see Mick Jagger or Rod Stewart try something like that."
His most vivid memory of the evening? Having his bottom pinched by ballerina Merle Park, of course!
"She's outrageous, that woman!"
Please, forgive the bad quality of these pictures, but some of them are from an old magazine.
This page is dedicated to the Immortal Soul of
He had been invited by Derek Dean and Wayne Eagling to dance with them. Eagling, a Royal Ballet principal,
was a close friend to Freddie and persuaded him to star as a guest artist at a charity gala.
Also, it was backstage at the Royal Opera House in October 1979 that Freddie met a young wardrobe man by the name of Peter Freestone...
However, an ever-faithful Roger Taylor, who managed to sit through the whole experience, thought it was dreadful!
It was outrageous."
"Yes, dear, I did this leap. A wonderful leap which brought the house down and then they all caught me and I just carried on singing!"
However, I hope you'll enjoy them because they are quite rare.
Freddie Mercury
whose memory will live in my heart forever
