#TBT: Leanne Benjamin in “Coppélia” (2000)

Dancing with The Royal Ballet from 1992 until 2013, former principal Leanne Benjamin tackled just about every role in the classical gamut, from Juliet to Nikiya to Giselle. As the young and spirited Swanilda in this clip from Coppélia, Benjamin reveals that she has equal talent for the silly as the serious. Her comedic performance in Swanilda’s doll dance is this role at its best.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=1kk2J9Stxmg

In an effort to trick the scheming Dr. Coppelius and save her beloved Franz, Swanilda pretends she is the doll Coppélia come to life. As she begins to dance, Benjamin is stiff and mechanical one moment and then flopped over like a rag doll the next. Dr. Coppelius, played by character artist Luke Heydon, watches her enthralled and Benjamin’s gaze is fixed in a plastic stare. But when the toymaker looks away, Benjamin’s Swanilda breaks doll character and frantically tries to figure out an escape. Feebly, Dr. Coppelius tries to keep up with her. Although we feel some sympathy for the delusional old toymaker, we can’t help laughing at Swanilda’s antics. And that slap at 1:55? Gets us every time. Happy #ThrowbackThursday!