Bermuda: David Wall (Jeté), - Hamilton, Pembroke Parish

David Wall (Jeté)
Queen Elizabeth Park

Hamilton, Pembroke Parish, 

Bermuda

N 32° 17.542 W 064° 47.212

Short Description: 

A sculpture of ballet dancer David Wall performing the ballet move known Jeté is located in Queen Elizabeth Park, Hamilton, Bermuda.

Long Description:

A life-size bronze sculpture of ballet dancer David Wall performing the ballet move known as Jeté, a jump in which the dancer springs from one foot to land on the other with one leg extended outward from the body while in the air, is displayed on a 5' high stone pedestal. Both his arms and legs are outstretched as he is depicted in mid air. He is wearing ballet shoes, tight ballet shorts, and a large, flowing, cloth wrapped around his waist. The cloth is attached to the bronze plinth and supports the sculpture.

A sign on the pedestal is give details of the sculpture, the artist and David Wall. It is inscribed:

Enzo Plazzotta

Italian, 1921 - 1981

Jeté, 1975, cast 1978

bronze, edition 4/9

Collection of the Bermuda National Gallery

Gift of John Hinson Young II and Nelga Vivian Young

Enzo Plazzotta's sculpture Jeté depicts dancer David Wall, a former Principle

dancer with the Royal Ballet and now Ballet Master with the English National

ballet, in a ballet move know as Jeté. Initially a student of architecture and

sculpture, Enzo Plazzotta established himself as a portrait sculptor but found

this field limiting and experimental with his fascination with movement. Fonteyn, 

Nerina, and Dowell were among the many dancers who modeled for him. Another

cast of the sculpture is on the Millbank at Westminster in London, England.

David Wall was born in Chiswick, London on March 15, 1946. He studied at the Royal Ballet School and subsequently joined the Royal Ballet. At the age of 21, became the youngest male Principal in the history of The Royal Ballet. In 1977, he won the Evening Standard Award for Outstanding Achievement in Dance. Wall retired from The Royal Ballet in 1984 and was awarded the Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE). He died of cancer in Croydon, London, on June 18, 2013.