Thanks to my friend Zé Ricardo I got in contact with the work of the Nederlands Dans Theater. Last week I had the oportunity to know it a bit closer when I went to one of the presentations of the group in Chicago. In the sumptuous Auditorium Theatre, NDT presented three diferent performances from their huge repertory: “Shoot the moon”, “Wings of wax” and “The second person”.
One of these, “Wings” from 1997, was choreographed by the master Jirí Kylián. The piece is a reference to the myth of Icarius – who is determined to fly so high that the sun melts the wax of his wings. The music was amazing with John Cage, Philip Glass and Bach compositions. The scenery was made with only a huge bare tree hanged upside down creating a beautiful image. The dancers started to move in high levels and finished with movements in the low level, closer to the floor. To me it represented a fall with elegance. The movements bring that characteristic of Kylián’s performances which are very soft alternated with very fast and precise. Beautiful.
(Watch the video on their official webpage or at You Tube: Wings of Wax)
Other choreographies had a very dramatic approach and were also very nice to see. “The second person” was very provocative in using marionette dolls and a subversive narration. In the end of the night there was a surprise for the audience: a panel discussion with the creative director of the company, Anders Hellström, and two of the choreographers, Paul Lightfoot and Crystal Pite. They talked about how much they rehearsal and how they have absolut control of the choreography, almost doesn’t allowding improvisations. “Even the muscles of the face are choreographed”, joked Lightfoot.
That night also marked the last performance of Hellström as a director of the company and some of the dancers. From september on NDT I will be directed by Jim Vincent – wich today lives and works in Chicago at Hubbard Street Dance Company. I just think that I was very lucky to be there on that day!
Photos: Joris-Jan Bos Photography / Nederlands Dans Theater
You’re definitely lucky to be there.
I love dance concerts and each one I go it makes me want start dance and leave it all behind.
These days i remembered that i went to see Pina Bausch here in SP. I paid the cheapest seat $150 ($300 cause i paid for my partner) to seat up and far from the stage but i in the end was perfect cause I had a perfect full view from the stage.