A poem for the world

We revisit the playful world of mutual comfort (2015), created for NDT 2 by choreographer Edward Clug. “The title could not better describe the experience of creating this piece, which, in just ten minutes, captures the essence of my dance universe,” Clug shares. In his work, he is interested in the dancers’ individual experiences and the contradictions that shape us as humans. Set to a live score composed by Milko Lazar, performed on stage by a quartet, the dancers explore connections and the ease and support they offer, revealing moments of unexpected beauty, subtle humour, and finely detailed movement.

Photo: Joris-Jan Bos

In 2019, associate choreographer Crystal Pite was one of the creators of the full-evening work Kunstkamer. Now, her poetic quartet from that evening is presented as a stand-alone piece entitled Four Solitudes. Pite says, “Rilke wrote that love consists of “solitudes that protect and border and greet each other.” Love, in this sense, can connect and hold us without opposing aloneness. Four Solitudes is animated by that polarity: we can stand strong in our solitudes and still be virtuosic at togetherness.” Schubert’s piano sonata, performed live on stage, gives voice to Pite’s love for dancers and the luminous music that moves them.

We are delighted to share a world premiere by choreographer Johan Inger, who has been creating acclaimed works for NDT for over three decades. His work is deeply connected to musicality, human connection, and emotional presence. As Inger explains: “I see a creation as a shared process, one that values individuality, vulnerability, and the joy of dancing together.” Rather than looking back, the new co-creation with the NDT 2 dancers is about listening, exchanging, and discovering how movement can reflect who we are now.