NDT 2 presents The beauty of it all, striking the ultimate balance between honoring NDT’s legacy and its rich repertoire, while creating space for new artistic voices that provide the company with surprising perspectives. On tour from March 14 until May 2.
In a triple bill of works, Do Not Run Fly builds imaginary landscapes in an attempt to understand a world that is constantly changing. NDT 1 presents two new creations by choreographers Marcos Morau and Yoann Bourgeois, as well as one audience favorite from the oeuvre of Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT), Solo Echo (2012) by associate choreographer Crystal Pite.
This programme will be accompanied live by the Dutch Ballet Orchestra during the performances in The Hague and Amsterdam.
Marcos Morau addresses the urgent questions of today, in an effort to be witness to a world that exists in continuous turmoil and change. In his quest to understand human behaviour, the choreographer aims to emphasize the fight against the things that destroy us while reflecting on ideas on progress, society and the individual. Morau studied photography, movement and theatre, and is known for building imaginary landscapes in his works. He has been the director and choreographer of Barcelona based company La Veronal for over a decade, and his work has been presented at festivals and theatres worldwide. This new creation will be Morau’s first work with NDT 1.
In his creations, Yoann Bourgeois focuses on the body’s interaction with space by creating physical devices that amplify this connection. Inspired by kinetic arts and optical illusions, Bourgeois’ work weaves together multiple disciplines such as dance, theatre, circus and the visual arts. “I am very interested in the world of games and in particular the game category that Roger Caillois calls the ’vertigo games’,” says Bourgeois. “These consist of an attempt to destroy for a moment the stability of perception and inflict on the lucid consciousness a kind of voluptuous panic.” This will be Bourgeois’ third creation for the company.
“Tell yourself, in that final flowing of cold through your limbs, that you love what you are.” These words from ‘Line for Winter’ by American poet Mark Strand were the inspiration for Solo Echo (2012), originally created for NDT 1 by associate choreographer Crystal Pite. Against a backdrop of steadily whirling snow one character is seen through the perspective of many. Set to two sonatas for cello and piano by Brahms – the first composed at the beginning of his life and the second towards the end – Solo Echo describes a life’s journey from the coming of age to the passing of time. Upon its premiere, the work was met with critical acclaim by the Dutch press: “The solos are growing gradually until all dancers create a great organic knot, a moving sculpture that, indeed, echoes the sounds of all individuals,” wrote de Volkskrant.
This programme will be accompanied live by the Dutch Ballet Orchestra during the performances in The Hague and Amsterdam.
Our performances start at 19:45 and last approximately 2,5 hours. This programme contains two intermissions.
Season 2023-2024 | 16 mei t/m 8 juni 2024
Amare, Den Haag
16 (première),17,18 May
6,7,8 June
Nationale Opera & Ballet, Amsterdam
22,23 May
Stadsschouwburg Utrecht
27,28 May
Theater Rotterdam
1,2 June
Check out the list of all NDT 1 dancers and get to know the dancers better by reading their biographies and personal stories.
Between Barcelona and New York, Marcos Morau studied photography, movement and theatre. He builds worlds and imaginary landscapes where movement and image meet and shallow one another. For over ten years, Marcos runs La Veronal, as director, choreographer, and set, light and wardrobe designer. He’s travelled the world presenting his pieces at festivals, theatres and international contexts.
In season 2021-2022, Marcos made his debut for the company with NDT 2’s dancers, Folkå. In season 2023-2024, he returned to create a new work with NDT 1.
Acrobat, actor, juggler, dancer, choreographer, Yoann Bourgeois (France) is first and foremost a player. He founded his Compagnie Yoann Bourgeois in 2010. His works strongly depict Bourgeois’ fascination with gravity, often through installations that defy the forces of physical strength. In 2016, Bourgeois became codirector of the CCN2 – Centre chorégraphique national de Grenoble. In the 2019-2020 season, Bourgeois created his first piece for the company called Little song for the dancers of NDT 2. A year later in the 2020-2021 season, he created his first piece for NDT 1, I wonder where the dreamsI don’t remember go.
NDT organizes introduction talks prior to the performances of NDT 1 and NDT 2 in the Netherlands. The introduction talk takes 30 minutes and offers the opportunity the audience to meet our company on a personal level before the performance starts. Modern dance and the repertoire of NDT in particular are the focus of our introduction talks.
You can read more information in the information e-mail you receive the day before your visit to Amare, or via the website of the theater in question where you are visiting the NDT performance
We started a new dance project for children between 8 and 14 years old: NDT Young Creatives. Dance experience is not required, but you do need enthousiasm to create and perform! Wondering if there will also be a workshop around this programme? Check it out via the link below.
Photo: Sacha Grootjans
