Walking Mad

About the work

“Our greatest blessings come to us by way of madness” – Socrates

Ravel’s famous Boléro has been imbued with a somewhat erotically charged character in the worlds of art, dance, and opera, which inspired Johan Inger to create his own interpretation. This resulted in Walking Mad, a ballet exploring relationships in various forms and circumstances. A rotating wall transforms the space into smaller, ever-shifting rooms, leading to constantly changing situations. Walking Mad is a journey through time, confronting us with universal fears and desires, interwoven with humor and the lightness of existence.

For Walking Mad (2001) and Dream Play (2000), Inger was awarded the VSCD Lucas Hoving Production Prize in 2001 (currently known as the Dutch Zwaan).

Credits

Choreography: Johan Inger
Music: Maurice Ravel: 'Boléro for Orchestra' (1928)

Arvo Pärt: 'Für Alina for Piano' (1976); published/licensed by © Universal Edition, Vienna / Albersen Verhuur B.V., 's-Gravenhage.
Lighting design: Peter Lundin
Original light design by Erik Berglund
Set design: Johan Inger
Costume design: Johan Inger
NDT rehearsal directors: Lydia Bustinduy

Staged by: Yvan Dubreuil
Duration: 29 minutes
Premiere date: March 27, 2025
Premiere location: Amare, The Hague
World premiere date: May 17, 2001
World premiere location: Lucent Danstheater, The Hague

Original cast

Conner Chew, Giovanna Doria, Joey Gertin, Eliana Hayward, Ruth Lee, Miquel Martínez Pedro, Gabriele Rolle, César Sautès-Vescovali, Rebecca Speroni, Nathan Allen, Maša Anić, Nathaniel Belnavis-Wright, Esmee Boevink, Viola Busi, Conner Chew, Sophia Frilot, Casper Mott, Nathanaël Plantier