Dresden, 17 May 2024. Mixing classical elegance with energy and breathtaking innovation, the Semperoper Ballett’s new mixed bill takes audience members on an inspiring journey through the multifaceted world of dance. On Sunday, 2 June 2024, the main curtain at Dresden’s opera house will rise to present »Classics by Balanchine / Peck / Tharp«, featuring the work of three luminaries of the American ballet scene: George Balanchine, Justin Peck and Twyla Tharp.
The programme opens with the iconic »Serenade« by George Balanchine, one of the most influential choreographers of the 20th century, revered for his groundbreaking neoclassical ballet style. The Co-founder of New York City Ballet created a host of masterpieces celebrated for their technical sophistication, musical sensitivity and clear aesthetic structure. With its characteristically elegant abstraction and captivating tableaux, »Serenade« was officially premiered at the American Ballet in 1935, having been created in 1934 for the School of American Ballet, which Balanchine co-founded. The choreographer was inspired by the music of Pyotr I. Tchaikovsky, whose »Serenade for Strings in C, Op. 48« blends Mozartian brilliance with elegiac reverie to create an emotionally multi-layered sonic backdrop for the dancers.
Acclaimed for his kinetically powerful choreographies, Justin Peck is a rising star of the contemporary ballet world. Here the multi award-winning resident choreographer of New York City Ballet gives us his »Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes«, which premiered in New York in 2015 and is now to be seen on stage in Europe for the first time. Offering a fresh perspective on neoclassical ballet, this work – like all of Peck’s output – is bursting with energy and displays a thoroughly modern aesthetic. Aaron Copland’s score from 1942 captures the atmosphere and spirit of the American West by combining elements of folk music with a classical orchestral sound.
Legendary choreographer Twyla Tharp is known for her versatility and unique fusion of diverse dance styles. Her work knows no artistic boundaries, so it is hardly surprising that until today she continues to enjoy numerous successes in different genres from musical and film to pop art and, of course, dance. Borrowing from a range of styles such as (neo-)classical ballet, tap, modern and jazz dance as well as sports such as acrobatics, karate and gymnastics, the choreographer’s repertoire places huge demands on the performers. The premiere of »In The Upper Room« on 28 August 1986 with the Twyla Tharp Dance Company at the Murray Theatre at Ravinia in Highland Park (Illinois) marked a new era for Tharp’s company. The challenge for the dancers is to master the intricate step combinations, the complex timing of the musical rhythms and the sheer athleticism of the choreography while maintaining a high level of energy. Featuring music of the same name commissioned from the American minimalist composer Philip Glass, »In The Upper Room« synthesises choreography, costumes, music and lighting into a transcendent experience for both audience and performers. It has become a central piece in the repertories of dance companies worldwide.
Together, these three choreographies provide a unique perspective on American ballet, highlighting its enormous diversity and artistic range: from the elegant beauty of romantic-neoclassical ballet to the powerful fusion of new and surprising physical vocabularies into traditional dance.
Modern dance and the movies come together as part of the Semperoper Ballett’s »Tanz:Film« series, run in cooperation with local arthouse cinema Programmkino Ost. On Wednesday, 12 June 2024, cinéasts can enjoy a screening of Tomer Heymann’s »Mr. Gaga« (ISR/S/D/NL, 2015) in original version with subtitles, which tells the story of Israeli dancer and choreographer Ohad Naharin. Following the presentation, dancer Johannes Goldbach and ballet dramaturge Regina Genée invite the audience to join them in a follow-up talk.
With this final Semperoper ballet premiere in the 2023/24 season, principal dancer and ballet master Marcelo Gomes bids farewell as Artistic Manager of the Semperoper Ballett. Under his inspiring interim motto »Alvorecer«, the Brazilian choreographer and dancer underscored the company’s commitment to promoting both artistic and cultural diversity as well as excellence. In so doing, he successfully helped steer Semperoper Ballett during the current season towards a new era under the designated Artistic Director. From next season, Marcelo Gomes will be working as a freelance artist on a national and international level.
Since May 2024, the upcoming programme of Semperoper Ballett is featured in a monthly Tanzkalender for Dresden. On the initiative of TanzNetzDresden and with the support of the city council and local events magazine SAX, all of Dresden’s dance and movement-based performances by local institutions are advertised in the calendar, which is published both online and as a poster. In addition to the Saxon State Theatres and TanzNetzDresden, other participants include the Staatsoperette Dresden, HELLERAU – European Centre for the Arts, the Projekttheater Dresden, the Landesbühnen Sachsen, villa\wigman and the Yenidze Theatre. For more details, please visit: tanznetzdresden.de
»Classics by Balanchine / Peck / Tharp«
Premiere starts at 7 pm on Sunday, 2 June 2024, in the Semperoper
Additional performances in June & July 2024 as well as May 2025
Free introduction to the work 45 minutes prior to each performance
Premiere Preview on Tuesday, 28 May at 6 pm and After-show talk on Friday, 7 June 2024
»Serenade« by George Balanchine ©The George Balanchine Trust
Music: Pyotr I. Tchaikovsky
»Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes« by Justin Peck (European Premiere)
Music: Aaron Copland
»In The Upper Room« by Twyla Tharp © Twyla Tharp
Music: Philip Glass (playback)
The Staatskapelle Dresden will be conducted by Tom Seligman.
Project partner: Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe Sachsen, Ostsächsische Sparkasse Dresden, Sparkassen-Versicherung Sachsen, LBBW
Tickets can be purchased from the Schinkelwache box office on Theaterplatz (+49 (0)351 4911 705). A 3D-seating plan to aid your choice of tickets and seats in the auditorium can be found in the Semperoper’s online ticket shop.
Please send any requests for review tickets (along with details of the editorial brief and likely publication dates) to presse@semperoper.de. Photos and other press materials can be downloaded from our password-protected press page-
Photo: Premiere motif of »Classics by Balanchine / Peck / Tharp« © Martin Perlaki. The motif is part of the artistic concept for the premiere posters 2023/24 with a series of works by Martin Perlaki.