Which language connects every country on Earth? Dance can be found across the globe, yet this language is not “spoken” with the same accent everywhere. The ballet evening Different Grounds brings innovative dance styles from three continents to the Semperoper stage in three world premieres. Stephanie Lake, Artist-in-Residence at the Semperoper Ballett since the 2025/26 season, and whose smash-hit Colossus was first performed in Dresden in November 2025, is creating her first work specifically for the ensemble. One of Australia’s most renowned contemporary choreographers, Lake hails from the independent dance scene. As well as heading her own company, she is also Resident Choreographer of her home country’s largest dance ensemble, The Australian Ballet. In her work with dancers from diverse backgrounds, Lake has created a multitude of dynamic and often humorous pieces that always honour the various creative impulses and idiosyncrasies of the performers.

Shahar Binyamini began his career with Batsheva Dance Company, performing Ohad Naharin’s repertoire and immersing himself in Gaga – the movement language central to the company's creative identity. Now an internationally celebrated choreographer heading his own dance company in Israel, Binyamini has forged a singular artistic voice. His work prioritizes organic, intuitive motion, challenging dancers to unlock authentic expression by tapping into their personal impulses, raw instincts, and visceral physical sensations.

Finally, the third choreographer comes from the cradle of classical ballet: France. Julian Nicosia’s work is shaped by his time with the Dresden Frankfurt Dance Company and the legacy of William Forsythe’s intensification and deconstruction of classical dance. Nicosia’s pieces, each strongly influenced by the identity of the company he is working with, span a broad stylistic spectrum encompassing both neoclassical and contemporary aesthetics.

Through this exciting clash of different perspectives, the evening promises to open new horizons for both the performers and the audience.