Ballet

A Collection of Short Stories

William Forsythe / David Dawson / Jorma Elo / Nicholas Palmquist

This new multi-part ballet evening will display the entire artistic spectrum of the Semperoper Ballett under the direction of Aaron S. Watkin in a versatile programme that ranges between classical and neo-classical ballet as well as contemporary dance.

 William Forsythe’s »The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude« (1996) is a pure distillation of the skills and achievements of neo-classical dance in pointe shoes and tutus. Dresden audiences will have their first chance to see the pas de deux »FAUN(E)« for two men or two women by associate choreographer David Dawson, inspired by Claude Debussy’s famous composition. And as a special highlight, principal Marcelo Gomes will dance the solo »Still of King« by Finnish choreographer Jorma Elo, created for him in 2011. The master of classical ballet, Marius Petipa, is also represented with excerpts from »Swan Lake« and »Le Corsaire«, both in versions by Aaron S. Watkin. The evening closes with a new work by the young American choreographer Nicholas Palmquist. In »A Collection of Short Stories«, he traces human relationships and their fissures, embedded in a spatially expansive piano composition by Alexandra Stréliski.

Programme

William Forsythe »The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude«
Aaron S. Watkin »White Swan«-Pas de deux from »Swan Lake«
Aaron S. Watkin (after Marius Petipa) »Odalisques«-Pas de trois from »Le Corsaire«
David Dawson »FAUN(E)«
Jorma Elo »Still of King«
Nicholas Palmquist »A Collection of Short Stories« (World premiere)


Multi-part ballet evening

Premiere
15. October 2021,

No further performances in the current season.

Premiere cast

Music from tape

Generously supported by the Semperoper Foundation

Explore

Making-of

A Collection of Short Stories – Making-of (1)

A Collection of Short Stories is a creation of Nicholas Palmquist. In his choreography he traces human relationships and their fissures, embedded in a spatially expansive piano composition by Alexandra Stréliski. In our making-of video, Nicholas talks about his thoughts on his choreography.
Making-of

A Collection of Short Stories – Making-of (2)

FAUN(E) is a piece created by our Associate Choreographer David Dawson. This abstract and timeless contemporary work was premiered at London’s Sadler’s Wells Theatre in 2009. Constructed in the form of a duet between two dancers, at the end of which one of them is left behind to seek her/his own happiness alone, FAUN(E) explores questions of duality, sexuality and identity.
Stücktrailer

A Collection of Short Stories

This new multi-part ballet evening will display the entire artistic spectrum of the Semperoper Ballett under the direction of Aaron S. Watkin in a versatile programme that ranges between classical and neo-classical ballet as well as contemporary dance. William Forsythe’s The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude (1996) is a pure distillation of the skills and achievements of neo-classical dance in pointe shoes and tutus. Dresden audiences will have their first chance to see the pas de deux FAUN(E) for two men or two women by associate choreographer David Dawson, inspired by Claude Debussy’s famous composition. And as a special highlight, principal Marcelo Gomes will dance the solo Still of King by Finnish choreographer Jorma Elo, created for him in 2011. The master of classical ballet, Marius Petipa, is also represented with excerpts from Swan Lake and Le Corsaire, both in versions by Aaron S. Watkin. The evening closes with a new work by the young American choreographer Nicholas Palmquist. In A Collection of Short Stories, he traces human relationships and their fissures, embedded in a spatially expansive piano composition by Alexandra Stréliski.