David Dawson, the Semperoper Ballett’s associate choreographer, has taken the timeless story of »Romeo and Juliet« as the basis for his third narrative ballet for the company, a work firmly rooted in the world of classical dance. Benjamin Pope will conduct the Staatskapelle Dresden in their performance of Sergei Prokofiev’s brilliant score, Op. 64, on the premiere evening. Semperoper Ballett will celebrate another premiere with the ballet evening »White Darkness«, which combines three strikingly different choreographies by William Forsythe, Sharon Eyal and Gai Behar as well as Nacho Duato. Ballet director Aaron S. Watkin always aims to present new choreographies and, above all, the work of female choreographers, in each Semperoper season. The ballet premieres and returning repertoire such as »Carmen«, »Peer Gynt« and »La Bayadère« reflect the stylistic diversity of the company as does the programme for the »Palucca Summer Stage«, organised in cooperation with Dresden’s Palucca University of Dance. According to the Semperoper’s artistic director, Peter Theiler: »The pandemic period proved to be a heavy burden for our dancers, as many pieces could not be performed despite lengthy rehearsal periods and great anticipation. Now our company can once again display its entire artistic range and tremendous abilities.«