Dust to dust: New world premiere by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and first collaboration with Crystal Pite

The dance evening Dust to Dust presents the work of two choreographers at the top of their game. In the world premiere of Stoic, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui presents the follow-up to his hugely successful pieces Noetic and Icon. In addition, the event marks the Swedish premiere of Crystal Pite’s beautiful Solo Echo.

Last year, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui was named Choreographer of the Year for the third time by the prestigious German magazine Tanz. This summer, the title passed to Crystal Pite. Dust to Dust therefore offers the opportunity in one evening to view the work of the two hottest choreographers in recent years.

GöteborgsOperans Danskompani, made up of 38 dancers from some 20 different countries, is now ranked among the world’s leading contemporary dance companies, and this season’s first world premiere presents a long-awaited return.

The Belgian-Moroccan Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui is a multi-award winning choreographer, and in November he will be presented with the European Theatre Prize for innovation in performing arts, at what is known as the Oscars of European performing arts. He also received a nomination at the MTV Music Awards for the choreography for the video APES * * T, which features Beyoncé and Jay Z dancing in the Louvre.

For the dance evening Dust to Dust, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui is writing the third chapter in the collaboration with GöteborgsOperans Danskompani, which began with the airy Noetic (2014) and the earthy Icon (2016) – for which the stage was filled with 3.5 tonnes of clay.

The set for Stoic is a monochrome, grey library, created by Belgian artist Hans Op de Beeck. The people who have come here are self-absorbed and seeking affirmation. They fill their lives with things and various dependencies in the pursuit of inner peace. Most of all, they yearn to be understood. But nobody listens to anyone else when everyone is busy trying to present themselves in the best way. In the music, Arabic vocals, Congolese music and Japanese percussion are interwoven by composer Felix Buxton of the house duo Basement Jaxx, to create the innovative and universal whole that is the hallmark of Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui.

“We’re in a time when openness is shrinking and borders are closing. I dream of a time when people will dare to connect with one another again. Yes, you might get burned on the way, but that doesn’t mean it’s the wrong way to go. In fact it’s the right way to go. To never stop being curious about, believing or trusting in other people. Stoic wants to widen the borders that have been closed,” says Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui.

The second work of the evening, Solo Echo, has been created by the Canadian choreographer Crystal Pite, resident choreographer at NDT, Nederlands Dans Theater (which guested at the Göteborg Opera during the Gothenburg Dance andTheatre Festival in August with Crystal Pite’s work The Statement). In her first encounter with GöteborgsOperans Danskompani, she is allowing the dancers to tackle Solo Echo, which she created for NDT in 2012.

The work captures the transience and losses of life, and our acceptance of them, through the powerful, refined movements of the dancers. The choreography is based on a poem called Lines of Winter, by poet Mark Strand. The music consists of two sonatas for cello and piano by Johannes Brahms. Featuring gently falling snowflakes, thoughts of the sadness of winter are awakened.

WORLD PREMIERE/SWEDISH PREMIERE 12 OCTOBER, Main Stage, 7.00 pm.
Running time 2 hours and 15 minutes, incl. 1 intermission. Performance dates 12 Oct – 14 Dec 2018.

For press enquiries and review tickets, please contact press@opera.se or +46 31-10 80 35

Open rehearsal and physical introductions

Open rehearsal of Stoic on the Main Stage, under the direction of Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, with less than a week to go until the world premiere. After the rehearsal, the choreographer will share his thoughts about the work in conversation with our Artistic Director Katrín Hall and some of the dancers from GöteborgsOperans Danskompani. Admission free with ticket. Limited places available.

• Monday 8 October, 6.30–7.15 pm

Physical introduction. Get to know the show and gain an insight into the language of dance. The introductions will be led by dancers from GöteborgsOperans Danskompani. On the Small Stage.

• Wednesday 17 October, 5.45–6.30 pm
• Sunday 28 October, 4.45–5.30 pm
• Saturday 8 December, 4.45–5.30 pm
• Wednesday 12 December, 5.45–6.30 pm

PERFORMERS

Stoic

The work is a co-production with Eastman.

Choreography: Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui

Composer/music: Felix Buxton

Set and costume design: Hans Op de Beeck

Light design: David Stokholm.

Musicians:

Vocals, guitar: Kaspy N’dia

Vocals, percussion:

Mohammed El Arabi-Serghini

Violin, viola, effects:

Samy Bishai

Piano, koto, drums:

Tsubasa Hori

Assistant choreographer: Shawn Ahern

Dancers from GöteborgsOperans Danskompani and Eastman.

Solo Echo

Choreography, costume design: Crystal Pite

Music: Johannes Brahms

Stage manager: Eric Beauchesne

Set design: Jay Gower Taylor

Costume design: Joke Visser

Lighting design: Tom Visser

GöteborgsOperans Danskompani