Blast a universe is a compelling contemporary dance programme by Nederlands Dans Theater 2 (NDT 2), bringing together choreographers Jiří Kylián, Noé Soulier, and Marco Goecke. Through three contrasting works, the evening explores the mysteries of consciousness, the intelligence of the moving body, and the emotional force of grief and the desire to live.
Jiří Kylián‘s Sleepless (2004) reflects on the restless nights that accompany the creative process. Inspired in part by the paintings of Argentine artist Lucio Fontana, whose work challenged the boundaries of traditional artistic space, Kylián explores the relationship between the conscious and subconscious mind. Intricate duets, refined musicality, and subtle physical exchanges reveal the expressive poetry of the human body.
For the world premiere of Shut Your Eyes and See, Noé Soulier approaches choreography as an investigation into movement itself. Rather than telling a conventional story, he examines how gestures begin, evolve, and connect to form larger physical structures. A single action can expand into an intricate movement system, bringing the body’s intelligence and capacity for transformation to the forefront. Experimental techno and natural sound recordings by composer Sa Pa create an immersive soundscape that intensifies the physical experience.
Marco Goecke‘s The Big Crying (2021) offers a deeply personal and emotionally charged conclusion. Created shortly after the death of his father, the work confronts grief, separation, and the struggle to continue living in the face of loss. Set to music by Tori Amos, the dancers move with Goecke’s distinctive, rapid, and fragmented physical language, at times resembling broken machines. Beneath the restless movement lies a powerful affirmation of life and the need to keep going.
Together, the three works create an evening of striking contrasts: stillness and turbulence, conscious thought and instinct, intimate vulnerability and collective energy. Blast a universe celebrates the artistic legacy of NDT while opening new possibilities for contemporary choreography through the perspective of a new generation of dancers.
