NDT 1 revisits Jiří Kylián‘s Vanishing Twin (2008) and Clowns by Hofesh Shechter (2016). In addition, NDT 1’s dancers present a new work by Christos Papadopoulos. A new voice for NDT, the choreographer favours a minimalist and precise language of movement.
Hofesh Shechter – Clowns
Clowns (2016), Hofesh Shechter’s first creation for NDT, studies the complexity of being alive, of fighting for shared values, and the raw, human desire for liberation. Originally created to entertain the upper class, clowns found clever ways to express uncomfortable truths and mock society – using the stage as their defence. Just like clowns did for queens and kings in eras past, Shechter holds up a mirror to his audience, revealing the truth of life in the guise of entertainment.
With this reprise, we once again get to experience the energetic intensity of a choreography revolving around both darkness and light, as opposing but inextricably connected forces of life. Supported by Shechter’s own hypnotic soundtrack, Clowns finds the perfect balance between order and chaos.
Jiří Kylián – Vanishing Twin
The darkness and unpredictable rhythms of human life are at the centre of Jiří Kylián’s Vanishing Twin (2008). The work was inspired by the medical phenomenon of the same name, a rare and unusual condition in which one foetus takes over the womb at the expense of its twin, until it disappears completely. It is a poetic symbol for the darker side we all share, which we don’t accept and would rather not reveal to others. Imagining all that could have been had the vanished twin survived, Kylián’s choreography aptly illustrates temporariness, suppressed emotions and our efforts to leave a mark on the world.
Christos Papadopoulos – World premiere
Christos Papadopoulos’ new work explores our subtle, everyday social connections, revealing the beauty within the most profound connections that often go unnoticed. Drawing from the unadorned fabric of the human experience, the choreographer illustrates the simplicity of shared moments: the unspoken understanding between friends, silent nods of solidarity among strangers, and the quiet resilience threaded through collective struggles.
A new voice for NDT, the Greek-born choreographer favours a minimalist and precise language of movement. Through small gestures that belie an intense physicality, Papadopoulos has created an ode to the power of invisible forces and transports the audience to a mysterious space in which there is neither beginning nor end.