In continuation of our season 2020-2021, Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT) is very excited to present the second programme, performed by NDT 2. Dare to Say presents two works by distinctive makers. Alexander Ekman and Dimo Milev challenge the dancers of the second company in their new creations with different approaches to movement and choreography adapted to the restrictions imposed by COVID-19.
After his own dance career, former NDT 2 dancer Alexander Ekman (Sweden, 1984) decided to focus exclusively on choreography in which he portrays a clever and percussive approach to movement and a special gift for staging. Ekman often composes the music and develops the stage designs for his choreographies. His latest work for NDT, FIT, was created for NDT 2 in the 2018-2019 season. After a full and rich career with several companies including Compañía Nacional de Danza and working with choreographers by the likes of William Forsythe, Ohad Naharin and Hans van Manen, choreographer Dimo Milev (Bulgaria, 1976) has developed a very distinctive movement quality that flows organically and is often rooted in close intimacy. He previously worked with NDT 2 for Up and Coming Choreographers in 2019. For his piece for Dare to Say Milev will be collaborating with composer Miguelangel Clerc Parada. The work marks his first creation for NDT’s regular programming, entitled Fusions and some confusions.
The evening will be accompanied live by musicians of the Dutch Ballet Orchestra.
FOUR RELATIONS -ALEXANDER EKMAN
“Four Relations is a remake of the work Maybe Two I first created in 2013. For this program, we initially wanted to stage the original piece but the pandemic forced us to work with only eight dancers, so that naturally led me to create a smaller and intimate version of the work, which will only be enhanced by the added effect of the livestream; the several cameras literally allow for the audience to get closer to the dancers. From the beginning, my main inspiration was marriage, the different ways in which that union can take shape, and how societal rules dictate what it is supposed to be and what not, so I decided to build the work around four relationships. The way we nurture, handle and carry them out can take on a plethora of forms. Throughout rehearsals I found that despite this multifaceted focus on connection, our collective relationship to dance and movement became the shared dimension in the work. These young dancers with their infectious energy have completely affected and infected the creation in the best way possible. They brought a lightness and air to the piece that felt necessary, like young love before all its complexities.” — Alexander Ekman
FUSIONS AND SOME CONFUSIONS – DIMO MILEV
“Ma is the space within which we exist, the space we originate and evolve from – it begins as a void of meaning – the meaning is to be created by us.” — Kiyoshi Matsumoto
Dimo Milev (Bulgaria) studied at the National Ballet School of Sofia. He has danced works by William Forsythe, Ohad Naharin, Hans van Manen, Mats Ek, Wim Vandekeybus and Jiří Kylián for various dance companies, among which Compañia Nacional de Danza. Since 2009, he works as a freelance dancer and choreographer. Milev made a new creation for NDT 2 for the first time in Up and Coming Choreographers in 2019, Arpeggios, flowers and some manoeuvres. He will create new work for the regular programming of NDT 2 this season.