Ballet company arrives at the speed of light

Speed of Light
Royal New Zealand Ballet
National Tour
From February 26
Wellington St James Theatre: February 26-28, Auckland SkyCity Theatre: March 2-6, Christchurch Isaac Theatre Royal: March 10-12, Dunedin Regent Theatre: March 16

An iconic dance work that is credited with changing ballet forever and another two internationally acclaimed contemporary works make up the Royal New Zealand Ballet’s (RNZB) start to 2016. 

Speed of Light is a mixed bill of three works by some of the world’s most important contemporary choreographers

For the first time in more than a decade, the ballet will be part of both the New Zealand Festival* (26 – 28 Feb) and the Auckland Arts Festival (March 2–6) before heading south to Christchurch (March 10-12) and Dunedin (March 16).

This is the first programme that Francesco Ventriglia has put together for the national ballet company of 34 dancers since becoming artistic director at the end of 2014.

He says ‘For audiences to be able to see these large-scale international dance works in one night – is a gift! It’s a great example of the type of work that I want to showcase in the future while still embracing the past of amazing classical repertoire. I’m delighted to have the opportunity to bring these pieces to New Zealand and to give our dancers the amazing experience of learning and performing them.’

Described by The Guardian newspaper as ‘the work that changed ballet for ever,’ choreographer William Forsythe’s revolutionary “In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated” was initially commissioned by Rudolf Nureyev for the Paris Opéra Ballet in 1987, for a virtuoso cast of young stars. It is the America-raised, Germany-based choreographer’s most famous work, and has been performed by every major ballet company in the world. This will be the first time that the New Zealand company has danced it and only the second time that it has ever been performed in New Zealand (the last time was in 1994 by Ballet Frankfurt).

It is a very special work for Francesco Ventriglia, who, as a young graduate from ballet school, was selected by William Forysthe to dance one of the leading male roles in this iconic work at La Scala in Milan. The work is a technical tour de force for the dancers with extended and accelerated ballet positions. Almost 30 years after its creation, “In the Middle” is as modern as the day it was made.

Fresh from dancing Andonis Foniadakis’ “Selon désir” [according to desire] during the ballet company's tour to UK and Italy at the end of last year, the company will premiere this work for New Zealand audiences. The London performances of “Selon désir” were described by the Evening Standard newspaper as: “Sixteen dancers ride a gale of movement, long loose hair tossed with whiplash motions… this almost biblical throng of bodies like a gang of feral angels.”

From Athens but based in Paris, Andonis Foniadakis is one of Europe’s most important choreographers whose works are performed by renowned ballet companies all over the world. 

Thirty-two-year-old Swedish choreographer Alexander Ekman’s “Cacti,” the most recent of the three works making up Speed of Light, has taken the dance world by storm since its premiere in The Hague in 2010. It is now performed by 18 leading companies around the world and will have its New Zealand premiere when the Royal New Zealand Ballet performs it on the opening night of the New Zealand Festival. The company will be joined on stage by the New Zealand String Quartet, which will tour with the company.  The interaction of music, movement and lighting combined with virtuosity and split second timing give the piece an irresistible energy.  The Australian newspaper described it as: ‘delightful, witty, effervescent, playful, surreal and joyously physical.’  For Francesco Ventriglia, “Cacti” was the  first work that he dreamed of staging with the New Zealand ballet company.

Speed of Light

• Selon désir: Choreography & design: Andonis Foniadakis, Composition & sound design: Julien Tarride with music by JS Bach. Rehearsal Assistant Harris Gkekas

• In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated: Choreography & design: William Forsythe, Music: Thom Willems, in collaboration with Les Stuck, Staging Thierry Guiderdoni, Technical supervisor: Tanja Rühl

• Cacti: Choreography & set & costume design: Alexander Ekman, Lighting & co-set design: Tom Visser, Music: Joseph Haydn, Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Schubert, performed by the New Zealand New Zealand String Quartet. Staging Ana Lucaciu

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