MODERN ELEGIES

Ballet stems from a rich tradition in which music and movement merge. Three wistful choreographies trace the development of abstract ballet right up to the present day. George Balanchine led the classical European ballet of the 19th century into the modern age. Serenade, his first abstract work, is considered the epitome of his style. Originally intended as an exercise, Balanchine spontaneously incorporated real rehearsal events into the choreography.
Jiří Kylián had a lasting impact on European dance with his modern movement language. In Petite Mort - "little death" in French, also a poetic paraphrase of the sexual act - he deals with transience. David Dawson is one of the leading dance artists of our time. His style pushes dancers to their physical limits. A work about memory, loss and renewal is created to a commissioned composition by Kirill Richter.