25.03.2013
Seeing The Invisible
In May, Nacho Duato will unveil his new work at the Mikhailovsky Theatre, a one-act ballet to music by Andrzej Panufnik. The choreographer is again turning to his favourite genre — abstract ballet with no set theme. This unconstrained form allows the choreographer to move beyond the layer of visibility and convey the subtle, elusive link between humankind and the environment.
Nacho Duato admits that it was once again the music that inspired him: “I was enchanted by the intense sound of the string section and the haunting flute solo. I consider it more important to feel and convey all the shades of the music than to think of a name for the ballet. Originally, I wanted to call it Promenade, but then I thought that would be too obvious. Now, I am more drawn to the name Invisible. This is a ballet about the complex feeling of excitement that a person gets when surrounded by nature. I want to show this acute feeling, invisible in everyday life, on the stage. The ballet’s colour scheme will be blue, the colour of the sky, and the colour of the world in general. I am reminded of the expressive works of Picasso in his ‘Blue Period’ when he said that he immersed himself in blue. Blue allowed the artist to move away from traditional art and towards abstraction, where he was able to express the immaterial. I would like to achieve the same.”
The ballet will be performed by eleven dancers: five couples out walking, each with their own emotional aura, and a soloist whose dance will be the embodiment of the different levels of abstract connections between humankind and the universe. In addition to choreographing the new ballet, Nacho Duato is also stage and costume designer.
Nacho Duato admits that it was once again the music that inspired him: “I was enchanted by the intense sound of the string section and the haunting flute solo. I consider it more important to feel and convey all the shades of the music than to think of a name for the ballet. Originally, I wanted to call it Promenade, but then I thought that would be too obvious. Now, I am more drawn to the name Invisible. This is a ballet about the complex feeling of excitement that a person gets when surrounded by nature. I want to show this acute feeling, invisible in everyday life, on the stage. The ballet’s colour scheme will be blue, the colour of the sky, and the colour of the world in general. I am reminded of the expressive works of Picasso in his ‘Blue Period’ when he said that he immersed himself in blue. Blue allowed the artist to move away from traditional art and towards abstraction, where he was able to express the immaterial. I would like to achieve the same.”
The ballet will be performed by eleven dancers: five couples out walking, each with their own emotional aura, and a soloist whose dance will be the embodiment of the different levels of abstract connections between humankind and the universe. In addition to choreographing the new ballet, Nacho Duato is also stage and costume designer.
