Nacho Duato’s ballet White Darkness
to premiere on 2, 3, 4, and 20 May
The one-act ballet White Darkness, one of Nacho Duato’s most famous works, is to be added to the Mikhailovsky Theatre’s repertoire. Since the very beginning of his time as Artistic Director of the Mikhailovsky Ballet, Duato has been preparing to bring this legendary production to the theatre. However, the choreographer has always stressed that it cannot be rushed into, and that the company must first completely master his style and particular approach to movement. Now that there are ten of Duato’s works in the theatre’s repertoire, some of which were staged especially for the company, he is confident that the time for White Darkness has arrived, and that the performers will convey every nuance of this highly complex medium of dance. The preparations for the premiere will be personally overseen by Duato, and he will have an active role in the dress rehearsals.
Nacho Duato, choreographer: “People sometimes ask me whether ballet is an art form relevant to society, or whether it exists apart from societal trends. I try to express in dance everything that I see around me. It could be a meditation on society, or it could be about timeless things such as nature, love, or death. I am deeply struck by how sad it is when young people allow drugs to ruin their lives and slip into a dark world, a world so dark, in fact, that there is no escape from it. And I believe that it’s important to talk about it, just as it is important to talk about many other things. That said, I try to stay away from any kind of fashion or trend.”
Vladimir Kekhman, General Director of the Mikhailovsky Theatre, added, “To have White Darkness in the repertoire is a long-held dream of mine. In Madrid, when Mr. Duato was coming to the end of his time with the Spanish National Dance Company, I saw a poster for this ballet, and it had an incredible effect on me. After the closing evening, the choreographer told me that he had composed the ballet as a requiem for his sister, who had died from drugs at a very young age. Coincidentally, our own White Darkness will be a kind of farewell to the theatre from Mr. Duato, so the upcoming premiere fills me with both sadness and warmth. However, even though Mr. Duato is leaving his post as the ballet’s Artistic Director, there is no doubt in my mind that he will put on wonderful new productions for our company as a resident choreographer.”
The world premiere of White Darkness took place in Madrid in 2001, in a performance by the Spanish National Dance Company. The romantic melodies of Karl Jenkins form the musical backbone of the ballet. String Quartet No. 2 and Songs of Sanctuary are taken from the Adiemus project. This company presented White Darkness in Moscow at the Chekhov International Theatre Festival, and it was there that, according to theatre critics, the ballet “reached impossible heights”.
