The Statement by Crystal Pite

A battle inside mind

I can’t stop watching this outstanding 9-minute piece created by the renown Canadian female choreographer Crystal Pite. So I want to share this snippet with all of you. You still can see it online for 16 £ – link below!

„…….. (The characters).. are locked in a battle for control and are confronting the morality of their actions.“ Ouote by Crystal Pite in the interview.

Rehearsal and interview with Crystal Pite

Join The Royal Ballet as they rehearse Crystal Pite’s The Statement and Solo Echo, part of the Company’s 21st Century Choreographers programme, which will be livestreamed on 28 May 2021: https://stream.roh.org.uk/products/21…

Following the Olivier award-winning success of her poignant Flight Pattern, the extraordinary imagination of Canadian choreographer Crystal Pite is demonstrated again in two works created for Nederlands Dans Theater and performed for the first time by The Royal Ballet. The shadowy depths of human nature and boardroom politics are explored in the riveting dance-drama of The Statement contrasted with an atmospheric evocation of winter in Solo Echo, inspired by a poem by Mark Strand and the melancholy beauty of Brahms’s sonatas for cello and piano.

Next Live Performances

Great News: Crystal Pite is coming to Opernhaus Zurich to present 2 works „EMERGENCE“ and ANGELS‘ ATLAS – Premiere on 1 Oktober 2021, dancing by the amazing Ballet Zurich.

Angels‘ Atlas 01, 08, 15, 16, 21, 23, 31 Oct; 05 Nov 2021; 27 Mar; 02, 06, 08 Apr 2022

As all my followers know EMERGENCE is one my favorite TOP 3 contemporary performances. More than worth watching!

My review in German: https://balletloversblog.com/2018/05/16/ein-bienenschwarm-zum-schwarmen/

Biography Crystal Pite by Ballet Zurich

Crystal Pite ist eine der gefragtesten Choreo­gra­finnen der Gegenwart. Die gebürtige Kanadierin tanzte im Ballet British Columbia und in William Forsythes Ballett Frankfurt. Seit ihrem professionellen Debüt als Choreografin 1990 beim Ballet British Columbia entstanden Stücke für über 40 renommierte Compagnien, u.a. für das Nederlands Dans Theater, das Ballett Frankfurt, das National Ballett Ballett of Canada, Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal (Choreographer in Residence, 2001-2004), das Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, das Ballet British Columbia und das Royal Ballet, London. Sie ist Associate Choreographer des Nederlands Dans Theaters und Associate Dance Artist am Canada’s National Arts Center. 2013 wurde sie zum Associate Artist des Londoner Sadler’s Wells Theatre ernannt. 2002 gründete Crystal Pite in Vancouver ihre eigene Compagnie Kidd Pivot, die zu einem unver­wech­selbaren Stil gefunden hat. Klassische Tanzelemente verbinden sich mit einer komplexen improvisatorischen Freiheit und einer starken theatralischen Sensibilität voller Humor und Fantasie. Stücke wie Dark Matters und Lost Action waren international auf vielen Tour­neen zu sehen. Im Künstlerhaus Mousonturm in Frankfurt/Main hatte die Compagnie von 2010-2012 eine Residenz, dort entstanden mit The You Show und The Tempest Replica zwei wei­tere international gefeierte Stücke. 2015 hatte Betroffenheit, eine Koproduktion mit dem Autor und Schauspieler Jonathon Young und dem Electric Company Theatre, Premiere. Für das Ballett der Opéra de Paris entstanden die Stücke The Seasons‘ Canon und Body and Soul. Crystal Pite wurde mit vielen Auszeichnungen geehrt, u.a. mit dem Jessie Richardson Theatre Award, dem Dora Mavor Moore Award, dem Govenor General of Canada’s Performing Arts Award, dem Lola Award, dem Jacqueline Le­mieux Prize und dem Laurence Olivier Award. Das in Koproduktion mit dem Ballett Zürich entstandene Ballett Angels‘ Atlas wurde 2021 in Toronto uraufgeführt.

See Header Image Q&A with Choreographer Crystal Pite – The Kennedy Center © medium.com

Hooray – Live Premiere of Ballet Zurich

Walking Mad – Choreographies by Edward Clug and Johan Inger

For a reduced audience of 50 people due to covid regulations in Switzerland, a special program has been developed. This two-part ballet evening WALKING MAD already premiered on 1 May, next performances on 21 ans 22 May – no way to get a ticket!

Weiterlesen „Hooray – Live Premiere of Ballet Zurich“

Free Live Streaming of Winterreise by Ballet Zurich on 13 Feb

Watch this unique ballet of Christian Spuck

On Saturday, 13 February, THE BALLET ZURICH finally return to the stage: The revival of «Winterreise» staged by ballet director Christian Spuck, which was awarded the renowned «Prix Benois de la Danse» in 2019, will be broadcast live from Opernhaus Zürich at 7 pm!

Weiterlesen „Free Live Streaming of Winterreise by Ballet Zurich on 13 Feb“

Add Your Own Touch and Live That Story

Interview with Michelle Willems on her career at Ballet Zurich 

You danced the main roles in Nutcracker and the Mouseking, the little Match girl and Sleeping beauty. The characters are totally different. Could you tell us about the challenges of each ballet?

Nutcracker was my fist big role at the Ballet Zurich. I was lucky to get this opportunity and didn’t want to disappoint. I enjoyed it very much to play a little girl. 

Ballett Zürich – Nussknacker und Mausekönig – 2017/18 © Gregory Batardon
Weiterlesen „Add Your Own Touch and Live That Story“

#stayhome and watch ROMEO AND JULIA today

My Highlight of the Month

Don’t miss the most romantic ballet beautifully choreographed by Christian Spuck perfectly danced by the Ballet Zurich. It will be available on 8th May 6 pm online free of charge and registration for 2 days at https://www.opernhaus.ch/spielplan/streaming/romeo-und-julia/

Weiterlesen „#stayhome and watch ROMEO AND JULIA today“

Now online: Ballet, Dance, Exhibitions… even Cirque du Soleil

#stayhome and watch

Getting bored? Have a look to all these amazing offers now available to watch for free online. You can find most links on Facebook, Youtube and Instagram. Unfortunately some performances are difficult to locate on the websites of the ballet companies, so feel free to follow my Facebook account Evi Hock, my site Ballettlovers and balletloversblog on Instagram to get all infos.

I wanna give you a nice selection what I am going to see.

Weiterlesen „Now online: Ballet, Dance, Exhibitions… even Cirque du Soleil“

Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse ….

Open Rehearsal of the Junior Ballet Zürich

As we all know a lot of rehearsals are needed before the ballet dancers are ready to perform on stage. Usually it takes weeks before the opening night.

Applying corrections and giving feedback is the task of the ballet master. He is a guide for the dancers to develop technically and artistically. Some critiques can be fixed immediately, but most take time, concentration, and hard work to improve and achieve perfection.

Open Rehearsal by Ballet Master Daniel Otevrel on 21 September 2019
Weiterlesen „Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse ….“

Insights: How do Ballet Dancers start the Day?

The Daily ritual of A morning class

Ballet Zurich shows us at the opening party „everybody dances“ last weekend how all ballet dancers start with exercises in the morning. That is their workout every single day – 6 days a week -to warm up to get ready for a day of rehearsals.

Public Morning training of Ballet Zurich on 21st September 2019

The morning class starts at 10 am and takes 75 minutes. It has 2 parts:
1.Warm up at the barre, exercise and stretch, doing plies, tendus, etc strengthening all parts of the body, getting the flexibility and coordination.

  1. This is a full workout with balancing, turns and jumps.
    Great performance demands stamina, strength, flexibility and coordination – and that only comes with incredibly long hours in the studio – day in day out.

This session is led by ballet master Jean-François Boisnon, the live piano accompaniment is by Christophe Barwinek. Dramarurge Michael Küster and Ballet Master Daniel Otevrel are talking about what is going on.

Weiterlesen „Insights: How do Ballet Dancers start the Day?“

Bella Figura at Ballet Zurich

4 beautiful Masterpieces of Jiří Kylián

Ballett Zürich – Bella Figura: Bella Figura – 2018/19 © Gregory Batardon

Jiří Kylián is to one of the world’s most influential choreographer. In 2019 Ballet Zurich pays tribute to him presenting 4 masterpieces of his works from the 80s and 90s.

Weiterlesen „Bella Figura at Ballet Zurich“

My favourite Drosselmeyers……

are without question Li Cunxin and Dominik Slavkovský.

qb-nutcracker-web-images-1300x600-3_hero_gallery
Li Cunxin with Queensland Ballet photo by David Kelly

Magic happened when Ballet Star Li Cunxin, was lured out of 18 years retirement for a special performance of the NUTCRACKER with the Queensland Ballet. Taking to the stage in Brisbane for one night only, the 56 year old dancer delivered a mesmerizing performance. While Drosselmeyer is predominately a character role, Li incorporated his own choreography – adding pirouettes and jumps to the performance. His twists and turns hinted at his past brilliance.

Weiterlesen „My favourite Drosselmeyers……“