The choreographer Alexander Ekman presents a powerful contemporary piece about the mysteries of the summer solstice
“When they next wake, all this derision shall seem a dream and fruitless vision”
William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Act III, Scene 2 - Oberon)
Following his success with the sensational Swan Lake performed by the Norwegian National Ballet, the prodigious choreographer Alexander Ekman created his A Midsummer Night’s Dream. A powerful contemporary piece that explores the energy and mysteries conjured by the summer solstice in Scandinavian tradition. A far cry from Shakespeare, Ekman shows us a phantasmagorical invention based on Northern mythology and traditions.
On the day when the sun reigns for the longest hours, everyone gathers to celebrate a much-loved folk festival. A Swedish tradition says that if you put seven flowers under your pillow that night, you will dream of your future spouse. Everyone drinks and dances on a night full of love and eroticism. The border between the world of mortals and the realm of the supernatural disappears as the bottles are emptied. Suddenly the world changes and we are no longer sure if everything is actually a dream... the midsummer night’s dream.
A festivity that coincides with the summer solstice in a land where white nights are very mysterious. In contrast to the unrelenting winter, the long summer days heighten sensuality and urge us to heed the call of nature, before the inevitable icy shadows arrive, bringing silence with them as well. A magical gateway between a short night and a day that stretches into infinity for this proposal by the Ballett Dortmund.
Powerful, bold and infused with an authentic archaic atmosphere, this show has everything to be a truly hypnotic piece. From the moment the curtain rises, the dancers dance rhythmically on a field of golden corn, creating a truly intense scene. Set to the music of Mikael Karlsson, Ekman, unpredictable and colossal, builds illusions from the imagination and offers a bombardment of fantastic images.
Bold, compelling and visually stunning.
Ballet in two acts
Based on William Shakespeare’s A midsummer’s night dream.
World premiere: 17 d’abril del 2015 at the Royal Swedish Opera in Stockholm.
Liceu premiere.
With the support of:
Patron of the Dance Circle:
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Arsticti profile
- Artistic director
- Xin Peng Wang
- Choreography and set design
- Alexander Ekman
- Music
- Mikael Karlsson
- Lyrics
- Mikael Karlsson and Anna von Hausswolff
- Costume design
- Bregje van Balen
- Lighting
- Linus Fellbom
- Voice
- Hannah Tolf
- Musicians
- Dortmunder Philarmoniker Soloists
More info
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