Ballet de l’Opéra national de Paris – PLAY – November 7-27, 2022

Danse Danse presents

Ballet de l’Opéra national de Paris

PLAY

Like a joyful return to the carefree and mischievous days of our childhood, choreographer Alexander Ekman’s PLAY transforms the stage into a dazzling playground. Appearing as astronauts, clowns or majestic deer, the 36 dancers of the Paris Opera Ballet dive headlong into a ball pit, immersing themselves—and the audience!—in a festive and fairy-tale imaginary world without limits. A firework display of marvellously bizarre scenes.

Combining dance, theatre, music and song, the Swedish choreographer’s work looks at play at various life stages, and asks why adults seem to lose their ability to indulge in the spontaneous fantasy of childhood games. From the choreography to the costumes to the avalanche of props on stage, the world of PLAY is surprising in every way. Like the deluge of 40,000 balls that floods the stage, the choreographic ideas, each more creative than the last, rain down in abundance. Alexander Ekman draws us into his whimsical stories and zany dances, making us forget our everyday lives as if by magic. A dance of the moment made of silliness and childlike spontaneity.

Alexander Ekman, choreography

After a dance career with Royal Swedish Ballet, Cullberg Ballet and NDT 2, Alexander Ekman (Sweden, 1984) decided to solely focus on choreography. During the annual NDT’s Switch he was noticed for his talent and individual and original style. His latest work for NDT 1, Definitely Two premiered in season 2013-2014. For NDT 2 Ekman created Flockwork (2006), the international hit Cacti (2010, nominated for the VSCD Zwaan Award 2010), Left Right Left Right (2012) and Maybe Two (2013). In 2010 he created La La Land with NDT 1 dancer Medhi Walerski for Göteborg Ballet. Ekman often composes music and develops decor for his own pieces

Ekman works worldwide with companies such as Cullberg Ballet, Compañia Nacional de Danza Goteborg Ballet, Iceland Dance Company, Bern Ballet, Cedar Lake Contemporary Dance, Ballet de l’Opéra du Rhin, Royal Swedish Ballet and the Norwegian National Ballet. Ekman also creates for festivals such as the French Europa Danse and the Athens International Dance Festival.

Streaming On Demand in Canada only.
Available from November 7 at 10:00am to November 27 at 11:59pm.

To purchase your online ticket visit: www.placedesarts.com