Nederlands Dans Theater 2 – 2016
12 April - 20 May

Choreography: Johan IngerLighting Designer: Tom VisserCostume Designer: Bregje van BalenMusic: Van Morrison: Madame George, The Way Young Lovers Do, I’ll Be Your Lover Too, Sweet Things, Crazy LoveRunning time: 28 minutesSet Design: Johan IngerWorld Première: 23 February 2012, Lucent Danstheater, The HagueFurther Info: Johan Inger takes four girls and five boys to great heights on songs by Van Morrison. Not a group in unison, but sprouting individuals who rebel against it. On the spot swinging off their hips, falling in between the others and shelter in a steel forest. Inger’s work breathes humour: it’s fresh and optimistic, ranging from comic and theatrical to earthy and organic.
Associate choreographer Johan Inger (Stockholm, 1967) was born in Sweden but found himself as a dancer and choreographer in The Hague. Inger joined NDT1 in 1990 and debuted successfully as a choreographer with Mellantid in 1996. His NDT-creations Dream Play (2000) and Walking Mad (2001) earned him the Lucas Hoving Productie Award. Inger was honored by the Stichting Dansersfonds '79 with the Merit Award. He was artistic director of the Cullberg Ballet (2003-2008), and has been based in Sweden ever since.

Choreography: Edward ClugLighting Designer: Tom VisserCostume Designer: Edward ClugMusic: New composition PErpeTuumOVIA by Milko LazarRunning time: 11 minutesSet Design: Edward ClugWorld Première: 19 March 2015, Lucent Danstheater, The HagueFurther Info: Edward Clug’s choreography is detailed and sharply defined. Often at times, its most distinguishing feature tends to be twitchiness where the bodies flick and jerk so extremely and frequently that it can be interpreted as punctuation; a certain acknowledgment of the beat. As a choreographer, Clug is interested in highlighting the dancer’s individual experience by keeping it fresh in its approach. By doing so, his work leans towards emphasizing a personal experience that arises from the process of creation that is led by illuminating human contradictions, imparting surprising moments of beauty and spontaneous irony.
Choreographer Edward Clug (1973, Romania) debuted with Nederlands Dans Theater with this short creation for NDT2. Clug is artistic director of the Slovenian Maribor Ballet and as a choreographer he received international acclaim with his piece Radio and Juliet (2005), to the music of Radiohead. Clug will again create new work for NDT2 in the programme Straight Around that will premiere on February 18, 2016 in The Hague.

Choreography: Hans van ManenLighting Designer: oop CaboortCostume Designer: Keso DekkerMusic: Johann Sebastian Bach: Violin suite no. 1 in D minor Correnta and Double, BWV 1002 (1720) Recorded performance (violinist: Sigiswald Kuijken)Running time: 7 minutesSet Design: Keso DekkerWorld Première: 16 January 1997, Lucent Danstheater, Den HaagFurther Info: Hans van Manen created Solo for NDT 2 in 1997. With this seven minute, high pace ballet set to Johann Sebastian Bach’s violin partita, Van Manen made a piece for three dancers who portray a single man reexamining his place in the world. Since the rate of movement is exceptionally high requiring extraordinary timing, the ballet can only be performed by the dancers taking turns.
Award-winning choreographer Hans van Manen (Amsterdam, The Netherlands) started his career in 1951 with Sonia Gaskell’s Ballet Recital. From 1960 to 1971 Van Manen was associated with NDT as a dancer (until 1963), choreographer and (from 1961) as artistic leader. From 1988 to 2003 Van Manen returned to NDT as a resident choreographer. His oeuvre comprises more than 120 ballets (62 of which for NDT), each bearing his unmistakable signature.

Choreography: Alexander EkmanLighting Designer: Tom VisserCostume Designer: Alexander EkmanMusic: Joseph Haydn: sonate no V “Sitio” from Die sieben letzten Worte unseres Erlösers am Kreuze, Hoboken XX, 1B; Ludwig van Beethoven: string quartet no. 9 in C, Opus 59, section from: Andante con moto quasi allegretto; Franz Schubert: Presto from stringquartet Der Tod und das Mädchen, arranged for orchestra by Andy Stein and for stringquartet by Gustav Mahler; Allegro by Joseph Haydn from string quartets Opus 9, no 6 in A major. String quartet recorded by Harmen Straatman: Tinta Smidt von Altenstadt (first violin), Saskia Viersen (second violin), David Marks (alto violin), Artur Trajko (cello)Running time: 27 minutesSet Design: Alexander EkmanLyrics: Spenser ThebergeWorld Première: 25 February 2010, Lucent Danstheater The HagueFurther Info: Alexander Ekman calls himself a ‘rhythm freak’, as one of his trademarks is designing contemporary soundscapes. This choreography, for which he merely used classical music, resulted in a new arrangement of Schubert’s Der Tod und das Mädchen, created together with Holland Symphonia. In addition, the dancers become the instruments for the orchestra. Ekman used all dancers to challenge the audience to reflect on the way in which art is perceived.
After a dance career with Royal Swedish Ballet, Cullberg Ballet and NDT 2, Alexander Ekman (1984, Sweden) decided to solely focus on choreography. For NDT2 Ekman created the international hit Cacti (2010), nominated for the VSCD Zwaan Award (2010) Left Right Left Right (2012) and Maybe Two (2013) among other pieces. In season 13/14 Ekman created Definitely Two for NDT1.

Choreography: Sol León & Paul LightfootLighting Designer: Tom BevoortCostume Designer: Sol León & Paul LightfootMusic: Schubert: String quintet in C - AdagioRunning time: 6 minutesSet Design: Sol León & Paul LightfootWorld Première: 4 November 2014, Theater aan het Spui, The HagueFurther Info: Schubert premiered during the anniversary performance 25 Years León & Lightfoot. This pas de deux, danced on a piece of music by Schubert is, besides being an emotional ballet exuding a love story between a man and a woman, a highly technical work that emphasizes NDT2’s extraordinary talent level.
Sol León (Córdoba, Spain) and Paul Lightfoot (Kingsley, England) started creating together 25 years ago. Since then the duo have created more than fifty pieces for Nederlands Dans Theater. In 2002 they were appointed house choreographers for the company exclusively. Together they have won prestigious awards, such as the Benois de la Danse and the Herald Archangel.
Sol León joined NDT2 after graduating from the National Ballet Academy of Madrid in 1987. Two years later she joined NDT1 and danced masterpieces of Jiří Kylián, Hans van Manen, Mats Ek and Ohad Naharin. She continued to dance up until 2003, when she decided to fully devote herself to choreography. León became artistic advisor for NDT in 2012.
Paul Lightfoot studies at the Royal Ballet School in London. He joined NDT2 and moved to NDT1 two years later, where he danced until 2008. During his dancing career, Lightfoot started choreographing and together with Sol León he created many pieces for NDT. Lightfoot became artistic director of NDT in 2011.

Choreography: Sol León & Paul LightfootLighting Designer: Tom BevoortCostume Designer: Sol León & Paul LightfootMusic: Perez Prado: Mambo no. 8, Perez Prado: Muchachita, Alberto Domínguez: Frenesí, Ernesto Lecuona: Always in my heart, Perez Prado: Caballo Negro, Ray Barretto: Watusi, Trio Los Panchos: Perfidia, Perez Prado: Maria BonitaRunning time: 22 minutesSet Design: Sol León & Paul LightfootWorld Première: 7 February 1998, Lucent Danstheater, The HagueFurther Info: Sad Case was originally created for NDT1 in 1998 when Sol León was seven months pregnant with their daughter, and acts as one of the main pillars of León & Lightfoot’s oeuvre. Surprising and earthly movements on Mexican mambo music show a continual search for the tension between satirical and classic moments.
Sol León (Córdoba, Spain) and Paul Lightfoot (Kingsley, England) started creating with NDT together 25 years ago. Together they won prestigious awards, such as the Benois de la Danse and the Herald Archangel. They have been house choreographers of NDT since 2002 and created a total of fifty choreographies. In season 2014/2015 they celebrate their anniversary with a programme for NDT2.

Choreography: Sol León & Paul LightfootLighting Designer: Tom BevoortCostume Designer: Sol León & Paul LightfootMusic: Max Richter: Thermodynamics; I was just thinking; Broken Symmetries for Y; When the northern lights / Jasper and Louise; A sudden Manhattan of the mind; This Picture of us. P.; Found song for P.; H thinks a journey; Lullaby from the Westcoast sleepers; So long Orpheus; Mercy (violin by Hilary Hahn & piano by Cory Smythe)Running time: 24 minutesSet Design: Sol León & Paul LightfootWorld Première: 4 November 2014, Theater aan het Spui, The Hague Further Info: Some Other Time premiered at the anniversary performance 25 Years León & Lightfoot. A white floor and black decor pieces that seemingly float across the stage, highlight the refreshing and oppressive feeling that the dancers portray in this ballet. All dressed in black and with a wide variety of pas de deux and solos, Some Other Time is an extraordinary exercise for the NDT2 dancers in the emotional dance language that is so characteristic for choreographers Sol León and Paul Lightfoot.

Choreography: Edward ClugLighting Designer: Tom VisserCostume Designer: Edward ClugMusic: New composition PErpeTuumOVIA by Milko LazarRunning time: 11 minutesSet Design: Edward ClugWorld Première: 19 March 2015, Lucent Danstheater, The HagueFurther Info: Edward Clug’s choreography is detailed and sharply defined. Often at times, its most distinguishing feature tends to be twitchiness where the bodies flick and jerk so extremely and frequently that it can be interpreted as punctuation; a certain acknowledgment of the beat. As a choreographer, Clug is interested in highlighting the dancer’s individual experience by keeping it fresh in its approach. By doing so, his work leans towards emphasizing a personal experience that arises from the process of creation that is led by illuminating human contradictions, imparting surprising moments of beauty and spontaneous irony.
Choreographer Edward Clug (1973, Romania) debuted with Nederlands Dans Theater with this short creation for NDT2. Clug is artistic director of the Slovenian Maribor Ballet and as a choreographer he received international acclaim with his piece Radio and Juliet (2005), to the music of Radiohead. Clug will again create new work for NDT2 in the programme Straight Around that will premiere on February 18, 2016 in The Hague.

Choreography: Hans van ManenLighting Designer: oop CaboortCostume Designer: Keso DekkerMusic: Johann Sebastian Bach: Violin suite no. 1 in D minor Correnta and Double, BWV 1002 (1720) Recorded performance (violinist: Sigiswald Kuijken)Running time: 7 minutesSet Design: Keso DekkerWorld Première: 16 January 1997, Lucent Danstheater, Den HaagFurther Info: Hans van Manen created Solo for NDT 2 in 1997. With this seven minute, high pace ballet set to Johann Sebastian Bach’s violin partita, Van Manen made a piece for three dancers who portray a single man reexamining his place in the world. Since the rate of movement is exceptionally high requiring extraordinary timing, the ballet can only be performed by the dancers taking turns.
Award-winning choreographer Hans van Manen (Amsterdam, The Netherlands) started his career in 1951 with Sonia Gaskell’s Ballet Recital. From 1960 to 1971 Van Manen was associated with NDT as a dancer (until 1963), choreographer and (from 1961) as artistic leader. From 1988 to 2003 Van Manen returned to NDT as a resident choreographer. His oeuvre comprises more than 120 ballets (62 of which for NDT), each bearing his unmistakable signature.

Choreography: Alexander EkmanLighting Designer: Tom VisserCostume Designer: Alexander EkmanMusic: Joseph Haydn: sonate no V “Sitio” from Die sieben letzten Worte unseres Erlösers am Kreuze, Hoboken XX, 1B; Ludwig van Beethoven: string quartet no. 9 in C, Opus 59, section from: Andante con moto quasi allegretto; Franz Schubert: Presto from stringquartet Der Tod und das Mädchen, arranged for orchestra by Andy Stein and for stringquartet by Gustav Mahler; Allegro by Joseph Haydn from string quartets Opus 9, no 6 in A major. String quartet recorded by Harmen Straatman: Tinta Smidt von Altenstadt (first violin), Saskia Viersen (second violin), David Marks (alto violin), Artur Trajko (cello)Running time: 27 minutesSet Design: Alexander EkmanLyrics: Spenser ThebergeWorld Première: 25 February 2010, Lucent Danstheater The HagueFurther Info: Alexander Ekman calls himself a ‘rhythm freak’, as one of his trademarks is designing contemporary soundscapes. This choreography, for which he merely used classical music, resulted in a new arrangement of Schubert’s Der Tod und das Mädchen, created together with Holland Symphonia. In addition, the dancers become the instruments for the orchestra. Ekman used all dancers to challenge the audience to reflect on the way in which art is perceived.
After a dance career with Royal Swedish Ballet, Cullberg Ballet and NDT 2, Alexander Ekman (1984, Sweden) decided to solely focus on choreography. For NDT2 Ekman created the international hit Cacti (2010), nominated for the VSCD Zwaan Award (2010) Left Right Left Right (2012) and Maybe Two (2013) among other pieces. In season 13/14 Ekman created Definitely Two for NDT1.

Choreography: Sol León & Paul LightfootLighting Designer: Tom BevoortCostume Designer: Sol León & Paul LightfootMusic: Schubert: String quintet in C - AdagioRunning time: 6 minutesSet Design: Sol León & Paul LightfootWorld Première: 4 November 2014, Theater aan het Spui, The HagueFurther Info: Schubert premiered during the anniversary performance 25 Years León & Lightfoot. This pas de deux, danced on a piece of music by Schubert is, besides being an emotional ballet exuding a love story between a man and a woman, a highly technical work that emphasizes NDT2’s extraordinary talent level.
Sol León (Córdoba, Spain) and Paul Lightfoot (Kingsley, England) started creating together 25 years ago. Since then the duo have created more than fifty pieces for Nederlands Dans Theater. In 2002 they were appointed house choreographers for the company exclusively. Together they have won prestigious awards, such as the Benois de la Danse and the Herald Archangel.
Sol León joined NDT2 after graduating from the National Ballet Academy of Madrid in 1987. Two years later she joined NDT1 and danced masterpieces of Jiří Kylián, Hans van Manen, Mats Ek and Ohad Naharin. She continued to dance up until 2003, when she decided to fully devote herself to choreography. León became artistic advisor for NDT in 2012.
Paul Lightfoot studies at the Royal Ballet School in London. He joined NDT2 and moved to NDT1 two years later, where he danced until 2008. During his dancing career, Lightfoot started choreographing and together with Sol León he created many pieces for NDT. Lightfoot became artistic director of NDT in 2011.

Choreography: Sol León & Paul LightfootLighting Designer: Tom BevoortCostume Designer: Sol León & Paul LightfootMusic: Perez Prado: Mambo no. 8, Perez Prado: Muchachita, Alberto Domínguez: Frenesí, Ernesto Lecuona: Always in my heart, Perez Prado: Caballo Negro, Ray Barretto: Watusi, Trio Los Panchos: Perfidia, Perez Prado: Maria BonitaRunning time: 22 minutesSet Design: Sol León & Paul LightfootWorld Première: 7 February 1998, Lucent Danstheater, The HagueFurther Info: Sad Case was originally created for NDT1 in 1998 when Sol León was seven months pregnant with their daughter, and acts as one of the main pillars of León & Lightfoot’s oeuvre. Surprising and earthly movements on Mexican mambo music show a continual search for the tension between satirical and classic moments.
Sol León (Córdoba, Spain) and Paul Lightfoot (Kingsley, England) started creating with NDT together 25 years ago. Together they won prestigious awards, such as the Benois de la Danse and the Herald Archangel. They have been house choreographers of NDT since 2002 and created a total of fifty choreographies. In season 2014/2015 they celebrate their anniversary with a programme for NDT2.

Choreography: Edward ClugLighting Designer: Tom VisserCostume Designer: Edward ClugMusic: New composition PErpeTuumOVIA by Milko LazarRunning time: 11 minutesSet Design: Edward ClugWorld Première: 19 March 2015, Lucent Danstheater, The HagueFurther Info: Edward Clug’s choreography is detailed and sharply defined. Often at times, its most distinguishing feature tends to be twitchiness where the bodies flick and jerk so extremely and frequently that it can be interpreted as punctuation; a certain acknowledgment of the beat. As a choreographer, Clug is interested in highlighting the dancer’s individual experience by keeping it fresh in its approach. By doing so, his work leans towards emphasizing a personal experience that arises from the process of creation that is led by illuminating human contradictions, imparting surprising moments of beauty and spontaneous irony.
Choreographer Edward Clug (1973, Romania) debuted with Nederlands Dans Theater with this short creation for NDT2. Clug is artistic director of the Slovenian Maribor Ballet and as a choreographer he received international acclaim with his piece Radio and Juliet (2005), to the music of Radiohead. Clug will again create new work for NDT2 in the programme Straight Around that will premiere on February 18, 2016 in The Hague.

Choreography: Hans van ManenLighting Designer: oop CaboortCostume Designer: Keso DekkerMusic: Johann Sebastian Bach: Violin suite no. 1 in D minor Correnta and Double, BWV 1002 (1720) Recorded performance (violinist: Sigiswald Kuijken)Running time: 7 minutesSet Design: Keso DekkerWorld Première: 16 January 1997, Lucent Danstheater, Den HaagFurther Info: Hans van Manen created Solo for NDT 2 in 1997. With this seven minute, high pace ballet set to Johann Sebastian Bach’s violin partita, Van Manen made a piece for three dancers who portray a single man reexamining his place in the world. Since the rate of movement is exceptionally high requiring extraordinary timing, the ballet can only be performed by the dancers taking turns.
Award-winning choreographer Hans van Manen (Amsterdam, The Netherlands) started his career in 1951 with Sonia Gaskell’s Ballet Recital. From 1960 to 1971 Van Manen was associated with NDT as a dancer (until 1963), choreographer and (from 1961) as artistic leader. From 1988 to 2003 Van Manen returned to NDT as a resident choreographer. His oeuvre comprises more than 120 ballets (62 of which for NDT), each bearing his unmistakable signature.

Choreography: Alexander EkmanLighting Designer: Tom VisserCostume Designer: Alexander EkmanMusic: Joseph Haydn: sonate no V “Sitio” from Die sieben letzten Worte unseres Erlösers am Kreuze, Hoboken XX, 1B; Ludwig van Beethoven: string quartet no. 9 in C, Opus 59, section from: Andante con moto quasi allegretto; Franz Schubert: Presto from stringquartet Der Tod und das Mädchen, arranged for orchestra by Andy Stein and for stringquartet by Gustav Mahler; Allegro by Joseph Haydn from string quartets Opus 9, no 6 in A major. String quartet recorded by Harmen Straatman: Tinta Smidt von Altenstadt (first violin), Saskia Viersen (second violin), David Marks (alto violin), Artur Trajko (cello)Running time: 27 minutesSet Design: Alexander EkmanLyrics: Spenser ThebergeWorld Première: 25 February 2010, Lucent Danstheater The HagueFurther Info: Alexander Ekman calls himself a ‘rhythm freak’, as one of his trademarks is designing contemporary soundscapes. This choreography, for which he merely used classical music, resulted in a new arrangement of Schubert’s Der Tod und das Mädchen, created together with Holland Symphonia. In addition, the dancers become the instruments for the orchestra. Ekman used all dancers to challenge the audience to reflect on the way in which art is perceived.
After a dance career with Royal Swedish Ballet, Cullberg Ballet and NDT 2, Alexander Ekman (1984, Sweden) decided to solely focus on choreography. For NDT2 Ekman created the international hit Cacti (2010), nominated for the VSCD Zwaan Award (2010) Left Right Left Right (2012) and Maybe Two (2013) among other pieces. In season 13/14 Ekman created Definitely Two for NDT1.

Choreography: Sol León & Paul LightfootLighting Designer: Tom BevoortCostume Designer: Sol León & Paul LightfootMusic: Schubert: String quintet in C - AdagioRunning time: 6 minutesSet Design: Sol León & Paul LightfootWorld Première: 4 November 2014, Theater aan het Spui, The HagueFurther Info: Schubert premiered during the anniversary performance 25 Years León & Lightfoot. This pas de deux, danced on a piece of music by Schubert is, besides being an emotional ballet exuding a love story between a man and a woman, a highly technical work that emphasizes NDT2’s extraordinary talent level.
Sol León (Córdoba, Spain) and Paul Lightfoot (Kingsley, England) started creating together 25 years ago. Since then the duo have created more than fifty pieces for Nederlands Dans Theater. In 2002 they were appointed house choreographers for the company exclusively. Together they have won prestigious awards, such as the Benois de la Danse and the Herald Archangel.
Sol León joined NDT2 after graduating from the National Ballet Academy of Madrid in 1987. Two years later she joined NDT1 and danced masterpieces of Jiří Kylián, Hans van Manen, Mats Ek and Ohad Naharin. She continued to dance up until 2003, when she decided to fully devote herself to choreography. León became artistic advisor for NDT in 2012.
Paul Lightfoot studies at the Royal Ballet School in London. He joined NDT2 and moved to NDT1 two years later, where he danced until 2008. During his dancing career, Lightfoot started choreographing and together with Sol León he created many pieces for NDT. Lightfoot became artistic director of NDT in 2011.

Choreography: Sol León & Paul LightfootLighting Designer: Tom BevoortCostume Designer: Sol León & Paul LightfootMusic: Max Richter: Thermodynamics; I was just thinking; Broken Symmetries for Y; When the northern lights / Jasper and Louise; A sudden Manhattan of the mind; This Picture of us. P.; Found song for P.; H thinks a journey; Lullaby from the Westcoast sleepers; So long Orpheus; Mercy (violin by Hilary Hahn & piano by Cory Smythe)Running time: 24 minutesSet Design: Sol León & Paul LightfootWorld Première: 4 November 2014, Theater aan het Spui, The Hague Further Info: Some Other Time premiered at the anniversary performance 25 Years León & Lightfoot. A white floor and black decor pieces that seemingly float across the stage, highlight the refreshing and oppressive feeling that the dancers portray in this ballet. All dressed in black and with a wide variety of pas de deux and solos, Some Other Time is an extraordinary exercise for the NDT2 dancers in the emotional dance language that is so characteristic for choreographers Sol León and Paul Lightfoot.

Choreography: Edward ClugLighting Designer: Tom VisserCostume Designer: Edward ClugMusic: New composition PErpeTuumOVIA by Milko LazarRunning time: 11 minutesSet Design: Edward ClugWorld Première: 19 March 2015, Lucent Danstheater, The HagueFurther Info: Edward Clug’s choreography is detailed and sharply defined. Often at times, its most distinguishing feature tends to be twitchiness where the bodies flick and jerk so extremely and frequently that it can be interpreted as punctuation; a certain acknowledgment of the beat. As a choreographer, Clug is interested in highlighting the dancer’s individual experience by keeping it fresh in its approach. By doing so, his work leans towards emphasizing a personal experience that arises from the process of creation that is led by illuminating human contradictions, imparting surprising moments of beauty and spontaneous irony.
Choreographer Edward Clug (1973, Romania) debuted with Nederlands Dans Theater with this short creation for NDT2. Clug is artistic director of the Slovenian Maribor Ballet and as a choreographer he received international acclaim with his piece Radio and Juliet (2005), to the music of Radiohead. Clug will again create new work for NDT2 in the programme Straight Around that will premiere on February 18, 2016 in The Hague.

Choreography: Hans van ManenLighting Designer: oop CaboortCostume Designer: Keso DekkerMusic: Johann Sebastian Bach: Violin suite no. 1 in D minor Correnta and Double, BWV 1002 (1720) Recorded performance (violinist: Sigiswald Kuijken)Running time: 7 minutesSet Design: Keso DekkerWorld Première: 16 January 1997, Lucent Danstheater, Den HaagFurther Info: Hans van Manen created Solo for NDT 2 in 1997. With this seven minute, high pace ballet set to Johann Sebastian Bach’s violin partita, Van Manen made a piece for three dancers who portray a single man reexamining his place in the world. Since the rate of movement is exceptionally high requiring extraordinary timing, the ballet can only be performed by the dancers taking turns.
Award-winning choreographer Hans van Manen (Amsterdam, The Netherlands) started his career in 1951 with Sonia Gaskell’s Ballet Recital. From 1960 to 1971 Van Manen was associated with NDT as a dancer (until 1963), choreographer and (from 1961) as artistic leader. From 1988 to 2003 Van Manen returned to NDT as a resident choreographer. His oeuvre comprises more than 120 ballets (62 of which for NDT), each bearing his unmistakable signature.

Choreography: Alexander EkmanLighting Designer: Tom VisserCostume Designer: Alexander EkmanMusic: Joseph Haydn: sonate no V “Sitio” from Die sieben letzten Worte unseres Erlösers am Kreuze, Hoboken XX, 1B; Ludwig van Beethoven: string quartet no. 9 in C, Opus 59, section from: Andante con moto quasi allegretto; Franz Schubert: Presto from stringquartet Der Tod und das Mädchen, arranged for orchestra by Andy Stein and for stringquartet by Gustav Mahler; Allegro by Joseph Haydn from string quartets Opus 9, no 6 in A major. String quartet recorded by Harmen Straatman: Tinta Smidt von Altenstadt (first violin), Saskia Viersen (second violin), David Marks (alto violin), Artur Trajko (cello)Running time: 27 minutesSet Design: Alexander EkmanLyrics: Spenser ThebergeWorld Première: 25 February 2010, Lucent Danstheater The HagueFurther Info: Alexander Ekman calls himself a ‘rhythm freak’, as one of his trademarks is designing contemporary soundscapes. This choreography, for which he merely used classical music, resulted in a new arrangement of Schubert’s Der Tod und das Mädchen, created together with Holland Symphonia. In addition, the dancers become the instruments for the orchestra. Ekman used all dancers to challenge the audience to reflect on the way in which art is perceived.
After a dance career with Royal Swedish Ballet, Cullberg Ballet and NDT 2, Alexander Ekman (1984, Sweden) decided to solely focus on choreography. For NDT2 Ekman created the international hit Cacti (2010), nominated for the VSCD Zwaan Award (2010) Left Right Left Right (2012) and Maybe Two (2013) among other pieces. In season 13/14 Ekman created Definitely Two for NDT1.