KYLIAN
An ode
KYLIAN
In this special focus programme, Introdans pays tribute in style to the artistry of master choreographer Jiří Kylián. Through a journey along the iconic works Kinderspelen, Petite Mort, and Chapeau, the company reveals the power, beauty, and emotion of his influential dance language. The programme also includes a film by Kylián, highlighting his vision of time, movement, and art from different perspectives. KYLIAN is a rich and impressive evening of dance that demonstrates the lasting significance of his work in the international dance world.
With 15 works from Kylián’s extensive oeuvre in the Introdans repertoire, we place this remarkable creator firmly in the spotlight. Kylián’s 80th birthday in 2027 provides a wonderful occasion to do so. His vision is expressed not only through movement; the staging – from lighting to costumes – is also an integral part of the choreography. His influential dance theatre has set the tone worldwide.
Artistic Director Roel Voorintholt: “Every spring we highlight a world-class choreographer with a focus program. I strongly value presenting existing, groundbreaking works by choreographers. The success of a choreography is timeless. For 50 years, Kylián has brought color to the dance world. His work is pure enjoyment. Since 1978, when I was a dance student, I have followed Kylián’s work with admiration – and that remains unchanged today.”
KYLIAN premieres on 13 March 2027 at Theater De Spiegel, Zwolle.
Tour: 13 March to 27 May 2027
Locations: Zwolle, Groningen, Haarlem, Maastricht, Hengelo, Wageningen, Winterswijk, Leeuwarden, Arnhem, Tilburg, Amersfoort, Utrecht, Kerkrade, ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Doetinchem, Apeldoorn, Eindhoven, Zutphen, Hoogeveen, Oss, Amsterdam, Cuijk, Rotterdam.
Agenda
KYLIAN
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Petite Mort
Kylián’s rich dance language is nourished by an exchange with music. This is evident in the choreography Petite Mort, set to Mozart’s Piano Concertos Nos. 21 and 23. Jiří Kylián selected the slow movements, creating a contrast with the dynamic interplay of the 12 dancers – six men and six women. Petite Mort is an epic choreography about life, love, and death. On the edge of ecstasy, the breath briefly stops. The French call this la petite mort – a “little death.” It is the fragile boundary between strength and vulnerability, potential and power.
Kinderspelen
Kinderspelen is a choreography from Kylián’s early years. He was inspired by the 16th-century painting Children’s Games by Pieter Bruegel de Oude. Everywhere in the painting, children are playing, from leapfrog to hoop rolling, everything happening at once. But who is playing the game? Do we see the child within ourselves? On the dance floor, playtime has begun. Beneath the ‘maypole’, the seriousness of play takes shape in dynamic group pieces and playful duets. Kylián: “The Dutch tradition of painting has greatly contributed to my passion for my new homeland. The painting Children’s Games by Pieter Bruegel de Oude inspired me to create the ballet Kinderspelen, which I am still proud of today. Dance differs from all other art forms because it presents our own body as a work of art.”
Chapeau
Jiří Kylián’s Chapeau is a vibrant and festive work set to songs by Prince and Hawaiian music. It was created in 2005 for the 25th jubilee of the reign of Beatrix of the Netherlands. With this ballet, the master choreographer ‘tips his hat’ to everything the former queen has meant for the Netherlands and for Dutch dance. He also drew inspiration from her famous and extensive hat collection – about twenty replicas appear in the choreography. Chapeau is cheerful, witty, and exuberant, yet with its focus on even the most minute detail, it presents a major challenge for even the finest dancers.
Film Scalamare
Time and timing, Kylián says, that is what art and life are about. The movement of a dancer exists only in the moment: here and now. Film offers Kylián another perspective on the passage of time. This cinematic viewpoint therefore forms an essential part of the focus programme. The KYLIAN evening includes a screening of his short film Scalamare. Kylián: “A couple who have spent forty years together celebrate the anniversary of their honeymoon, which began on the steps of the Monumento ai Caduti that descend into the Adriatic Sea near Ancona. So here they are again, forty years later, on the same spot, looking back on their lives, trying to come to terms with them, while also looking ahead to a very short and uncertain future. With tears and laughter, with humor and sarcasm, they try to reenact some of the moments they shared in the past.”