‘Solace: Dance to feed your soul’ combines three works by innovative and celebrated dance talent Wayne McGregor (Britain), Sarah Foster-Sproull (Aotearoa New Zealand) and Alice Topp (Australia).
The works aim to invite audiences to connect with ballet in new ways, says RNZB Artistic Director Ty King-Wall.
“Our dancers and audiences alike will experience the incredible capacity of dance as a language for diversity of expression, and the unbelievable physical capacity of the human body for movement,” King-Wall says.
Infra
Wayne McGregor’s ‘Infra’, from the Latin word for ‘below’, delivers an illuminating portrait of city life. This abstract ballet delves beneath the surface to present a moving mediation on human interactions.
‘Infra’ premiered at the Royal Opera House in London in 2008. With an LED screen running the width of the stage revealing a mesmerising flow of British artist Julian Opie’s walking figures, ‘Infra’ features twelve dancers moving through solos, duets, and ensembles. Accompanying the work is Max Richter’s elegiac score, which mixes melancholy string melodies with electronic sounds.
To Hold
To Hold is choreographed by Sarah Foster-Sproull. Photo / Ross Brown
Sarah Foster-Sproull’s ‘To Hold’ is her fifth original work for the RNZB. It explores the intricate wonders of the human form: shape shifting, endlessly inventive. Eden Mulholland’s score adds a powerful sense of primal transformation, pushing and pulling the dancers through the space. The work is enhanced by costumes designed by Donna Jefferis, whose pieces draw inspiration from the high-fashion tailoring and pleated designs of Issey Miyake, elegantly framing the body while supporting the complex choreographic structures.
High Tide
Completing the programme is ‘High Tide’, a poignant new creation by a favourite in New Zealand, RNZB alumna and former Resident Choreographer at The Australian Ballet, Alice Topp. Inspired by the music of Ólafur Arnalds, this ballet reflects on the cycles of life, touching upon themes of growth, fear, and reconciliation. ‘High Tide’ examines the shadows and lights of existence, represented through the unique stage design by Jon Buswell, which transforms the space into a living sculpture, emphasising the fluid and ever-changing nature of life itself.
‘Solace: Dance to feed your soul will tour Wellington, Auckland, and Christchurch from 1 to 17 August, with tickets available now.
