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International Choreographers at Masterpiece In Motion 2015

PUBLISHED August 17th, 2015 04:00 pm | UPDATED July 25th, 2024 03:08 pm

Masterpiece in Motion, Singapore Dance Theatre’s (SDT) international repertory season returns this August with traditional heritage ballet (Bournonville Divertissements by August Bournonville and staged by Dinna Bjorn) and new works like Midnight Waltzes by François Klaus Company. SDT will also be performing a piece by Edwaard Liang, Opus 25, which was created for the company’s 25th anniversary in 2013.

Masterpiece in Motion (MIM) brings in ‘the most interesting ballets that are choreographed by well-regarded choreographers…in the past six years, we have brought to stage works by Edwaard Liang, David Dawson, Nils Christe, Natalie Weir, Adrian Bunnett, François Klaus, Val Caniparoli, George Balanchine, and August Bournonville. Overall, Masterpiece in Motion is quite a world view in terms of distinction in the choreographic voices,’ says Artistic Director Janek Schergen, who has been with the company since its inception in 1988.

Masterpiece in Motion
Opus 25 by Edward Liang

He adds that the ‘most important element for building and strengthening our repertoire is getting the right balance so that both classical and contemporary repertoires can exist in harmony. At MIM, our audiences will be able to witness the growth and development of SDT. Through the repertory presented, one will be able to experience how the beauty and aristocratic nature of sophisticated choreography can bring out so much from our uniquely talented dancers.’

Bournonville Divertissements

The greatest choreographer of his generation, August Bournonville (1805-1879) was Chief Choreographer and Director of the Royal Danish Ballet. Bournonville ballets are represented in every major ballet company in the world and considered to be amongst the purest form of ballet that has ever been established. This set of divertissements has been drawn from four ballets including A Folk Tale, La Ventana, Flower Festival in Genzano and Napoli. Each selection, taken from a full-length ballet, was chosen and combined to compliment the surrounding elements of choreography. They have been connected seamlessly together to form this set of charming and delightful divertissements.

Masterpiece in Motion
Rehearsal Photo of Midnight Waltzes

The World Premiere of Midnight Waltzes

Set a little more than a century ago in Russia, it’s time for a long-anticipated ball. The dance master calls on one of his pupils, Henrietta, to give some last-minute instruction, but Henrietta is only determined to win the heart of handsome André. Romantic Tamara finds herself partnered with awkward Sergei while beautiful Anna is pursued but uninterested by three eager suitors. There are upsets and surprises but under the ever-watchful eye of the dance master, the bewitching hour of midnight will weave its magic and unravel it all.

Opus 25

A specially commissioned work for SDT’s 25th Anniversary in 2013 choreographed to showcase the talents of SDT, it’s danced to a dynamic composition by American composer Michael Torke. The ballet is a grand spectacle, featuring 32 dancers, and brings out the unique attributes and personalities of the dancers in SDT. It was restaged at Ballet Under the Stars 2014, and gained much appreciation from the audiences.

Masterpiece in Motion is running at the Esplanade Theatre from 21 to 22 August 2015. 

For more information and tickets, please click here.


Nithia is a freelance marketing communications professional, copywriter and editor. She is passionate about supporting the arts in Singapore and getting more people fired up about local productions and the arts scene. passions are cookery, cinema and travel.