Masterpiece In Motion – An Evening Of Contemporary Ballet By The Singapore Dance Theatre

PUBLISHED September 8th, 2014 04:00 pm | UPDATED January 20th, 2016 02:25 pm

Singapore Dance Theatre’s (SDT) international repertory season, Masterpiece in Motion will be held from 12 – 13 September 2014 at the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) University Cultural Centre Hall (UCC).

In its fifth season, Masterpiece in Motion will feature a company premiere of American choreographer Val Caniparoli’s Swipe. SDT will also present two other works from its repertoire, including the dramatic Fearful Symmetries by acclaimed Dutch choreographer, Nils Christe, and 4Seasons, a reflective piece by Natalie Weir.

‘SDT’s Masterpiece in Motion is being presented at NUS-UCC this year and it is a venue that is ideally suited to our ‘triple-bill’ season. The theatre and stage provides the right environment for the more neoclassical and contemporary repertoire we feature in this programme,’ says Artistic Director, Janek Schergen. ‘Nils Christe’s Fearful Symmetries and Natalie Weir’s 4Seasons are ballets we have presented before and I find them to be perfect reflections of what is at the core of SDT. These are extremely talented choreographers, who have worked with our dancers several times in the past, who can bring out what is most unique about SDT. Val Caniparoli’s Swipe is new to our repertoire and, once again, represents the ideal combination of choreography, music, and our dancers, to create a lasting work in our repertoire. All three choreographers are familiar enough with SDT to bring you ballets at the highest possible level of performance. Masterpiece in Motion, as an annual season, offers what was the initial concept of SDT when it was first formed and is, therefore, the heart of our company.’

Fearful Symmetries was originally choreographed by Nils Christe for Ballet Mainz in Germany, and performed at SDT’s Masterpiece in Motion 2011. Choreographed to the music by Nils Christe’s favourite composer, John Adams, Fearful Symmetries carries a musical element of ‘travelling’ and a high-energy drive. The audience can expect surprising elements in this piece that incorporates current and contemporary styles, encompassing pointe work, classical virtuosity, and contemporary elements. In this ballet, Nils Christe plays with primary colours – a reflection of the famous Dutch painter, Piet Mondriaan’s traditional way of painting with black, white and primary colours.

4Seasons was choreographed by Expressions Dance Company’s Artistic Director, Natalie Weir, in collaboration between Singapore Dance Theatre and Australia’s Expressions Dance Company in 2013. The four duets in the ballet form a cohesive and united movement of beauty and intimate conversation that responds to Antonio Vivaldi’s dynamic tunes. Each pair represents one of the four seasons… but perhaps, more symbolically the four seasons of a long term relationship – the newness and youth of Spring; the stormy shades of Summer; the brittleness and longing of Autumn, and the chill and loss of Winter. The ensemble brings shades and reflections of these varying stages in a relationship.

Originally created and premiered in 2011 for Richmond Ballet, Swipe is performed to the music of London based composer, Gabriel Prokofiev, who is the grandson of Sergei Prokofiev. Prokofiev’s background in dance music, combined with his classical roots, gives his contemporary classical writing its unique edge. In Swipe, movements from his String Quartet No. 2, played by the Elysian String Quartet, is coupled with Remixes of the original quartet.

Masterpiece In Motion will be held on 12 and 13 September 2014 at 8pm at the University Cultural Centre, National University of Singapore. Tickets are priced between $30-$70. For more information and tickets, please visit see SISTIC.

All Images by Nicole Then Studio