The English National Ballet and Tate Britain premiere Three New Ballets
A new collaboration between The English National Ballet and Tate Britain will see the magic and legacy of the Ballets Russes partner in a project inspired by the exhibition Picasso and Modern British Art. Three new ballets will premiere at ‘Late at Tate’ on 2 March and more than 150 works from major public and private collections will be exhibited, including 60 paintings by Picasso.
The London stage will also enjoy a group of performances with a season of historic works inspired by the famous Company. These performances are a fantastic opportunity to rediscover some of the fabulous works raved about across Europe in the early 20th Century; to show established work which emerged from the Ballets Russes; and to create new work in the spirit of the Ballets Russes.English National Ballet celebrates the spirit of collaboration and creativity in this season with designs by David Bamber; commissions from George Williamson (a graduate of English National Ballet School) and Toer van Schayk; and glittering heritage ballets which were directly inspired by Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes.Highlights of the season include Kenneth MacMillan’s visceral reworking of The Rite of Spring, which provoked riots at its first performances by the Ballets Russes; two World Premieres; and Suite en Blanc, choreographed by Serge Lifar, and Apollo in which Lifar starred as a dancer, in the same programme.Taking inspiration from little-known Ballets Russes ballet Toer van Schayk’s new work conjures up the magic of the Aurora Borealis as intended by Nabokov’s score. Williamson’s new Firebird promises to be a visually stunning reworking of the Stravinsky classic with opulent costumes by David Bamber.Programme 1 – L’apres-midi d’un faune, Faun(e), Firebird (new version by George Williamson), The Rite of Spring Programme 2 – Apollo, Ode by Toer van Schayk, Suite en Blanc
The residency at Tate Britain will take place next February. It is inspired by the collaborations between Picasso and his affiliation with the Ballet company. The master of Cubism designed both costume and set designs and worked closely with the Ballets Russes in from 1916-1919, marrying the dancer Olga Khokhlova, during this period.
The English National Ballet will take up residency from 27 February – 4 March The exhibition Picasso and Modern British Art will run at Tate Britain from 15 February – 15 July