After fifteen years of absence the 'Nutcracker' returns on the repertoire of Scapino Ballet Rotterdam in a contemporary re-working by resident Scapino choreographer Marco Goecke.
Première: thursday 11 december 2008, Rotterdamse Schouwburg
From: friday 5 - sunday 14 december 2008
from 12 years and older
For 12 years and over.
Set to Tchaikovsky’s score, Goecke harnesses his associative narrative style and absurdist movements to tell the original story of Clara who, one Christmas, receives a doll – the Nutcracker – from her mysterious godfather Drosselmeyer and, at night, enters a world of living toys. The Nutcracker battles with the evil Mouse King and is finally transformed by Clara into a handsome prince who whisks her away on a magical adventure.
The new Nutcracker by Scapino Ballet Rotterdam is a wonderful and contemporary re-working of the old ballet classic by Tchaikovsky and Petipa. Resident Scapino choreographer Marco Goecke cleverly manoeuvres his quirky ‘signature’ style to closely follow the original tale by German romantic E.T.A. Hoffman, who discloses the mysterious depths of the adolescence of the girl Clara. One of today’s greatest dance innovators, Goecke displays his dance wizardry in the evocation of a shadowy fairytale realm where childish innocence and fantasy spill over into the fears surfacing from the depths of the subconscious.
Goecke’s ‘ballet noir’ is like a dark mystery that gradually eases into the audience’s minds.
His use of the stage and decor is impressive; it is an unfathomable world from which he conjures up constant surprises.
In a Goecke choreography, it is always impossible to tell dream from reality.
Located Behaviour, Shaped in attitude
Choregrapher: Georg Reischl
music: Michiel Jansen
Georg Reischl is a permanent guest choreographer with Scapino. He made an impression in 1998 with his first choreography for the company, Located behaviour, shaped in attitude', that is included in the programme as a reprise.
The work focuses on human behaviour in everyday situations as Reischl translates body language and facial expressions into movements. The serene and fascinating set certainly contributes to the hypnotic character of this work, in which he demonstrated that he possesses a unique choreographic talent.
His later choreographies for Scapino are 'Somewhere around, AROUND somewhere', 'State Disrupted', and 'Temporary Spaces'.
© Hans Gerritsen
Lucas Jervies - 'Drosselmeier'
in The Nutcracker by Marco Goecke