SYDNEY FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHT: MORPHOSES/THE WHEELDON COMPANY

SYDNEY FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHT: MORPHOSES/THE WHEELDON COMPANY

BY AMELIA GROOM

If you’re wondering how ballet is keeping up with the 21st Century, look to Christopher Wheeldon. One of the most celebrated figures in contemporary ballet, he caused sensation last year when he announced the foundation of a new company. With the goal of introducing a spirit of innovation to classical ballet, Morphoses/The Wheeldon Company fosters collaboration among choreographers, dancers, visual artists, designers and composers and has dual bases in London’s Sadler’s Wells and the New York City Center.

The Sydney Festival is bringing the ensemble out for their premiere visit to Australia, and will be presenting four acclaimed works at the Theatre Royal, beginning with Wheeldon’s 2001 masterpiece Polyphonia, set to piano music by Györgi Ligeti and finishing with his new work, the profoundly beautiful Fools’ Paradise, accompanied by live chamber orchestra. These works will be joined by USA choreographer William Forsythe’s Slingerland Pas de Deux, tautly engineered to Gavin Bryers music, as well as a fourth piece still to be announced.

Wheeldon invites different dancers to join his ensemble for each performance and the program for January will feature some of the world’s foremost ballet dancers including a number of Principals from The Australian Ballet. A sure hit of the Sydney Festival, tickets to Morphoses are on sale now.

Morphoses/The Wheeldon Company
Theatre Royal MLC Centre, 108 King Street, Sydney
January 22 ‘ February 1
Tickets: $90 – $110, 1300 888 412 or www.sydneyfestival.org.au

 

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