The English National Ballet 2021-2022 Season features programs that were cancelled due to the pandemic, which include two world premieres, as well as the return of Maria Kochetkova as Lead Principal.
English National Ballet 2021-2022 Season
CREATURE
Akram Khan’s story of an outsider’s inner search for mental and physical strength inspired by Georg Büchner’s Woyzeck and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein will have its world premiere in London followed by an international debut in Chicago, Illinois.
“The COVID-19 pandemic hit the UK just weeks before Creature was due to premiere in London last April and the final stages of our creation and rehearsal process were brought to an abrupt halt as the country went into lockdown. On returning to the studio, I’ve brought the experiences of the last year with me, drawing on themes of isolation, mental health, and patriarchal systems… and within that, I am exploring our very destructive nature of wanting to control everything… man-made systems, nature, animals, fellow humans, our future, and even our past…we want to control it all. And what I am realising is that you can’t control a living thing, without destroying what’s alive about them.”
THE NUTCRACKER
The English National Ballet Philharmonic accompanies the dancers in Wayne Eagling’s version of this Christmas story. Since its founding in 1950, English National Ballet has performed this holiday classic set to Tchaikovsky’s most memorable score.
RAYMONDA
The anticipated world premiere of a classical ballet that is not often performed in its entirety will be presented in the UK with a new twist. The female protagonist is recast as young woman with a calling to become a nurse during the Crimean War. This adaptation of Marius Petipa’s choreography marks Artistic Director Tamara Rojo’s debut in choreography and direction.
It continues to be a part of my vision for English National Ballet to look at classics with fresh eyes, to make them relevant, find new contexts, amplify new voices and ultimately evolve the art form. I have truly enjoyed delving into the creative process of adapting and choreographing a large-scale ballet.
This story is about many themes: duty, war, patriotism, culture, but at its centre are the nurse characters – inspired by Florence Nightingale’s vision, drive and passion. Reflecting on the last year, we have seen how nurses, and many others in the medical sector, sacrifice so much to take care of other people and I hope this, in some small way, pays homage to them.”
THE FORSYTHE EVENING
English National Ballet honors their long-standing relationship with American choreographer William Forsythe. The triple bill includes the UK premiere of Blake Works I, featuring the music of James Blake’s album, The Colour in Anything, Approximate Sonata 2016 (first performed by English National Ballet in 2018), and an extended version of Playlist (Track 1, 2), Playlist (EP), a ballet that the company premiered in 2018.
The English National Ballet 2021-2022 Season also includes the streaming of last year’s winners of the annual Emerging Dancer competition.
Featured Photo for the English National Ballet 2021-2022 Season of Joseph Caley and Erina Takahashi © Photography by ASH
