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La Sylphide / The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude

New National Theatre, Tokyo: Opera House1-1-1 Honmachi Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, 151-0071, Japan
Dates/times in Tokyo time zone
Friday 19 February 202719:00
Saturday 20 February 202713:00
Saturday 20 February 202718:00
Sunday 21 February 202714:00
Tuesday 23 February 202713:00
Tuesday 23 February 202718:00
Programme
La SylphideMusic: Løvenskiold, Herman Severin (1815-1870)
Choreography: Stephen Galloway (The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude), August Bournonville (Original)
The Vertiginous Thrill of ExactitudeMusic: Schubert, Franz (1797-1828)
Choreography: William Forsythe (Original)
Performers
National Ballet of Japan
Matthew RoweConductor
Peter CazaletCostume Designer, Set DesignerLa Sylphide
Yuji TatsutaLighting DesignerLa Sylphide
Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra
William ForsytheSet DesignerThe Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude
Stephen GallowayCostume DesignerThe Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude
Tanja RühlLighting DesignerThe Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude

Enjoy two gifts together with romantic ballet masterpiece La Sylphide, portraying the ephemeral love of a fairy, and William Forsythe's The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude, which charms with refined classical ballet techniques and a modern perspective. Come enjoy ballet's timeless beauty and innovation in this double bill delightfully exploring the history and various charms of ballet.

La Sylphide is known as the first romantic work in the history of ballet. It premiered at the Paris Opera in 1832. Marie Taglioni danced the lead role and entranced the audience with her en pointe dancing, lightly floating through space in translucent white garb, less a creature of this world than a thing of dreams. Come see the fantastical dance-filled ballet blanc world of the sylphs along with the beautiful Scottish landscape faithfully recreated on stage through meticulous research.

The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude is a plotless ballet in a nod to classical ballet choreographed by William Forsythe who has choreographed state-of-the-art productions. The work uses the form and techniques of classical ballet, but thrown off-balance with frequent shifts in the dancers' centres of gravity, requiring both extreme flexibility and rigidity from the dancers. Audiences will thrill to the sharp technique and exacting movements of the performance.

Booking Opens: Sat, 21 Nov 2026, 10:00am