New Year Ballet

The National Ballet of Japan New Year Programme, now a regular feature, includes "A Million Kisses to My Skin", postponed from 2021 to 2023, and George BALANCHINE's spectacular "Symphony in C". This punchy combination of distinctive performance pieces is the perfect way to usher in the new year. We hope you enjoy this diverse selection of ballet.

"A Million Kisses to my Skin"
This production by British choreographer David DAWSON was first performed by the Dutch National Ballet in 2000. In his programme notes, DAWSON wrote that he was bidding farewell to his career as a classical ballet dancer and setting his sights on a new style of expression. Set to BACH's piano concerto, this neo-classical style ballet, reminiscent of BALANCHINE, is poised to captivate audiences.

"Symphony in C"
George BALANCHINE choreographed this single-act, abstract ballet to "Symphony No. 1 in C Major" by French composer Georges BIZET in 1947, while serving as a guest ballet master at the Opéra National de Paris. It was first performed by the Ballet de l'Opéra National de Paris with the title "Le Palais de Cristal". The following year, it was performed by the New York City Ballet under the title "Symphony in C", with the female dancers all in classical white tutus. The ballet is made up of four movements in keeping with the ever-changing music. Each movement features a principal couple, two demi-soloist couples and the corps de ballet. The light and rhythmical first movement is followed by the more lyrical second movement, then the energetic third movement and finally the technically demanding fourth movement, which finishes with the full ensemble of dancers coming together in a spectacular finale. This is a masterpiece of BALANCHINE's signature quick and beautiful movements, concluding in a unique and exhilarating finish.