Rites

Exactly 100 years ago, Maurice Ravel's La Valse had its scenic world premiere at the then Ballet of the Royal Flemish Opera in Antwerp. This milestone could not go unrecognised. That is why we asked the Algerian-French choreographer Nacera Belaza to create a solo based on it. Belaza's work is known for its ritual character, with an intense interplay between light and darkness. La Valse is flanked in Rites by two musical and choreographic icons. Choreographer Shahar Binyamini opens the triptych with his Bolero X. Binyamini doubles the size of the OBV company with extra dancers. In this way he brings his overwhelming and at the same time poetic interpretation of Ravel's enchanting score to life. We conclude with Stravinsky's Le Sacre du printemps, one of the most iconic rituals ever performed on stage. Pina Bausch created a milestone in dance history with her legendary version of the famous Spring Sacrifice. Barbara Kaufmann, former dancer of the Tanztheater Wuppertal, leads the rehearsals with the dancers of OBV.