Press Release: Highly-acclaimed Ballet Preljocaj returns to Sadler's Wells, 30 Sept - 2 Oc

[Jan McNulty]

UK PREMIERE

Ballet Preljocaj
La Fresque
Sadler’s Wells, EC1R 4TN 
Monday 30 September - Wednesday 2 October
Performances: 7:30pm
Tickets: £15 - £50
Ticket Office: 020 7863 8000 or www.sadlerswells.com

 

 

Award-winning French choreographer Angelin Preljocaj’s Ballet Preljocaj returns to Sadler’s Wells following a seven-year absence with its interpretation of the traditional Chinese tale, La Fresque or ‘The Painting on the Wall.’ The piece marks the start of Sadler’s Wells’ French season, in partnership with the Institut français’ FranceDance UK, and receives its UK premiere from 30 September - 2 October.

From August - November, dance from France and francophone countries features across the UK, with 50 performances across 9 major cities. Sadler’s Wells is one of the 16 partners of FranceDance UK and presents four works as part of its Autumn season: Preljocaj’s La Fresque, CROWD by Gisèle Vienne (8 & 9 October), Danse Élargie: Dance Expanded (11 & 12 October) and Emanuel Gat’s WORKS (11 & 12 November).

 

Continuing his exploration of fairy tales, Preljocaj drew inspiration from Pu Songling’s The Mural, first published in 1740 as part of the Strange Stories collection. La Fresque examines the eponymous medieval Chinese story which explores a place of transcendency as one of the characters falls in love with a woman illustrated on the painting. The work explores the mysterious relationship between representation and reality.

Preljocaj’s evocative reincarnations of fairy tales began with L’Anoure in 1995, Snow White in 2008 and Siggharta in 2010. La Fresque premiered at Théâtre de Provence (France) in 2016 and features costumes by late Tunisian-born couturier and shoe designer Azzedine Alaïa, Alaïa’s designs have been worn by a range high-profile supermodels and celebrities including Former First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama, Grace Jones, Naomi Campbell, Lady Gaga and Stephanie Seymour.

Set design comes from regular collaborator and French designer Constance Guisset who has also designed sets for dance duo Wang Ramirez and exhibitions at Musée des Arts Décoratifs. Music comes from one half of the indie-electro band Air: Nicholas Godin. Since his time in Air, Godin released his first solo album Contrepoint, inspired and built around a piece of music by Johann Sebastian Bach.

Preljocaj founded Ballet Preljocaj in 1984 and has been invited to create works for numerous other companies including Paris Opera Ballet, Berlin Ballet and New York City Ballet. He is an “Officier des Arts et des Lettres”, a “Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur” and he was appointed an “Officier de l’ordre du Mérite” in May 2006. In 2014, he received the Samuel H. Scripps/ American Dance Festival Award for Lifetime Achievement.

 

Ballet Preljocaj was last at Sadler’s Wells with Snow White in 2012.

 

Notes to Editors

 

ABOUT SADLER’S WELLS

Sadler's Wells is a world-leading creative organisation dedicated to dance in all its forms. With over three centuries of theatrical heritage and a year-round programme of performances and learning activities, it is the place where artists come together to create dance, and where people of all backgrounds come to experience it – to take part, learn, experiment and be inspired.

 

Audiences of over half a million come to its London theatres each year, with many more enjoying its touring productions at venues across the UK and around the world, and accessing its content through digital channels.

 

Sadler's Wells commissions, produces and presents more new dance work than any other theatre in the world, embracing the popular and the unknown. Since 2005, it has helped to bring over 160 new dance works to the stage, many of them involving its 16 Associate Artists, three Resident Companies and four Associate Companies – the most exciting talents working in dance today.

 

It also nurtures the next generation of talent through research and development, running the National Youth Dance Company and a range of programmes including Wild Card, New Wave Associates, Open Art Surgery and Summer University. Sadler's Wells' learning and engagement activities reach over 25,000 annually through programmes that take dance out into the community and invite communities into the theatre. Projects include community productions and the renowned Company of Elders, its resident over-60s performance group, while events range from pre and post-show talks with dance artists to classes, workshops and assisted performances.

 

Located in Islington, north London, the current building is the sixth to have stood on site since entrepreneur Richard Sadler first established the theatre in 1683. The venue has played an illustrious role in the history of theatre ever since, with The Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet and English National Opera having all started at Sadler's Wells.

www.sadlerswells.com

 

About FranceDance UK

Launched by the Institut Français, FranceDance UK is a unique contemporary dance festival running from August - November 2019. 16 leading institutions throughout the UK hosts over 50 performances by 14 young and promising French artists. With a focus on creation and innovation, the festival highlights the diversity and work of female choreographers, many of whom are presenting in the UK for the first time.

 

Partners of FranceDance UK: 

Ace Dance and Music Birmingham, Belfast International Arts Festival, Birmingham Hippodrome, Brighton Dome, Dance4 Nottingham, Dance International Glasgow, Dance Umbrella, Edinburgh International Festival, In Between Time Festival Bristol, Linbury Theatre, Scottish Dance Theatre, Siobhan Davies Dance, Southbank Centre, The Coronet Theatre, The Lowry

www.institut-francais.org.uk/francedanceuk