When people say they don’t ‘get’ contemporary dance perhaps they should try NDT"

- The Independent (UK)

Nederlands Dans Theater I returns to the Esplanade with two exceptional works, performed by its world-renowned ensemble of dancers with immaculate precision and powerful elegance.

Mémoires d’Oubliettes is Jiří Kylián’s final dance creation for NDT as resident choreographer. Premiered during the company’s 50th anniversary celebration in 2009, it brought his remarkable oeuvre to 101 choreographies. This intriguing and visually sumptuous work carries Kylián’s signature style, with hints that remind you of his ballets from the past. Here he explores the connection between memory and the state of being. What do we want to remember or forget about our lives? How do we want to be remembered? The demanding and intricate choreography unfolds against a dramatic soundtrack layered with nostalgic sounds and mysterious whispers. One critic described it as “brilliant…a contemplation of coming and going, of body and mind – an overwhelming artistic statement.” Mémoires d’Oubliettes radiates with both an emotional intensity and a beautiful simplicity.

Sehnsucht by NDT’s resident choreographers, Paul Lightfoot and Sol León, begins with a charming, magical duet, which unleashes a spectacular ensemble performance. As the dancers move in a surreal room-within-a-cube that turns in all directions, the tensions and struggles of relationships are played out. While “sehnsucht” means “longing” in German, the ideas explored in the dance go beyond this. The “incredibly intense and engaging” piece, set to music by Beethoven, evokes a deep emotional state that is at once bittersweet, seductive and irresistible. First staged in 2009, it has since been extended with new choreography by Lightfoot and León.

Making only one stop in Asia, exclusively at the Esplanade Singapore, this double bill is not to be missed!

Advisory: This production contains some scenes of upper body female nudity. May not be suitable for patrons aged 12 and below.