Nederlands Dans Theater

The Point Being

"What happens when multiple, seemingly unrelated events collide? How do they overlap as one breathable entity that consistently morphs into new ways of being? In The Point Being, choreographers Imre van Opstal & Marne van Opstal explore the idea of synchronicity: the seemingly fleeting moment in which everything seems to make sense. With a multidisciplinary approach, in which choreography, scenography and music generate both friction and harmony. The work is created in collaboration with Dutch designer Lonneke Gordijn and DRIFT, accompanied with a music score by Amos Ben-Tal (@Offprojects) and light design by Tom Visser. With the close cooperation of NDT 1 dancers as the cornerstone, Imre and Marne hope to give inspiration to abstract space and the visualization of synchronicity. How do we make the invisible, visible? We invite you into this visual connection where we try to stop time for a moment in a world that continuously seems to escape the moment." — Imre van Opstal & Marne van Opstal.

Jakie

"Individual dancers break away from the group dancing closely around each other, only to fall back into the bosom of the ensemble after an ecstatic solo. With Eyal's skin-tight costumes and the loud eroticising beats of Lichtik's hypnotising music, Jakie goes beyond the scope of a conventional dance evening. It was nonetheless aesthetic eroticism with references to Greek vase paintings, seething energy, stirring spring rituals and a rousing ensemble unit in breathless flight." — Bachtrack.

One Flat Thing, reproduced

One Flat Thing, reproduced begins with a roar. Twenty tables, like jagged rafts of ice, fly forward and become the surface, the underground and the sky inhabited by a ferocious flight of dancers. A pack of bodies raging with alacrity, whipping razor-like in perilous weaves, in a hurtling intelligence. The music of Thom Willems begins quietly and then blows up into a gale, hurling the dancers toward the end, their bodies howling in a voracious, detailed storm.

Good evening, everyone,

Certain dance companies (and certain artists) light up the stage with their very first steps. Tonight, for the third time at Danse Danse, we welcome one such ensemble: Nederlands Dans Theater/NDT (Netherlands) and its 27 dancers.

NDT is known as one of the world’s leading contemporary dance and neoclassical ballet companies, and I consider it a true jewel in the crown of dance. The guest choreographers are among the most brilliant of our time. Whether they are established figures or emerging talents, they foster a phenomenal and stimulating environment where creativity flourishes without limit, as reflected in tonight’s program. You’ll discover three works by some of the biggest names on the international scene: William Forsythe, Sharon Eyal and Gai Behar, and Imre and Marne van Opstal.

And we’re so proud that this company, currently celebrating its 65th anniversary, is now directed by Canadian Emily Molnar, former artistic director of Ballet BC. Her inspiring leadership continues to nourish Nederlands Dans Theater’s bold vision and unwavering commitment to the art of choreography.

We wish you a wonderful evening!

Let the show begin!

Pierre Des Marais — Artistic and Executive Director.

Territorial Acknowledgement

Danse Danse acknowledges that we are gathered on the traditional and unceded territory of the Kanien’keha:ka Nation. We honour the continued presence of Indigenous peoples on the Tiohtiá:ke (Montreal) territory, which has long served as a meeting place for exchanges between nations. With respect for the links to the past, present and future, we thank the Indigenous peoples for reminding us of the importance of living in harmony with ourselves, with each other and with nature, and we are grateful for the opportunity to present works of living art at Tiohtiá:ke.

Welcome to an evening with NDT 1! We are thrilled to be back in Montréal with Danse Danse. Our NDT 1 dancers present a programme featuring a vibrant range of ideas and expressions in dance by internationally acclaimed artists William Forsythe, Sharon Eyal & Gai Behar, and Imre van Opstal & Marne van Opstal in collaboration with renowned Dutch designers DRIFT and Lonneke Gordijn.

What happens when multiple, seemingly unrelated events collide? How do they overlap as one breathable entity that consistently morphs into new ways of being? Imre van Opstal & Marne van Opstal explore the idea of synchronicity in their newest work for NDT 1. The Point Being was created in close collaboration with renowned Dutch designer Lonneke Gordijn and DRIFT. In this multidisciplinary creation, choreography, scenography and music generate both friction and harmony.

We are delighted to share our recent creation, Jakie, by Sharon Eyal & Gai Behar. This exhilarating work is accompanied by a soundscape composed by longtime collaborator Ori Lichtik. With Jakie, this dynamic duo finds renewed force, a place where the sensual and unexpected meet in fascinating contrast highlighting the hypnotic virtuosity of the dancers of NDT 1. The work pronounces the continued artistic experimentation of Eyal and Behar’s originality.

One Flat Thing, reproduced is a purposeful chapter in William Forsythe's ongoing research into the distension of contrapuntal structure. The work is set up as a linked “machinery” that is created through the interaction of three systems of organization: numerous individual movement themes, a dense system of distributed cueing, and complex alignments of forms and/or movement flow. It is a pleasure for us to share this significant work with the Danse Danse audience.

Thank you for being here. We hope you enjoy the programme!

Emily Molnar — Artistic Director, Nederlands Dans Theater.

Dancers, Saturday, March 23, 8 PM
The Point Being Alexander Andison, Anna Bekirova, Conner Bormann, Thalia Crymble, Scott Fowler, Barry Gans, Nicole Ishimaru, Kele Roberson, Yukino Takaura.
One Flat Thing, reproduced Alexander Andison, Jon Bond, Conner Bormann, Pamela Campos, Thalia Crymble, Scott Fowler, Surimu Fukushi, Aram Hasler, Chuck Jones, Madoka Kariya, Genevieve O’Keeffe, Charlie Skuy, Nicole Ward, Sophie Whittome.
Jakie Fay van Baar, Anna Bekirova, Conner Bormann, Pamela Campos, Thalia Crymble, Scott Fowler, Aram Hasler, Chuck Jones, Genevieve O’Keeffe, Charlie Skuy, Yukino Takaura, Theophilus Vesely.

Dancers, Saturday, March 23, 2 PM
The Point Being Alexander Andison, Anna Bekirova, Conner Bormann, Thalia Crymble, Scott Fowler, Barry Gans, Nicole Ishimaru, Kele Roberson, Yukino Takaura,
One Flat Thing, reproduced Alexander Andison, Fay van Baar, Anna Bekirova, Conner Bormann, Matthew Foley, Surimu Fukushi, Barry Gans, Aram Hasler, Nicole Ishimaru, Chuck Jones, Paxton Ricketts, Yukino Takaura, Teddy Vesely, Rui-Ting Yu.
Jakie Fay van Baar, Anna Bekirova, Conner Bormann, Pamela Campos, Thalia Crymble, Scott Fowler, Aram Hasler, Chuck Jones, Genevieve O’Keeffe, Charlie Skuy, Yukino Takaura, Theophilus Vesely.

Dancers, Friday, March 22
The Point Being Alexander Andison, Anna Bekirova, Conner Bormann, Thalia Crymble, Scott Fowler, Barry Gans, Nicole Ishimaru, Kele Roberson, Yukino Takaura.
One Flat Thing, reproduced Alexander Andison, Anna Bekirova, Jon Bond, Conner Bormann, Pamela Campos, Thalia Crymble, Scott Fowler, Surimu Fukushi, Aram Hasler, Chuck Jones, Madoka Kariya, Genevieve O’Keeffe, Charlie Skuy, Sophie Whittome.
Jakie Fay van Baar, Anna Bekirova, Conner Bormann, Pamela Campos, Thalia Crymble, Scott Fowler, Aram Hasler, Chuck Jones, Genevieve O’Keeffe, Charlie Skuy,Yukino Takaura, Theophilus Vesely.

Dancers, Thursday, March 21
The Point Being Alexander Andison, Anna Bekirova, Conner Bormann, Thalia Crymble, Scott Fowler, Barry Gans, Nicole Ishimaru, Yukino Takaura.
One Flat Thing, reproduced Alexander Andison, Fay van Baar, Anna Bekirova, Conner Bormann, Matthew Foley, Surimu Fukushi, Barry Gans, Aram Hasler, Nicole Ishimaru, Chuck Jones, Paxton Ricketts, Yukino Takaura, Teddy Vesely, Rui-Ting Yu.
Jakie Fay van Baar, Anna Bekirova, Conner Bormann, Pamela Campos, Thalia Crymble, Scott Fowler, Aram Hasler, Chuck Jones, Genevieve O’Keeffe, Charlie Skuy, Yukino Takaura, Theophilus Vesely.

Dancers, Wednesday March 20
The Point Being Alexander Andison, Anna Bekirova, Conner Bormann, Thalia Crymble, Scott Fowler, Barry Gans, Nicole Ishimaru, Yukino Takaura.
One Flat Thing, reproduced Alexander Andison, Anna Bekirova, Jon Bond, Conner Bormann, Pamela Campos, Thalia Crymble, Matthew Folwer, Surimu Fukushi, Aram Hasler, Chuck Jones, Madoka Kariya, Genevieve O’Keeffe, Charlie Skuy, Sophie Whittome.
Jakie Fay van Baar, Anna Bekirova, Conner Bormann, Pamela Campos, Thalia Crymble, Scott Fowler, Aram Hasler, Chuck Jones, Genevieve O’Keeffe, Charlie Skuy, Yukino Takaura, Theophilus Vesely.

Dancers Alexander Andison, Fay van Baar, Anna Bekirova, Jon Bond, Conner Bormann, Pamela Campos, Emmitt Cawley, Thalia Crymble, Matthew Foley, Scott Fowler, Surimu Fukushi, Barry Gans, Aram Hasler, Nicole Ishimaru, Chuck Jones, Madoka Kariya, Genevieve O’Keeffe, Paxton Ricketts, Kele Roberson, Charlie Skuy, Yukino Takaura, Luca Tessarini, Theophilus Veselý, Nicole Ward, Sophie Whittome, Rui-Ting Yu, Zenon Zubyk.

The Point Being

Choreography Imre van Opstal, Marne van Opstal, in collaboration with DRIFT.
Music New composition by Amos Ben-Tal. @offprojects.
Lights Tom Visser.
Decors DRIFT.
Costumes Imre van Opstal, Marne van Opstal in collaboration with the costume atelier.
NDT Rehearsal Director Tamako Akiyama.
Created in collaboration with DRIFT.

World Premiere September 21, 2023, Amare, The Hague.

One Flat Thing, reproduced 

Choreography, Stage and Light Designs William Forsythe.
Stage Ayman Harper, Ander Zabala, Thierry Guiderdoni, Cyril Baldy, Amancio Gonzalez.
NDT Rehearsal Director Francesca Caroti, Lucas Crandall.
Music Thom Willems.
Costume Design Stephen Galloway.

World Premiere February 2, 2000, Ballet Frankfurt, Bockenheimer Depot, Frankfurt, Germany.

Jakie

Choreography Sharon Eyal and Gai Behar.
Assistants to the choreographers Clyde E. Archer, Guido Dutilh, Leo Lerus.
Music Composition by Ori Lichtik, including music by Ryuichi Sakamoto, performed by Alva Noto: The Revenant Main Theme, © New Regency Music Inc., Milan Records, Sony Music Publishing. Einstürzende Neubauten: GS1. Written by Blixa Bargeld. NU Unruh, Alexander Hacke, Jochen Arbeit, Rudolph Moser. Published by Freibank Musikverlage/CTM Publishing. Courtesy of POTOMAK.
Lights Alon Cohen.
Decors Sharon Eyal and Gai Behar.
Costumes Sharon Eyal in collaboration with NDT’s Costume Department.
Rehearsal Director Francesca Caroti.

World Premiere May 11, 2023, Amare, The Hague.