Figure a Sea
A fluctuating constellation of bodies heaves incessantly. Be swept away by Figure a Sea: a sea of possibilities and a meditation about looking at music, at volatility, at synchronous and unexpected moments. The choreography for 21 dancers is both technically immaculate and distinctly minimalist. Dance icon Deborah Hay challenges the intelligence, beauty, and humour of the Cullberg dancers. The result is 60 minutes of sublime purity, beauty, and physicality.
• Figure a Sea is an encounter between Cullberg Ballet – the former classical ballet of Stockholm and now the most important contemporary dance company in Sweden – and two pioneers from the art world. Deborah Hay, who was one of the founders of post-modern dance in the 1960s, provided the choreography. She started out with the experimental Judson Dance Theatre and she was one of the first to introduce everyday movements in dance. The American composer and musician Laurie Anderson (O Superman) has created a soundscape. She started her career as a sculptor and performance artist, and she has been one of the great innovators in electronic music. Cullberg Ballet has performed at Kaaitheater before with Plateau Effect.
‘Impressive is an understatement.’ – Expressen
‘This sublime new dance work embraces wonder.’ – The New York Times
‘So young, so fresh, so awake.’ – Berliner Zeitung
choreography and direction Deborah Hay | composer Laurie Anderson | sound design Martin Ekman | lighting design Minna Tiikkainen | assistant lighting design Heikki Paasonen | costume Marita Tjärnström | choreographic assistants Mira Mutka, Laurent Pichaud | rehearsal director Lisa Drake | with circa 17-20 dancers | co-commisioned by Zodiak – Center for New Dance, Peak Performances, Balletto di Roma, Centro per la Scena Contemporanea, CCAP | supported by the Italian Cultural Institute, Stockholm | world premiere at Dansens Hus, Stockholm 24 September 2015 | Cullbergbaletten is distributed by Koen Vanhove, Key Performance
