2012 performances

masterpiece in motion

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Date: 24 & 25 August

Time: 8pm

Venue: esplanade theatre

Ticketing details: $90, $75, $50*, $30

(*$50 concession for full-time students / NSf's / senior citizens

 

Masterpiece in Motion is an annual triple bill showcasing three ballets of international standards, bringing the finest examples of choreography back home. This third season will see the company premiere of two exquisite works, Divertimento No. 15 by renowed choreographer George Balanchine, and the widely acclaimed Age of Innocence by Edwaard Liang. SDT will also be performing the world premiere of Chant, a new work created especially for the company by American Choreographer Val Caniparoli.

 

Divertimento No. 15 by George Balanchine (Company Premiere)

Divertimento No. 15 is a ballet in five movements, named after the music written by Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus, which Balanchine deemed as the finest divertimento ever written. Created for the New York City Ballet, the work features an uneven mix of five female soloists and three leading male dancers, with an ensemble of eight women.

 

This lends the piece an element of surprise, yet the ballet flows seamlessly as dancers perform variations and duets. Divertimento No. 15 intertwines a touch of mystery with slow graceful transitions as Balanchine’s choreography effortlessly unfolds alongside Mozart’s expressive score. In essence, this piece is a vision of ideal beauty, a juxtaposition of elegance and delicacy to complement the sweet playfulness of Mozart’s music.

 

The Choreographer

George Balanchine, born in St Petersburg during the age of Imperial Russia, is regarded as the foremost contemporary choreographer in the world of ballet. As a dancer and choreographer, he was also trained equally as a musician when he was enrolled in the Petrograd Conservatory of Music. In 1948, Balanchine co-founded the New York City ballet with Lincoln Kirstein, and produced more than 400 ballets in his lifetime. Today, every major ballet comapny enchances their repertoire with Balanchine ballet including The Royal Ballet, The Kirov Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet and The Australian Ballet.

 

Age of Innocence by Edwaard Liang
(Company Premiere, Ambassador Circle’s 2012 acquisition*)

Created for the Joffrey Ballet in 2008, Age of Innocence is inspired by the novels of Jane Austen and women of her era. This piece encapsulates the complications of male-female relationships in a world that is all at once modern and historical, capturing the tragedy in the hierarchy endured by the women.

 

Danced to the music of Philip Glass and Thomas Newman, the dynamism of the exuberant, potent music lifts the dancers from the stage to present an enthralling piece. Age of Innocence is a staple in Joffrey Ballet’s repertory and has been performed several times by the company since its conception, including this year’s spring mixed repertory, Spring Desire. This piece is Edwaard Liang’s third work performed by SDT.

 

Previous works include As Above, So Below (2010, Da:ns Festival 2012) and The Winds of Zephyrus (2011, Masterpiece in Motion). Age of Innocence was successfully brought in this year with the support of SDT’s Ambassador’s Circle.

 

The Choreographer
Born in Taipei, Taiwan and raised in California, Edwaard Liang joined New York City Ballet in the spring on 1993 after training at the School of American Ballet. Thereafter, he joined the Broadway cast of Fosse in a leading principal role. He later became a member of the Nederlands Dans Theatre where he danced, choreographed and staged ballets. To date, he has choreographed numerous works for a number of major ballet companies such as New York City Ballet, Kirov Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Shanghai Ballet, Washington Ballet and Tulsa Ballet.

 

CHANT by Val Caniparoli (World Premiere)

Created especially for SDT, Chant by Val Caniparoli will feature a full company ballet with music accompaniment by composer Lou Harrison, titled Double Concerto for Violin and Cello with Javanese Gamelan (1981/82). The choreography seamlessly bridges the west and the orient. As with the striking gamelan notes in the score which bring forth a clear chant quality, Chant presents a repetitive movement motif that corresponds to the way a chant is repeated over and over to create a sense of harmony and purpose. This piece was inspired by the music and the dancers of SDT. Dancers will also wear costumes by award winning designer Sandra Woodall.

 

The Choreographer

Val Caniparoli is closely associated with San Francisco Ballet where he began his career as a dancer in 1973 and was later appointed resident choreographer in the 1980s. He has also contributed to the repertories of more than thirty-five dance companies internationally including Scottish Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Boston Ballet, Northern Ballet Theatre and State Theatre Ballet of South Africa. Val Caniparoli’s Lambarena was first performed by SDT in 1998 and has been revived by the company several times.

 

 

*Singapore Dance Theatre’s Ambassador’s Circle is a new group specifically designed to enhance the theatre going experience - watching dance with a more personal involvement and knowledge. The intention is to involve the group in the process of the acquisition of new works for the company’s repertoire. As a member of the Ambassador’s Circle, you will help to bring a ballet on stage both locally and overseas.


In 2009 and 2010, SDT’s Ambassador’s Circle successfully brought in two works by George Balanchine – Concerto Barocco (2009) and Serenade (2010). With the support of the Ambassador’s Circle, the repertoire once again successfully presented another company premiere in 2011, titled Fearful Symmetries by renowned Dutch choreographer Nils Christe.


For the year 2012, SDT will be bringing another company premiere onto stage with Age of Innocence by Edwaard Liang, which he had first created for the Joffrey Ballet in 2008. This piece will be performed at the third season of Masterpiece in Motion at Esplanade Theatre.

 

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Package for 4 at:

CAT 1 - $300        CAT 2 - $250
CAT 3 - $160        CAT 4 - $100

 

Early Bird Sale now on! Enjoy up to 25% savings with OCBC or PAssion card.
Offer ends 29 July 2012

 

Early Bird Sale

25% discount for OCBC Arts Platinum Card
20% discount for all other OCBC Credit & Debit Cards
20% discount for PAssion Card

 

After Early Bird Period (from 30 July onwards)
20% discount for OCBC Arts Platinum Card
15% discount for all other OCBC Credit & Debit Cards
15% discount for PAssion Card

 

Other discounts

  • 15% discount for Kinokuniya Privilege Card
  • 15% discount for Fitness First members
  • 15% discount for IKEA Friends
  • 15% discount for Toys’R’Us Star Card members
  • 15% discount for OKH Ballet Centre members
  • 15% Discount for Sonata Shoppers Verification: Sonata Voucher [From 31 Jul till 25 Aug]
  • 20% discount for Singapore Press Holding Staff
  • 20% discount for Singapore Airlines Staff
  • 20% discount for YTL Corporation Staff
  • 20% Discount for Staff of Keppel Group

 

Friends of SDT

  • 10% discount for Friends of SDT (Basic & Sliver)
  • 15% discount for Friends of SDT (Gold)
  • 20% discount for Friends of SDT (Platinum)
  • 25% discount for Friends of SDT (Diamond)

 

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