Will you lose your heart and mind?

T(r)anssi is an evening that showcases the works of four of the most influential choreographers of our times: William Forsythe, Sharon Eyal, and the team of Paul Lightfoot and Sol León. It captivates the audience with its unique blend of movement, emotion, and mental energy. Seeing these works is more than just a visual experience. It’s an immersion into a trance-like state, which may provoke reflection on themes of gender, community, and collectivism.

Signing Off

Signing Off is a heartbreaking ballet about saying goodbye. With its pure expression, virtuosity, and elegant organic lines combined with sudden bursts of movement, this choreography set to Philip Glass’s concerto for violin and orchestra invites the audience to descend into a deep, meditative trance.

The team of Paul Lightfoot and Sol León has achieved iconic status in the world of contemporary dance, and we are thrilled to present their work at the Finnish National Ballet. Since 1991, the duo have created more than 50 works together for Nederlands Danstheater. Signing Off, which premiered in 2003, is considered one of León and Lightfoot’s key works. It has been honoured with the dance world’s most prestigious prize, the Benois de la Danse.

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Playlist (Track 1,2)

With his career spanning approximately five decades, William Forsythe is considered one of the most important choreographers behind the revitalisation of ballet. His work breaks free from ballet’s traditional, coherent movement language, disrupting harmony, and rejecting continuity. Forsythe has served as an inspiration for countless contemporary dance choreographers, whose work has been deeply influenced by his movement language. It has been 11 years since the Finnish National Ballet last featured Forsythe’s work, the celebrated In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated, so his return is much anticipated.

Playlist is created for 12 male dancers, whose athletic, virtuoso moves to neo-soul and house music are like an irresistible invitation for the audience to join the party. The score for Playlist, which had its world premiere at the English National Ballet in 2018, is a recording of Peven Everett and Lion Babe’s music.

Half Life

Choreographer Sharon Eyal is renowned for her distinctive movement language and innovative work, created in collaboration with multimedia artist Gai Behar. The essence of Eyal and Behar’s artistry often lies in group dynamics, which also play a central role in Half life. This piece, exploring new forms of expression, is characterised by its repeated, minimalist micro-movements that provoke a hypnotic state of mind in the audience. Half life serves as a reminder of the importance of being part of a group – without sacrificing individuality.

After her extensive career with the Batsheva Dance Company, Sharon Eyal founded the dance group L-E-V with Gai Behar in 2013. The nearly metallic soundscape by composer, audio artist, and DJ Ori Lichtik, played from a recording, further elevates the ecstatic ambiance to almost reach the intensity of a rave party. Half life had its world premiere at the Royal Swedish Ballet in 2017.

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”Half life is a rich gift to the audience, a piece about the complex group dynamics of our charged life.”

– Svenska Dagbladet

gallery

See photos of Signing Off here.

creative team

The production of Signing Off has been rented from Nederlands Dans Theater.

Photos of Playlist: Laurent Liotardo/English National Ballet
Photos of Half Life: Hans Nilsson/Royal Swedish Ballet

cast

listen to music

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tickets and performances

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