Emotional stories in the language of dance in Riga, Ogre and Cesis as part of the Baltic Ballet Festival this autumn
The 29th International Baltic Ballet Festival and Artistic Director Lita Beiris will this year offer the audience deep, worldly and passionate stories in the language of dance. The programme includes the Ukrainian Modern Ballet Theatre, the outstanding Spanish dancers and musicians from Antonio Andrade Compañía Flamenco and the Baltic Ballet Theatre from Lithuania. The festival will take place from 3 October to 4 November in Riga, Ogre and Cesis.
"The ability to feel, to experience and to juxtapose is the leitmotif of this year's festival, because art cannot be silent. Movement is a language that allows us to say more, it liberates. This year we will experience this in the wistful story performed by Ukrainian dancers, in the transformation of the Spanish dance tradition and in the meaning of human relations in the age of technology performed by the great Lithuanian dancers," says Lita Beiris, Artistic Director of the festival.
The Ukrainian Modern Ballet Theatre, under the direction of choreographer Radu Poklitaru, has prepared a programme "To Dance to Live" especially for the festival and the Latvian audience. It is a tribute to Ukrainian artists in this difficult time, the programme is made up of the most outstanding choreographic miniatures from different years and two newest works. A revelation of the soul in love, joy and tears, it will take the audience on a musical journey from the Baroque to Peter Vasko. The performance will take place on 7 October at the New Hall of the Latvian National Opera and Ballet.
Flamenco passion and Andalusian beauty in Flamenco Suite for three nights - 10 October at the Ogre Regional Cultural Centre, 12 October at the Cēsis Concert Hall and 14 October at the Mikhail Chekhov Riga Russian Theatre in Riga. The audience will be introduced to different styles of flamenco by outstanding musicians and dancers from Spain - Antonio Andrade's Flamenco Ballet Company (Compaía Flamenca). Virtuoso guitar playing, spectacular dance solos and exciting choreography create a modern flamenco image while preserving its traditional roots.
The festival will close on 4 November at the VEF Palace of Culture with a futuristic, surreal show of dreams, lights and lasers by the ambitious and talented Baltic Ballet Theatre dancers from Lithuania in "Another World". Set to the music of the legendary rock band Depeche Mode, where sound evokes movement and dancers become androgynous mechanical creatures. They represent unknown subconscious depths and project people's conscious and unconscious choices. The futuristic performance shows a surreal world where there is no room for natural feelings and people prefer to hide behind masks.
The festival's motto "From Classical to Avant-garde" will be reflected most clearly in the traditional free opening concert on 3 October. It promises a variety of dance styles performed by young Latvian choreographers and dancers in the Origo shopping centre.
The second free access event will be the photo exhibition "Dance Flight - Vanemuine Ballet 85", where photographs depict personal relationships - stories through dance. It will be on display from 4 to 13 October on Rīdzenes Street. The exhibition is also included in the programme of the European Capital of Culture Tartu 2024.
Tickets for the festival concerts can be purchased at the Biļešu Paradīze box office and online at www.bilesuparadize.lv.
More information about the festival programme can be found at http://www.ballet-festival.lv/
About the festival:
The International Baltic Ballet Festival was first held in Latvia in 1996. The idea and artistic director of the festival was the ballet prima, choreographer and producer Lita Beiris. The main idea and motto of the festival is "From classical to avant-garde!" and it brings together artists who have performed in the most prestigious concert halls and festivals around the world.
