The National Theatre Ballet has introduced a new mixed programme titled Avant-Garde, bringing together three choreographic works that explore time, change, and human existence.

The evening features Jiří Kylián’s 27’52”, alongside two world premieres: 4 Seasons by Robert Bondara and Lovebirds by Marco Goecke.

Artistic Director Filip Barankiewicz describes the programme as a meeting of three distinctive artistic voices. Although each work was created independently, they share a common focus on the passage of time and the fragile nature of life.

A Reflection on Life’s Cycles

Robert Bondara’s 4 Seasons is inspired by Max Richter’s reinterpretation of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. The choreography reflects on the cyclical nature of life, from birth to death, and questions why modern society often avoids confronting mortality.

Bondara, a leading Polish choreographer and director of the Poznań Opera Ballet, uses paper elements in the stage design and costumes to symbolise human fragility and the marks left by time.

Time Measured and Felt

Jiří Kylián’s 27’52” offers a meditation on time and its relativity. Set to music by Dirk Haubrich, based on Gustav Mahler’s unfinished Symphony No. 10, the piece captures the tension between mechanical time and human awareness of mortality.

The title refers to the exact duration of the work—27 minutes and 52 seconds—underscoring its precise structure. Kylián, one of the most influential choreographers of the past decades, returns to the National Theatre Ballet repertoire with this introspective work.

Energy and Intuition on Stage

The evening concludes with Lovebirds by German choreographer Marco Goecke, known for his highly expressive and physically intense style. Created especially for this programme, the piece combines music by Czech composer Bohuslav Martinů with songs by James Brown.

Goecke draws on instinct and imagination, often building movement from personal impressions and the individuality of the dancers. His creative process in Prague involved close collaboration with performers, using their experiences as inspiration.

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