With its new ballet production Sarcasms, the National Theatre offers more than a night at the ballet—it invites audiences to confront the irony, absurdity, and quiet vulnerability of life in the 21st century.

The show brings together three very dance pieces: Andrey Kaydanovskiy’s …And How Is Your Life?, Hans van Manen’s Sarcasmen, and Eyal Dadon’s Katastrof. Together, these works explore the human condition through contrasting aesthetics, but with a shared undercurrent of subtle sarcasm and deep emotional insight.

The evening is a landmark moment for the Czech National Ballet, which not only debuts two world premieres in a single night, but also brings a legendary European piece to Czech audiences for the first time. “Sarcasm is a form of freedom—and dance is an ideal way of expressing it,” says Filip Barankiewicz, Artistic Director of the Czech National Ballet.

“Sarcasms”: A Bold Triple Bill at the National Theatre

The first piece, …And How Is Your Life?, comes from Vienna-based choreographer Andrey Kaydanovskiy. Set to a string score by Milko Lazar, it’s a work about modern overload—a physical reaction to everyday pressure, as Kaydanovskiy describes it. In a world where we’re expected to constantly produce, the question he poses is whether we are even still able to feel.

Kaydanovskiy’s choreography is rich in detail and pattern, with quick gestures that build and collapse into complex rhythms. The set design is austere, the lighting dim. It’s a powerful meditation on what happens when routine starts to replace emotional presence.

From Prokofiev to Prague: Van Manen’s “Sarcasmen”

The second piece is Sarcasmen, a 1981 work by Dutch choreographer Hans van Manen, brought to Prague for the first time. It’s a sharp, minimalistic duet set to piano music by Sergei Prokofiev—light, playful, and often biting.

Van Manen is known for his crystal-clear movement and subtle storytelling. Sarcasmen is no exception. The dancers, one male and one female, engage in a back-and-forth that’s part flirtation, part provocation, and full of detail. Every look and movement is carefully timed, yet never rigid.

The Czech National Ballet invited Rachel Beaujean, a former dancer with the Dutch National Ballet who performed Sarcasmen herself, to help set the piece in Prague. The result is an authentic, beautifully danced interpretation that retains the piece’s original edge.

Dadon’s “Katastrof” Closes with Chaos and Power

The final piece, Katastrof, is a world premiere by Israeli choreographer Eyal Dadon. Known for his spontaneous style and theatrical energy, Dadon delivers a fast-paced, unpredictable work that reflects the instability of contemporary life.

In Katastrof, the dancers swing between extremes—chaotic group sections break into stillness, while calm moments suddenly explode into frenzy. The score blends electronic pulses with jarring sounds, building a sense of tension. Dadon’s choreography feels urgent and raw, as if each movement were being invented in the moment.

There’s a sense that things could fall apart at any second—and sometimes, they do. But that’s the point. The piece captures the illusion of control we cling to in everyday life, only to watch it unravel under pressure.

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