The Czech National Theater Ballet

Check out a preview on Youtube!

The Czech National Theater Ballet from Prague will make its Washington debut dancing the DC Premiere of D.M.J 1953-1977 and Petite Mort, as well as performing Sinfonietta.

D.M.J. 1953-1977 (Choreography: Petr Zuska, 27 minutes)
D.M.J. represents the initials of three great Czech composers, Antonin Dvorak, Bohuslav Martinu, and Leos Janacek.
In this piece, Zuska uses the music of Dvorak’s Largo from Symphony No. 9 in E Minor "From the New World," Martinu’s second part of Symphony No. 2, and Janacek’s "The Overgrown Path."

Petite Mort (Choreography: Jiri Kylian, 17 minutes)
Kylián chose the slow parts of two of Mozart’s most beautiful and popular piano concertos (the adagio section of Piano Concerto in A Major KV 488 and the andante section of the Piano Concerto in C Major KV 467). The acclaimed Czech choreographer Jiri Kylian created Petite Mort especially for the Salzburg Festival in 1991, on the second centenary of Mozart’s death. Captivating choreography takes the audience on a journey of emotion. Tenderness, fragility, aggression, sexuality, energy, silence and vulnerability all play a significant part. Petite Mort, which literally means ‘little death,’ serves as a synonym for orgasm in French and Arabic.

Sinfonietta (Choreography: Jiri Kylian, 35 minutes)
Kylián was inspired by the music of Leos Janacek to create this romantic ballet which has become a milestone in contemporary choreography. Sinfonietta is a ballet in five movements. Each part has its own spirit and moves from folkloric moods to dream-like visions. The whole choreography is a brilliant harmony of dance and music which brings to life an image of a world somewhere between realism and abstraction. The forceful fanfares of Janacek’s music are matched by an energetic and joyous display of movement, creating an image which carries through the composer’s intention of evoking the spirit of the "modern, free Czech."