Ballet technique first developed in the culturally elite European structures of courts and state monarchs, whose patronage paved the way for unique creative signatures to emerge. Beyond the iconic late 19th-century classical works such as «Swan Lake» and «Sleeping Beauty», the 20th century saw the emergence of choreographic voices that resemble our contemporary understanding of ballet and dance.

Hot on the heels of «Ballet 101», his ‘ballet of dummies’ introduction to the classical technique, dancemaker Eric Gauthier’s sequel «Ballet 102» pays homage to the broad spectrum of 20th-century choreographic voices, with a particular focus on the ‘pas de deux’ or duet form. With a tongue-in-cheek salute, Gauthier blatantly paraphrases iconic imagery from the masters of choreographic innovation.

From Vaslav Nijinsky’s rejection of balletic tradition and his scandalous «L'Après-midi d'un Faune» to the narrative dramas of Kenneth Macmillan’s «Romeo and Juliet» or John Cranko’s «Onegin», all the way to Michael Jackson’s unmistakable moonwalk and the disco grooves of Saturday Night Fever, «Ballet 102» is sure to get you up to speed… and with a good laugh at the same time.

ABOUT ERIC GAUTHIER
Eric Gauthier has gained attention for his rock-star approach to the presentation of dance today. He founded the Gauthier Dance//Dance Company Theaterhaus Stuttgart in 2006, which added to its fame in recent years by inviting highly celebrated international choreographers to contribute to programmatically focussed works. Hyped by audiences and critics alike, the company’s success cannot only be attributed to Gauthier’s own charismatic charm, but also to his uncanny ability to break through the fourth wall and present evenings of dance that enthral time and time again.

First premiered on 15 October 2016 at a ballet gala in the Kremlin, Moscow

Premiere on 11 November 2018 as part of the 40th anniversary matinée of the Heinz-Bosl-Stiftung at the Nationaltheater Munich