Program
Preface
At the beginning of my career, as a young dancer in the junior ensemble of the Nederlands Dans Theater, I asked the then artistic director Jiří Kylián if I could make a choreography. Miraculously, he gave me that permission and I was allowed to create my very first choreography with wonderful dancers and the support of a professional production staff. This has been crucial for my career as a choreographer and artistic director.
The opportunities, possibilities and confidence Jiří Kylián gave me and many other choreographers have always remained an inspiration, example and guide for me. Giving young choreographers opportunities and a professional stage has therefore always been an important part of my artistic vision. Dozens of choreographers were able to choreograph and experiment at Scapino at the beginning of their careers. Of these, many are now established names in the international dance field. Investing in choreographic talent is essential for advancement and innovation within the art of dance.
At the end of this year, I will say goodbye after more than 30 years as choreographer and artistic director of Scapino. Tonight, I am delighted to introduce you, as a loyal and adventurous audience, to Xingxing Gong and Lior Tavori. Two new talents presenting their work in the Netherlands and at Scapino for the first time.
Ed Wubbe
Xingxing Gong Kiss the darkness
As choreographer for Beijing Opera and Dance Theatre, Xingxing Gong demonstrates a strong voice of her own within China's emerging modern dance scene. Her emotional dance pieces balance between extreme looseness and strict control, fusing dance with other theatrical and artistic disciplines. Her many awards in international dance competitions show that her work is also notable outside China.
When it comes to her origins, her thoughts go back to her childhood.
She was born during the time of the strict one-child policy as a fourth and unplanned child. This experience not only shaped her resilient character, but also gave her a deeper understanding of life. Reflecting her inner world, Kiss the Darkness explores the fragility and resilience of life and how a new beginning can emerge from the scars of the world.
This is her first collaboration with a dance company outside China, where creations often emphasise promoting positive energy, Chinese culture and the pursuit of truth, goodness and beauty. Thanks to her clear vision, however, she has quickly adapted to the artistic freedoms here. Instead of telling specific stories, she prefers to emphasise the texture, temperament and spiritual charge of her creations.
Lior Tavori Killing the butterfly
Israeli choreographer Lior Tavori is founder and artistic director of Lior Tavori Dance Company in Tel-Aviv.
His work is characterised by passion, sexuality and showing the animal side of man. He likes to push the boundaries of dance, combining innovation, emotion and technical precision.
What happens in the studio is sacred. This is how Lior Tavori describes the special atmosphere during rehearsals.
He enjoys the great diversity in the group of dancers, the different backgrounds, gender and colour. He is looking for moments of celebration, because that is what Killing the butterfly is about. Celebrating life, humanity. A sense of love and passion. A sense of a world other than the real one. Tavori realises all too well that there is also a world outside the protective walls of the studio.
Tavori: "I don't know if being human is worth celebrating. It's 2024 and it's a cruel world. There are moments in the play that also express this. Brutal fear. Countries can fight. And religions. But for me, only the person in front of me is important."
In Killing the butterfly, Tavori builds a new society with the dancers. Back to its origins, without culture and religion. Where people are open to each other.
The origin of Scapino
In the performance you are about to see, young creators go in search of their origins. They celebrate life, out of joy or as a remedy for pain. Scapino's origins are almost 80 years earlier, in 1945, but its founders had the same motives. After five years of war, they wanted to bring fun and imagination back into life, especially that of children. Dance as social medicine. Scapino became the world's first professional dance company for children. An audience that had to be built up, school by school, generation after generation.
From the urge to make something happen with dance, Scapino is constantly reinventing itself. We changed from a youth dance company to a company for everyone. And with the arrival in Rotterdam, we are changing course again. It is time for a new, contemporary repertoire with productions that let people experience something about the world we live in.
What remained is the need to connect. To connect with others with imagination, beauty and dialogue. With programmes on talent development, community art, cultural education, inclusion and diversity, we inspire children, young people and adults. We develop the talent of choreographers and young dancers, professionals and amateurs. As Rotterdam's city dance company, we are committed to meeting Rotterdammers and getting them moving in neighbourhood projects. Dance as a social binding agent and social bridge to a brighter future. Just as it all began.
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Scapino Ballet Rotterdam's dancers
Credits
Kiss the darkness
Choreography
Xingxing Gong
Assistant to the choreographer
Tian Chen
Lighting design
Jasper Nijholt
Costumes
Petra Finke in collaboration with Xingxing Gong
Music
Travis Lake: Corner Dance, Time, Get in the car, Monolith, The Mile, Ping
Mika Vainio: Movement1
Svarte Greiner: My feet, Over There
Damien Rice: Look At Me
Music mastering
Rimmert van Lummel
Killing the butterfly
Choreography
Lior Tavori
Lighting design
Jasper Nijholt
Costumes
Petra Finke in collaboration with Lior Tavori
Original music composed by
Itamar Gross
Music
Sibelius: Kyllikki - Three Lyrical Pieces for Piano, op. 41: || Andantino
Alessandro Alessandroni: Arioso spirituale
Chapelier Fou - Philémon
Music mastering
Rimmert van Lummel
With special thanks to
Samuel Wuersten
Artistic direction
Ed Wubbe
Ballet masters
Débora Soto
Bonnie Doets
Christophe Dozzi
Costume workshop
Petra Finke
Loek van Cruchten
Mara Wap, dresser
Production
Manon Paap
Bryndis Brynjolfsdottir
Hanna Laber
Tjeu Schellekens
Technical production
Guido Verschoor
Head of engineering
Bjørn van Doesburg
Light
Tommy Everts
Light programmer
Pepijn van der Sanden
Sound
Marcel Wijngaards
Inspicient
Behrooz Vasseghi
Transport & Inspicient
Evert Achthoven
Introductions
Emmeline Mooij, Annemarie Labinjo-van der Meulen, Linda Koezen-Zandbergen
Set design
hét Decoratelier
With special thanks to
Yezi Lin, Leslie Yixin Dou
Scene photos
Bart Grietens
Portrait photos
Khalid Amakran
Campaign image
Stef Nagel
Artwork
CapeRock
Grants
Municipality of Rotterdam
Ministry of Education, Culture and Science
Sponsors
Brighter World
STOER
Preferred Suppliers
De Jong Tours
Wonderland & Suitable
