From 12-21 April, English National Ballet will present the world premiere of a new work by one of the most revered choreographers working today, William Forsythe. It will be his first creation for a UK ballet company in over 20 years. Forsythe’s new work will be presented at Sadler’s Wells as part of Voices of America, a new mixed bill dedicated to neo-classical ballet with an American accent, featuring works with audacious attitude from three generations of choreographers.
Alongside his new work, English National Ballet will also perform Forsythe’s Approximate Sonata 2016. Originally created in 1996, Forsythe recently reworked this piece for Paris Opera Ballet. A series of pas de deux that deconstruct the classical ballet vocabulary, Approximate Sonata 2016 is accompanied by a new version of the original score by Thom Willems.
Voices of America sees another work new to English National Ballet: Jerome Robbins’ The Cage, which is one of Robbins’ most shocking and intense ballets. The Cage examines the rites and rituals of a species where the female considers the male to be prey, featuring 14 female and two male dancers. Originally created in 1951, The Cage is set to Stravinsky’s Concerto in D for String Orchestra, performed live by English National Ballet Philharmonic. It will be performed as part of the Jerome Robbins Centennial Celebrations, a global celebration of the 100th birthday of Jerome Robbins.
Completing the mixed bill is a reworked version of Aszure Barton’s Fantastic Beings. Originally created as part of English National Ballet’s She Said programme in 2016, Fantastic Beings is a mysterious, magnetic work that sees 16 dancers take to the stage, accompanied by Mason Bates’ dynamic score performed live by English National Ballet Philharmonic.
The programme will be abstract and neoclassical in style, full of power and emotion.