A little over 100 years since the Russian ballet Les Noces was first performed in Paris, at the Théâtre Gaîte-Lyrîqué in 1923, a contemporary reimagining of it is set to be the dance showpiece at Woolwich Works this week.
Les Noces, meaning ‘The Wedding’ in English, is a ballet in four parts, choreographed by the famous Russian ballet dancer Bronislava Nijinska, to music by hugely influential composer and conductor Igor Stravinsky.
The production comes to the stage in the hands of New Movement Collective, a contemporary dance outfit committed to “redefining the boundaries of choreography and performance through ambitious, cross-disciplinary practice”.
Unlike many other dance companies, whose work is conceived by a single choreographer, the New Movement Collective conceive, develop and produce their work together, allowing all of their creatives a stake in the vision for each piece.
Supporting New Movement Collective’s dancers in bringing to life this fresh take on the ballet is a cast including singers from the Opera Holland Park Chorus and musicians from the Royal Academy of Music.
While the ballet will be set to Stravinsky’s piano and percussion-heavy score, the company has additionally commissioned three contemporary composers to respond to the original score: the project’s music director Yshani Perinpanayagam, emerging RAM composer Andrea Balency-Béarn, and Beatbox Champion MC Zani.
Also involved in the production are dancers from English National Ballet’s ENBYouthCo and Manchester-based Chameleon Youth dance company.
The story of Les Noces is relatively simple, with the more dramatic moments playing out off stage.
As a bride, Nastasia, is getting dressed for her wedding to her husband Fétis, she’s sung to by a choir – who for the most part tell her how wonderful her married life will be.
The ceremony itself is not seen; instead, we skip to the wedding feast where the guests are getting merry.
Lastly, we see husband leading wife to the bedroom.
The New Movement Collective describe the work as “a deeply emotive exploration of what is at the core of human relationships and commitment”.
How they interpret the ballet is yet to be seen, but their works typically focus on creating experimental performances in unusual spaces – often with the audience inhabiting the same space as the performers.
They typically involve some visual and digital art, too.
We know, too, that the company is keen to focus on the story’s sense of “mass celebration”.
In the century since Les Noces was first performed, the ballet has been revived frequently by leading companies, including the Royal Ballet, which just two months ago, in November 2023, held a day-long festival commemorating the work of Bronislava Nijinska and Les Noces on its centenary.
The production comes to Woolwich Works for three performances this weekend.
Among several arts organisations supporting it is the Acosta Dance Foundation, spearheaded by world-leading Cuban ballet star Carlos Acosta, which also has its British headquarters at Woolwich Works.
Les Noces is showing at Woolwich Works, The Fireworks Factory, 11 No 1 Street,
Royal Arsenal, London SE18 6HD.
Saturday January 13, 7:30pm; Sunday January 14, 2:30pm & 7:30pm.
Admission: £26.50/£20 concessions.
