Hessian State Ballet

AUSTRIA PREMIERE

Creativity as a Human Strength: The Hessian State Ballet brings together three of its most distinctive pieces for a shared evening, showcasing the signatures and artistic perspectives of various choreographers on stage.

In Dance In Force Majeure, David Raymond & Tiffany Tregarthen explore the idea of a higher power that shapes life – questioning whether this force also resides within ourselves. Creativity and destruction as opposites of human existence are at the center of this melancholic dance piece with tragicomic elements. Originally choreographed for the Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT 2), Marco Goecke's duet Midnight Raga is inspired by the music of Ravi Shankar, blending Eastern Indian sounds with Goecke's distinctive, nervous movement language. With I’m afraid to forget your smile, Imre & Marne van Opstal present a compelling new creation for the Hessian State Ballet. Six dancers, choral music from the Concert Choir of Lower Austria, and Tom Visser's impressive stage design merge into a moving depiction of loss, devotion, and human strength.

After successful careers as dancers with the Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT) and the Batsheva Dance Company, siblings Imre & Marne van Opstal are captivating dance stages worldwide with their expressive and imaginative choreographies. The choreographer duo David Raymond & Tiffany Tregarthen and their company Out Innerspace Dance Theatre have been shaping the international dance scene through their long-standing collaboration with Crystal Pite. Following works for the NDT and Ballet BC, they are setting new accents with Force Majeure. As one of the most prominent choreographers of his generation, Marco Goecke has been influencing the international dance scene for many years. After stints in Stuttgart, Rotterdam, Hanover, and with the Nederlands Dans Theater, he has been the Artistic Director and Resident Choreographer of Ballet Basel since 2025.