"Poem to the Minotaur / The Rite of Spring"

The double evening "Poem to Minotaur" and "The Rite of Spring" focuses on two extraordinary artists of the 20th century who revolutionized their respective art forms and are considered key figures of modernity. The National Theater Mannheim Dance, closely associated with the Heilbronn Theater for many seasons, presents once again a grand dance evening by ballet director Stephan Thoss, in which the company can showcase its full mastery. The double evening "Poem to Minotaur" and "The Rite of Spring" highlights two exceptional artists of the 20th century who have transformed their respective art forms and are regarded as pivotal figures of modernity. What Pablo Picasso's art meant in groundbreaking innovations for painting, Igor Stravinsky brought in radical modernizations for music. They were friends who closely collaborated and influenced each other since their meeting at the legendary "Ballets Russes" in 1917 in Paris. What could be more fitting than to honor these two artistic personalities, who worked together for dance—one as a stage and costume designer, the other as a composer—with this dance evening? Their work remains pioneering to this day and has accompanied choreographer Stephan Thoss for many years. The evening begins with the 30-minute piece "Poem to Minotaur," in which Stephan Thoss gives space to his poetic associations with Pablo Picasso. No figure appears as often in Picasso's paintings as the Minotaur from Greek mythology, that creature with a human body and a bull's head, whose form embodies vitality and energy, but also potency, greed, and instinctuality—expressions of the charisma and mystery that surrounded Picasso. "Poem to Minotaur" can be understood as an ode to a fascinating artist and his work, whose unbridled passion the choreographer captures in his work. "The Rite of Spring" has become synonymous with the spectacular kickoff to the modern dance era—from the premiere scandal in 1913 to the countless choreographic interpretations the piece has since undergone. In his choreography, Stephan Thoss is solely inspired by Stravinsky's music, deriving the choreographic potential exclusively from the sound and creating a visual score where rhythm takes precedence over melody. The music was created during the age of industrialization, and Stravinsky drew inspiration from the movements of machines. The dancers transform in their silver-shining costumes into an unyielding army of machines, exploring and exceeding the anatomical limits of the body. With this double evening, Thoss demonstrates how modern, idiosyncratic, and timeless his choreographic signature is, and what a special ensemble he has gathered around him. Two-part dance evening by Stephan Thoss | Music by John Adams and Igor Stravinsky Guest performance by National Theater Mannheim Dance.