For the first time in fifty years, the Scottish Ballet visits Aotearoa for a dream collaboration. This Friday and Saturday in Pōneke only, the RNZB and the Scottish Ballet will share the stage to present four gorgeous works.

Dextera (Scottish Ballet) commissioned to celebrate the Scottish Ballet’s 50th Anniversary in 2019, is created by Franco-British choreographer Sophie Laplane. Set to the music of Mozart, Laplane says of the work, “I was loosely inspired by the Pygmalion myth and the idea that once the creation has been made it takes on a life of its own – a bit like choreography.’”

Performed across a giant chessboard, Schachmatt (Checkmate!) (Scottish Ballet) is the work of internationally renowned choreographer Cayetano Soto and is inspired by the words of Joan Rivers, the films of Pedro Almodovar and the choreography of Bob Fosse. In conversation with x, Soto says of the work, “It’s very joyful and playful and has a sense of humour, but it’s also fast and
technical. As a creator I don’t like to preach a narrative to the audience;I hope it can inspire audiences and give them the space to reflect on the time we are living in.”

The RNZB presents two works of its own as a part of this international collaboration.

Annaliese Macdonald’s Limerence, a work for four dancers as performed to the work of Franz Schubert; and Shaun James Kelly’s Prismatic – a celebration of the RNZB’s past and present, to a version of Johannes Brahms’ Variations – round out the programme.

Celebrate these wonderful local and international works in this very limited series of ballet this weekend at the St James Theatre. Tickets are still available here.