FIRE WITHIN
A Dance Triptych
Klaipėda State Music Theatre invites audiences to encounter three leading figures of contemporary European choreography whose works have earned international acclaim and captivated audiences on the world’s most prestigious stages. Alexander Ekman, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, and Marco Goecke belong to the elite of contemporary dance creators, with works presented by institutions such as Nederlands Dans Theater, the Paris Opera, English National Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, New York City Ballet, and many others.
The evening presents three remarkable works by these acclaimed choreographers:
PART I – Cacti
Swedish choreographer Alexander Ekman’s Cacti offers a witty and ironic reflection on contemporary art, art criticism, and our tendency to search for a single “correct” meaning in every artistic work. Perched on square platforms, dancers perform to live music played by a string quartet, while rhythmic choreography is accompanied by humorous commentary on art and its interpretation.
Eventually, the dancers find themselves holding… cacti. What do they symbolize? The choreographer deliberately avoids providing an answer, inviting each audience member to create their own interpretation. Humor, surprise, and music intertwine with themes of human vulnerability and resilience, accompanied by compositions by Franz Schubert, Joseph Haydn, and Ludwig van Beethoven.
PART II – Mammatus
Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s choreographic work Mammatus takes its name from the striking cloud formations that appear beneath storm clouds, creating sculptural shapes across the sky. Under this dramatic “sky,” dancers emerge on stage resembling a flock of black birds, driven by the powerful rhythms of Michael Gordon’s Weather One.
The piece explores the fragile balance between order and chaos, the force of nature, and instinctive movement. The dancers’ bodies seem carried by the wind, while individual gestures merge into a single living organism. Dynamic and visually compelling, the choreography brings together natural elements, sound, and collective movement in a captivating theatrical experience.
PART III – Nachtmerrie
Marco Goecke’s Nachtmerrie immerses the audience in a world of dreams, memories, and the subconscious. The title, which means “nightmare” in Dutch, is not associated with fear by the choreographer. On the contrary, it becomes a space where old loves, memories, and long-hidden emotions unexpectedly return.
This pas de deux unfolds like a strange dream in which reality blends with surreal imagery, while moments of calm are continually interrupted by unexpected turns. Music by Keith Jarrett creates an intimate, dreamlike atmosphere, which is unexpectedly disrupted in the final section by Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance. As the choreographer himself once remarked, it is like telling an absurd dream and ending it with: “And then Lady Gaga appeared!”
We warmly invite you to experience this rare opportunity to encounter three distinct choreographic voices in a single evening and discover world-class contemporary dance in Klaipėda.
