6000 Miles Away

6000 Miles Away is a truly bewitching production from Sadler’s Wells London and internationally acclaimed dancer Sylvie Guillem.

Elusive, delicate, unpredictable and impulsive, Guillem is certainly one of the most accomplished and enthralling dancers to watch. Technically brilliant and prepared to challenge dance conventions, with this triple bill she has collaborated with renowned choreographers Mats Ek, William Forsythe and Jiří Kylián to create three true masterpieces which take an experimental approach to the marriage of classical ballet and contemporary dance.  

The choreography for 6000 Miles Away is set to exquisite musical compositions; eerie soundscapes containing elements of percussive accompaniments and bounding, playful and excitable rhythms. The connection between movement and sound is further enhanced by a superb play of shadow and light; at times the dancers disappeared completely, at the perfect moment, leaving a sense of anticipation and longing for their return.

The first part of the bill, 27’52”, is danced by Václav Kuneš and Nataša Novotná, with the participation of Benjamin Stuart-Carberry. Choreographed and set designed by Kylián using minimal stage props, the dancers imbue the scene with an incredible sense of tension, delight and craving. The costumes for this work are designed by Joke Visser, with music by Dirk P. Haubrich (New Composition, based upon themes by Gustav Mahler). The piece plays on a particularly uncanny yet magnificent relationship between what appears to be an exploration of shifts between forwards and backwards movements and sound.

Guillem is joined with Massimo Murru in the second work, Forsythe’s Rearray, featuring with music by David Morrow. While undoubtedly Guillem is the star of this show, Murru provides a strong accompaniment. The work begins with such humour generated by the two dancers that uncontainable giggles ripple throughout the audience; it immediately engages with a sentiment of juvenile but immensely endearing play.  

The third and final part of the bill is Ek’s Bye, in which Guillem dances through the most mesmerising of journeys, cleverly playing with theatre, film and a wonderful lighting design. Ek has set his choreography to a recording of Ludwig Van Beethoven’s Piano Sonata Op.111, Arietta, performed by Ivo Pogorelich. Co-produced by Dansens Hus Stockholm, wit h set and costume design by Katrin Brännström, this piece – although seemingly equal in length to the other two part of the bill – passes too quickly, its artistry leaving the audience never wanting to leave into Guillem’s magical world; a world in which her delightful, quirky playfulness is sited on absolute intelligence and technical mastery.

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

6000 Miles Away

A Sadler’s Wells London – Sylvie Guillem Production

Lighting: Kees Tjebbes (27’52”), Rachel Shipp (Rearray) and Erik Berglund (Bye)

Cast: Sylvie Guillem, Václav Kuneš, Nataša Novotná, Massimo Murru and Benjamin Stuart–Carberry

Festival Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre

1 – 4 March

27’52” – Choreography and set design: Jiří Kylián with Václav Kuneš, Nataša Novotná
Rearray – Choreography, lighting concept, costumes: William Forsythe with Sylvie Guillem, Massimo Murru
Bye – Choreography: Mats Ek with Sylvie Guillem

www.adelaidefestival.com.au

1 – 17 March