Mixed ballet programme
Four of The Royal Ballet's Artistic Associate Christopher Wheeldon’s most distinctive short works are brought to the Covent Garden stage, bringing together sensuous contemporary ballet with the energy of musical theatre.
-Luminescent and shimmering, Fool’s Paradise (2007) marked the first of Wheeldon’s many collaborations with composer Joby Talbot. It was created for Wheeldon’s own company, Morphoses, and first performed in 2012 by The Royal Ballet.
-The wistful songs of Joni Mitchell set the scene for the UK premiere of The Two of Us (2020), a duet of deep intimacy and yearning. It was created for the Fall for Dance Festival in New York, and had American ballet dancers Sarah Mearns and David Hallberg in its original cast.
-Us (2017) is a tender duet danced by two men. It was created for BalletBoyz and is set to Keaten Henson’s music.
-The Royal Ballet celebrates Wheeldon’s extraordinary success in musical theatre by performing the ballet scene from his Tony Award-winning musical An American in Paris (2005). Set to Gershwin’s jazzy melodies, the musical was inspired by the 1951 film of the same name starring Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron. This ballet excerpt was Wheeldon’s take on one of the most memorable scenes from the film – an extended sequence in which the two central characters dance through Paris.
Four stories of tender devotion and blossoming romance, showcasing Wheeldon’s remarkable choreographic range.
