Season Start
«Navy Blue»
Oona Doherty
10 dancers plunge through galactic blackness, existential horror and shimmering hope. Together with music by Rachmaninov and Jamie xx, the result is a dazzling exploration of the form of classical ballet.
Fri 10/04 8:00 PM
Halle Ost
Sat 10/05 8:00 PM
Halle Ost
NAVY BLUE is Doherty’s first work for the big stage, a dark choreography for ten dancers cast throughout Europe. Based on Sergei Rachmaninoffs Piano Concerto No. 2, a work that reflects his own depression and its overcoming, Doherty translates the classical ideal of crisis and redemption into the present: the unison of the classical ballet is is flavored with fear and dragged through an exsistential dread. Until a rebirth emerges an a attempt of freedom, of redemption, of future is re-stated. Doherty’s work is angry and defiant to the point of physical pain, but always also sensitive and tender, self-aware and in search of meditative healing. Thus, NAVY BLUE, which will be premiered with a multitude of international partners as the opening of the Summer Festival, with all its abyss it is also an appeal to the beauty of life and for social change.
Acess means: This show contains a gun shot sound effect, brief nudity, strong language, and intermittent loud music.
Artis talk
Following the performance on Friday, 4th of October, there will be an artist talk with Oona Doherty in Halle Ost – everyone in the audience is warmly invited. The conversation will be held in English with a German whisper translation.
Workshop
On Saturday, 05.10.24, there will be the opportunity to learn movement language and material from the performance »Navy Blue« together with Oona Doherty. The free workshop is open to dancers, choreographers, performers and anyone interested in movement.
Location: Tanzhaus Zürich
More information and registration here.
About the artist
Oona Doherty, born in London in 1986, is an Irish dancer, choreographer and artist from Belfast whose dance style is known for its strength, expression of anger and tenderness. Doherty studied at the London School of Contemporary Dance, the University of Ulster and the Laban Centre London and worked for four years with the Dutch company «T.R.A.S.H.», which is known for its punk, experimental style. She has won numerous awards for her choreography, such as the «Best Performers Award» at the «Tiger Dublin Fringe Awards 2016» for her piece «Hope Hunt». In 2021, she was awarded the Silver Lion at the Venice Dance Biennale. In 2024 she became one of Sadlers Wells Associates and won a CHANEL Next Prize.
Credit: Dajana Lothert
Credit: Dajana Lothert
Credit: D.Matvejevas