Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring to be main dance show at Galway Arts Festival
Scenes from Fabulous Beast's production of The Rite of Spring.
By Kernan Andrews
Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, an extremely controversial ballet in its day, but appreciated now as a pioneering classic, will be staged at this year’s Galway Arts Festival.
The production, along with another Stravinsky ballet, Petrushka, will receive its Irish premiere at the Black Box Theatre on Monday July 22 during Galway Arts Festival, which runs from July 15 to 28.
The show was announced yesterday afternoon in the ABSOLUT Festival Gallery, Galway Shopping Centre, with 10 dancers from the Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre, wearing animal headpieces/masks from The Rite of Spring.
The show is a major international co-production by the Galway Arts Festival; Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre; Sadler’s Wells, London; Movimentos Festival, Wolfsburg; Brisbane Festival; and Melbourne Festival. The production will tour Europe and Australia throughout 2013.
The show is choreographed by Michael Keegan-Dolan, whose extraordinary interpretation of Giselle was one of outstanding shows of the 2008 Galway Arts Festival
Keegan-Dolan’s production of The Rite of Spring premiered at the London Coliseum in 2009 to critical acclaim and an Olivier nomination. The Times called it “inspired” and “exhilarating”.
The Galway production will feature concert pianists Lidija and Sanja Bizjak; the Tony and Olivier Award winning designer Rae Smith (War Horse); lighting designer Adam Silverman, whose work was last seen in Galway in Misterman in 2011; while the costume designer for Petrushka is Doey Lüthi.
“We are thrilled to work with Fabulous Beast and our co-producing partners on what promises to be one the most exciting dance productions in Ireland this year,” said Galway Arts Festival artistic director Paul Fahy. “Michael is one of the most imaginative and brilliant choreographers and directors working on the international stage.”
Booking opens on www.galwayartsfestival.com on Wednesday March 27.
