Sarcasms

About

Prague ballet enthusiasts experienced a long-awaited moment in 2018 when Andrey Kaydanovskiy’s Perfect Example was performed at the National Theatre. His mother was a dancer in the Bolshoi Theatre, kindling his love for the ballet. This rich cultural heritage, combined with his studies in Germany and Austria, shapes his distinctive creative vision. In 2007, he joined the Wiener Staatsoper as a dancer, a pivotal step in his artistic journey before turning his focus to choreography. In his new work, Kaydanovskiy delves into timeless existential questions: Where are we running to? Where or from what? Life is like a race from birth to death. Like being on a hamster wheel with a carrot on a stick. You always wait for things to finally calm down. You have the desire to stop time. Is it even possible?

A towering international dance figure, Hans van Manen has created some 150 ballets, which have been staged by theatres worldwide. His Frank Bridge Variations forms part of the triple bill Beyond Vibrations, premiered at the National Theatre in Prague in 2023. The Czech National Ballet will now present Van Manen’s playful Sarcasmen, to Sergei Prokofiev’s Sarcasms, a set of five eerie pieces for piano.

KATASTROF | Eyal Dadon
"One day, I was on a flight from Vietnam to China. Suddenly, in a terrifying two-second moment, the plane dropped, the lights went out, and it felt like something out of a horror movie. Passengers screamed and panicked, but I didn't hear a thing—I had my headphones on, and the noise cancellation was nearly perfect. I was listening to Let It Go from Frozen, and the timing was surreal, as it was right at the chorus." E.D.

When catastrophe meets sarcasm, a unique tension emerges, highlighting our ability to find light even in darkness. This contrast reflects the human struggle against adversity, showing how we search for meaning or solace even when things feel dire.