Mythologies

2022 Creation

Piece for 20 dancers
Choreography Angelin Preljocaj
Original music Thomas Bangalter
Interpretation Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine
Musical direction Romain Dumas
Scenography Adrien Chalgard
Lights Éric Soyer
Costumes Adeline André
Video Nicolas Clauss
Assistant, Deputy to the Artistic Direction Youri Aharon Van den Bosch
Rehearsal assistant Cécile Médour
Choreologist Dany Lévêque
Ballet Preljocaj Baptiste Coissieu, Mirea Delogu, Antoine Dubois, Clara Freschel, Verity Jacobsen, Tommaso Marchignoli, Emma Perez Sequeda, Mireia Reyes Valenciano, Khevyn Sigismondi, Cecilia Torres Morillo
Ballet de l’Opéra national de Bordeaux Marini Da Silva Vianna, Vanessa Feuillatte, Anna Guého, Ryota Hasegawa, Alice Leloup, Riku Ota, Oleg Rogachev, Ahyun Shin, Clara Spitz, Tangui Trévinal
Production Ballet Preljocaj and National Opera of Bordeaux Ballet
Production initially created by the partnership between Ballet Preljocaj and National Opera of Bordeaux Ballet
Premiered From 01 to 10 July 2022 at Grand-Théâtre de Bordeaux (With orchestra)
Crédit photo Photos 1,3 et 5 © Didier Philispart © / Photos 2,4 et 6 © Jean-Claude Carbonne / Teaser © Telmondis
Watch the video teaser


An exploration of the founding myths that shape our imagination. The allegories of Zeus, the Minotaur, Icarus, and even Roland Barthes question the history of humanity and resonate with current events, set to the symphonic music of ex-Daft Punk member Thomas Bangalter.

For this project, Angelin Preljocaj brings together ten dancers from the Ballet Preljocaj and ten dancers from the Opera National de Bordeaux. This collaboration began in 2018 through a partnership between both companies, which resulted in the creation of Ghost that same year, an immersion in the world of Marius Petipa. It also led the Ballet de l’Opera National de Bordeaux to work on several reprises of works such as Snow White, La Stravaganza and Un trait d’union.

In Mythologies, Angelin Preljocaj explores our contemporary rituals, along with the founding myths that shape our collective imagination. Like the impressionists before him, Preljocaj utilises our ideals and beliefs to reveal what is lying within the folds of our existence, thus inducing a dialogue between ancient and modern mythologies.

Beyond the legendary tales and stories he enjoys choreographing, myths and mythology have been inspiring Angelin Preljocaj since the very beginning of his career.
À nos héros (1986) mocked totalitarian gestures and the faith in political mythology. Hallali Romée (1987) presented the “virgin of Orléans” as a very unorthodox heroin. Annunciation (1995) embodied the founding act of religions. Eldorado (2007) turned the mystical and highly ironical atmosphere of Stockhausen’s music into God’s private ritual. And then, One thousand years of peace (2010), based on the Apocalypse of John, was an early attempt at unveiling the reality that hides between the lines of our modern rituals. And finally, La Fresque (The painting on the wall) (2016) followed the footsteps of ancestral, belligerent and tribal figures.

“Dance being an art of the inexpressible par excellence, isn’t it best able to expose our fears, our anxieties and our hopes? It stigmatises our rituals and uncovers the incongruity of our postures, whether they are social, religious or pagan.”

Angelin Preljocaj

PRESS QUOTES

 

“Scenes and tableaux unfold in a kaleidoscope of dramatic stories and images performed by 20 virtuosic dancers (…).
The costumes range from ancient tunics to black latex balaclava. As to the music, it’s in the same league as Star Wars composer John Williams. So be prepared to be wowed by the visual and aural experience and embark on an epic journey into the history of humanity.”

Le Parisien

“Outstanding mythologies “Pretext”, “text” and “context” are the premises for the works of Angelin Preljocaj.
The myth of Icarus, the Naiads or the Amazons are the “pretext”; sensual, erotic, frantic dance is the “context”; seemingly immemorial violence is the “context”. Mythologies is a suite of tableaux sublimated by Eric Soyer’s chiaroscuro lighting, a reflection of our society and a brilliant dance troupe show.”
Madame Figaro

“Twenty scenes for an ambitious and spellbinding journey into human imagination.”
Télérama