An Evening With León & Lightfoot at Den Norske Opera & Ballett

León and Lightfoot are back! The weird and wonderful world of the two choreographers has fascinated Norwegian audiences, and The Norwegian National Ballet will now perform three of the duo’s ballets – two of which will be performed in Norway for the first time.

Playful, humorous and absurd are words that come up time and again in descriptions of Sol León and Paul Lightfoot’s dance. With their characteristic, at times Chaplin-like style, they pull emotional strings. Behind the wild abandon is technique of steel, but as an audience member you are free to create your own stories from the events on stage. There is no single, specific story here – but be prepared to be transported to unique and special worlds.

Paul Lightfoot has described their signature ballet Sad Case as “a tsunami of energy,” and the piece will now be performed in Norway for the first time. Here, we meet five searching characters who perform to mechanical mambo music. The performance is funny and peculiar in an unmistakably León and Lightfoot way.

In Sleight of Hand, the choreographic duo take a step towards the theatrical, inviting the audience into a mystical and dramatic universe consisting of eight dancers, two monumental figures and the interplay of light and shadow.

Both the Norwegian premiere of Sleight of Hand and the evening’s last ballet are performed to Philip Glass’s insistent, beautiful music. In Same Difference we meet seven cunning characters who occupy a dark, surreal world. “Here, The Norwegian National Ballet show how unexpected combinations of music and environment can achieve great comic effects,” wrote Vårt Land when the ballet entertained the audience in 2012.

The Norwegian National Ballet now has 13 works by the choreographic duo in its repertoire.

Saturdance 17 September, 13.00 in the Opera Foyer
Free introduction one hour before the performance

This program is a co-production between The Netherlands Dans Theater and Den Norske Opera & Ballett