Classics, new works for dance season

Watch the classic tale of star-crossed lovers unfold in dance next year as the Singapore Dance Theatre opens their 2014 season with Goh Choo San's Romeo And Juliet. The ballet, set to Prokofiev's powerful score, will bookend the season along with Don Quixote in December, the company's first full-length ballet since 2007.

When the curtain rises on Shakespeare's tragedy in March, it will be only the third time that the company is staging Romeo And Juliet by the late Singapore-born choreographer since its company premiere in 2000.

Artistic director Janek Schergen calls it "the most timeless love story in the world". He adds: "Romeo And Juliet is one of those things that I have to wait long enough to do, because I'd do it almost every other year if I could.

"It's such a magnificent ballet, it's got something for everyone and it is truly wonderful."

Tickets for the production went on sale last week.

The other major production next year is Don Quixote, which will close the season in December. The classical ballet, which is based on the story by Miguel de Cervantes, will be the company's first new full-length work in seven years, since Swan Lake in 2007. The ballet, which tells of the heroic adventures of an aged knight, will be staged by American Cynthia Harvey and set to soaring music by Ludwig Minkus.

Schergen, 61, says: "Don Q was the most obvious ballet that we're missing in our repertoire. It has great music, the right characterisations and the right everything, so the company really needs to do it."

In between the two full-length productions, the company will offer its usual staples: children's programme Peter And Blue, Ballet Under The Stars, Masterpiece In Motion and Passages. It will also be taking part in the Esplanade's annual da:ns festival for the third time with Intermezzo, a triple bill of new works by Asian choreographers.

Peter And Blue's Forest Adventure, an hour-long ballet which is targeted at children aged three and above, will run for eight performances at the Esplanade Theatre Studio in June. Schergen, who created the story and choreography for the ballet, says: "We usually try to create a new one every year, but it's been three years since we did Forest Adventure, and that's where we started four years ago, so we'll be doing that again."

Ballet Under The Stars will return in July, with its usual two weekends, one classical and one contemporary. Alongside a new work by Australian choreographer Natalie Weir, the company will also be staging George Balanchine's Theme And Variations and Val Caniparoli's Chant.

Caniparoli will also feature in September's Masterpiece In Motion, the company's annual triple bill of established choreographers. They will perform Caniparoli's Swipe for the first time, a piece which Schergen says has "really great music, and is a fast-paced, enjoyable, kick-in-the-head ballet".

Singapore Dance Theatre will also be taking part in the Esplanade's annual da:ns festival in October for the third time, with a show featuring world premieres from Christina Chan, Ma Cong and Toru Shimazaki. Schergen says: "They balance one another out. Christina has her own unique view of choreography, while Toru likes group work. Ma Cong is a person who comes from a ballet background and is very neoclassical in his outlook."

Because of its participation in da:ns, the company will be downsizing Passages, its annual workshop and showcase of emerging choreographers. Instead of presenting the workshop pieces at an external theatre, it will be holding a small showcase in its own studio at Bugis Plus.

Schergen says: "The most important thing about Passages is the workshop and choreography development, not the performance."

lting@sph.com.sg

Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.