This December, the Ballets de Monte-Carlo’s annual Monaco Dance Forum showcase will once again captivate audiences with its curated lineup of world-renowned dance companies and choreographers. Attendees can look forward to a series of breathtaking performances and engaging events that celebrate the artistry and diversity of the dance world.
The Monaco Dance Forum, the yearly extravaganza presented by the Ballets de Monte-Carlo, will take place this year at the Grimaldi Forum and Théâtre des Variétés from 11th to 18th December. It will feature acts from around the world, as well as an inspiring series of workshops, film screenings, and educational activities.
The festival kicks off on 11th December with the Peeping Tom Company’s performance of Diptych, a ballet exploring time, memory, and portents, revolving around the illusions, utopias, and lost loves of characters who act out their own deeply flawed personal narratives.
Flamenco master Israel Galván is up next on 12th December with La Edad de Oro. He will perform pieces from flamenco’s golden age in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Filled with passion, the singing and guitar playing are as integral as the dance, and this dramatic piece will highlight the emotional depth of this Spanish genre.
The Staatsballet Wiesbaden will team up with legendary choreographer Ohad Naharin for Last Work on 13th December. This unique creation sees a principal dancer running in place as the world swirls around them, as if caught in a hurricane. Intense and symbolic, this is a can’t-miss event on the schedule.
For a change of pace, the event on 15th December offers a cinematic reprieve with a screening of the 1956 Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse classic, Silk Stockings. Directed by Rouben Mamoulian with music by Cole Porter, this film is considered one of the era’s greats.
Exotic and surreal, the Akram Khan Company will bring Chotto Desh to the Monaco stage on 16th December, sharing a tale of a boy’s memories spanning from Britain to Bangladesh. This performance is perfect for the whole family.
Then, La Compagnie Eugénie Andrin will present Dance Marathon on 17th December. This tribute to the dance marathons popular in the United States during the Great Depression of the 1930s demonstrates resilience and positivity in the face of extreme poverty.
Finally, on 18th December, Jo Strømgren Kompani, formerly of the Oslo Dance Ensemble, will showcase Made in Oslo, a contemporary work comprising three different pieces that portray various facets of modern life.
For the complete Monaco Dance Forum schedule and to buy tickets, click here.
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Photo source: Akram Khan Company