ECHOES OF VAN GOGHWEST AUSTRALIAN BALLET & WEST AUSTRALIAN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
As night falls, Vincent Van Gogh’s eclectic creations will come to life in dance. See Dutch choreographer Wubkje Kuindersma’s vision of the famous painter's tumultuous life take the stage for the first time in this passionate and complex new ballet.
Echoes of Van Gogh broadly follows Vincent van Gogh's development as an artist chronologically. However, it is not a biographical portrait. The aim is to share his personal fascinations: nature, painting, colors, people, with the audience. We focus on his inner need to express himself, the tenacious will to develop as an artist, and his longing to be part of a greater whole. Even though Van Gogh's personality is extraordinary and specific, the ballet deals with universal human questions: identity, a place in the world, a personal destiny. The makers see Van Gogh as an eternal outsider, who longs to be an insider. He wants to be together with fellow artists, women, and the simple, hardworking people he loves to portray. Echoes of Van Gogh - Kuindersma's ballet for West Australian Ballet got nominated in Australia for Performing Arts WA Awards in 4 categories in juli 2024, for Outstanding New Work 2023, Best Production 2023, Outstanding Duet or Ensemble (Dance) – Ludovico Di Ubaldo & Juan Carlos Osma (as Vincent & Theo) Outstanding Performer (Dance) – Ludovico Di Ubaldo (as Vincent ) Echoes of Van Gogh received 2 PAWA Awards on 12th August 2024 : Dancers Ludovico Di Ubaldi & Juan Carlos Osma won the Outstanding Duets or Ensemble Award for the Brother Duet of Vincent & Theo in Echoes of Van Gogh. Di Unbaldi also won the Outstanding Performer Award for his role as Vincent Van Gogh. The 2024 Performing Arts WA Awards ceremony were held on 12th August 2024 in the Heath Ledger Theatre in Perth. The awards celebrate the professional live performing arts in West Australia. video by Nik Babic
|
ECHOES OF VAN GOGH
Potato eaters /
dancers of West Australian Ballet /
photo : Bradbury
Ludovico Di Ubaldo as Vincent /
Oscar Valdes as Gaugain
|
|
...." Achingly beautiful in every aspect – the must-see production of 2023."...
".....Wubkje Kuindersma’s choreography is fluid and organic, creatively conveying the love and support that exists between siblings, lovers and fellow artists. The synergy between the music and choreography is satisfying, impressive, heartbreaking and, at times, even comical...."
Artshub
"..Beauty and tragedy echo from canvas to stage"..."...The areas where “Echoes” and the performers excel are Kuindersma’s beautifully choreographed duets, trios and group sections. Act one contains a series of group sections depicting peasants working the field, clad in straw hats and ultramarine blue overalls (apparently Van Gogh’s favourite blue). These group pieces have a tone and driving choreography reminiscent of Martha Graham’s Appalachian Spring. ..."
Seesaw
"....One of the crowning moments in bringing his masterpieces to life is when the screen is filled with the vivid images of the faces of the rather grubby, dour workers at lunch in The Potato Eaters. Kuindersma’s powerfully driven choreographic structure is enthralling.
In front of the painting, eight dancers sit on either side of a long dark table, dressed similarly to the workers in brown hues, with the women wearing white bonnets with a protective frill at the nape. They begin to stand, move and cavort around and alongside the table. Sometimes they freeze in time with the music when it stops abruptly and, in Buswell’s play of light, look exactly as though they were in the painting themselves. It was one of many magical moments...."
Limelight
