The 'Black and White Ballets'


Overview

The title of the 'Black and White Ballets' was not created by Jiří Kylián, but rather a dance critic who has grouped these ballets together, due to their obvious similarities. Kylián has not acknowledged this group of ballets as the 'Black and White Ballets'. Yet, as they were created at a time when Kylián shifted his choreographic focus, it is imperative for your analysis of 'Sarabande' to look at it in the context of all of the 'Black and White Ballets'.

The themes of these works generally represent Kylián’s philosophy with his work. What is life, love, existence? Throughout all of these works the use of symbols, metaphors, paradoxes, questions without answers, puzzles and games are evident. The works are approximately 15 minutes each.

There is almost no colour, most have no sets, there are few props/objects but when these occur they are very significant (dresses, apples, foils). There is an imaginative and effective lighting design which is often used to hide or reveal dancers and body parts.

Common characteristics of the 'Black and White Ballets' are:

  • the edge of the stage is black and dancers emerge from and disappear into blackness

  • the use of body percussion such as slaps, claps and stamps

  • the pendulum, the arc, the clock

  • the concave spine

  • the expressive use of hands, arms and face

  • the use of duos, trios, quartets

  • lyrical phrases are coordinated with sharp and angular phrases in addition to twitches, spasms etc.

  • lighting which is used purposefully to hide or reveal bodies

  • themes of life, death, the quest for meaning in an irrational world and roles within society.


Watch the video below to hear Jiří Kylián speak about his philosophies on life.

Activity

  1. Select one more of the 'Black and White Ballets' and compare and contrast this with 'Sarabande'. Consider aspects such as themes, colours, movement, props, costumes, gender of dancers. This could be presented as a Venn diagram, in a table or as a paragraph of information.

  2. Compare and contrast 'Falling Angels' and 'Sarabande'. Again, consider aspects such as themes, colours, movement, props, costumes, gender of dancers. Present this information as a piece of extended writing.

Image link to worksheet

Watch the 'Black and White Ballets'

'Six Dances' (1988)

Themes

The work presents satirical ideas about men, women and relationships, layered with a vision of the world on Sun King, Louis XIV. As such, the work may provide commentary on the role of men and women in life and in dance. Men are portrayed as vulnerable and often inhabit the baroque dresses and women are represented in a way that is not conventionally graceful or feminine.

Costumes

Off white. Men in pantaloons and wigs, women in long gowns with fitted bodices.

Props

The apple, the foil and the Baroque dress.

Music

Mozart’s 6 German Dances K.571.

Common movement features/motifs

Exaggerated facial expressions are evident throughout and in this work they are humorous. Use of a pointing gesture and the finger to the lips are seen. Flexed feet, knees and elbows initiate movement, the eight dancers look as if they are being strung along by unseen puppeteers.

Watch 'Six Dances' (0:00-13:47) in the clip below.

'Petit Mort' (1991)

Themes

Literally meaning ‘small death’, which serves as a paraphrase for orgasm in French. Created for the Salzburg Festival on the second centenary of Mozart’s death, it features six men, six females and six foils. The foils have the function to be actual dance partners, and at times seem more unruly and obstinate than a partner of flesh and blood. They visualise a symbolism, which is more present than a story line. Aggression, sexuality, energy, silence, cultivated senselessness and vulnerability – they all play a significant part.

Costumes

Flesh-toned corset and briefs.

Props

Foils (imitation fencing swords), black Baroque dresses.

Music

Mozart’s Piano Concerto Number 23 and Piano Concerto Number 21.

Common movement features/motifs

Sensual interplay between males and females. Slashing of foils and foils used to point and initiate movement.

Watch a trailer for 'Petit Mort' below.

'No More Play' (1988)

Themes

Inspired by a small sculpture by Alberto – a simple, slightly deformed board game with little craters, ditches and two pieces of wood resembling human figures. The stark white checkerboard lighting suggests a chess board. One might feel as if they have been invited to a game, the rules of which are being kept secret or never determined. But as you begin to play this mysterious game, you start to learn its laws – only sometimes too late.

Costumes

The Baroque dress appears again as a shell. Plain black leotards are worn by the females and the men are in plain black pants and grey shirts.

Props

The Baroque dress shell – worn by a man.

Music

Anton Webern’s 5 Movements, Op.5.

Common movement features/motifs

Hands held over eyes and stomach, hand over mouth, pointing and flicking the hands behind the back. Isolated body parts are illuminated and there is a visual play on disembodiment.

Watch a trailer for 'No More Play' below.

'Sweet Dreams' (1990)

Themes

Surreal landscape of men and women in black focused on green apples. An apple is the symbol of original sin, taken from the Tree of Knowledge by Eve as she succumbed to Satan’s temptation. By contrast Carl Jun interpreted the same apple as a symbol of life. The apple is also a symbol of affection – the apple of one’s eye, an apple for the teacher. Kylián explains, 'The apple is a traditional symbol of temptation and guilt, degrading the act of love to a sinful event'. It is, he writes, 'up to us to identify or to distance ourselves from this pre-conceived burden' of guilt.

Costumes

In keeping with the Baroque theme of the 'Black and White Ballets' male and female dancers are dressed in waistcoats and corsets, contemporary versions of their historical counter parts in 'Six Dances'.

Props

Green apples that transform into goggles, a telescope, breasts and progeny.

Music

Anton Webern’s 'Six Pieces for Orchestra' Op.6.

Common movement features/motifs

The apple initiates and controls movement. It is used as a weapon, a support structure to walk on and a physical connection between males and females. Apples fly through the air on wires and tumble down a steeply raked platform over a reclining female.

Watch 'Sweet Dreams' (13:48-28:32) in the clip below.

'Falling Angels' (1989)

Themes

'A piece about our profession'. An all female cast depict females and female dancers who aim to achieve perfection, but succumb to various stages of the human female psyche such as, ambition, seduction, pregnancy, birth, death, motherhood and self-awareness. Performed by a cast of 8 women.

Costumes

Plain black, short unitard.

Props

None. Lighting is used to define space and to hide and reveal dancers and body parts.

Music

Steven Reich live drumming.

Common movement features/motifs

Bird, wing type movements. Gestures such as hitting hand to head, pulling at stomach, waving, hand covering mouth.

Watch 'Falling Angels' below.

'Sarabande' (1990)

Themes

The work is for 6 male dancers and is often seen as a counterpart to 'Falling Angels'. It depicts the ideas of masculinity in contemporary society. Males are shown as vulnerable and the Baroque dresses floating above the stage appear to give birth to the men and then hover somewhat menacingly over them.

Costumes

Black pants and flesh coloured t-shirts.

Props

Baroque style dresses floating above the stage, t-shirts and the black stage wings are used.

Music

Bach’s 'Sarabande' and distorted live body percussion.

Common movement features/motifs

The scream, open symmetrical positions, pointing gestures, feminine gestures, sensual movements.

Watch 'Sarabande' (28:33-48:54) in the clip below.

References and images