“With this new reimagining of Swan Lake, [Michael Keegan-Dolan] elevates it to a place of bleak, funny and astoundingly poetic beauty.” —The Guardian (UK)
In this gorgeous, large-scale contemporary adaptation of the famous story ballet Swan Lake, the lake is black plastic, the prince is suicidal, the swans wear convent frocks, and the set is an assemblage of concrete and steel. From the imagination of Michael Keegan-Dolan, one of Ireland’s foremost dance-theater makers, comes a world of magical realism with a beauty as fierce and rugged as the land itself. Ancient Irish mythology meets modern Ireland head-on in a performance laced with comic vignettes and raw, exquisite movement. The piece has become an international hit since its sold-out premiere at the Dublin Theatre Festival. This rare US presentation includes an emotionally textured Nordic- and Celtic-infused score, performed live by Dublin’s Slow Moving Clouds.
The performance takes place in the Walker’s McGuire Theater on Thursday, October 24, Friday, October 25 and Saturday, October 26 at 8pm and Sunday, October 27 at 2pm. Tickets are $45 or $32 for balcony seating, $36 and $25.60 for Walker members.
Contains gun shots, references to suicide, and depictions of physical and sexual violence. Program length: 75 minutes.
Copresented by Northrop, University of Minnesota.
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Artist website
Read Bachtack’s Swan Lake review
Read Irish Times review
Read The Guardian review
ABOUT MICHAEL KEEGAN-DOLAN AND TEAċ DAṀSA
Michael Keegan-Dolan (Micháel MacAodhagáin-O’Dobhailen) founded Teaċ Daṁsa in 2016 as a means to forge deeper connections with the traditions, language and the music of Ireland. The name Teaċ Daṁsa ‘House of Dance’ in Classical Irish, reflects Michael’s ongoing journey to create dance and theatre work that clearly reflects the place from which it originates.
Swan Lake / Loch na hEala is the first production made by TeaĊ Daṁsa. and continues the tradition of ground-breaking productions for which Michael is reputed. It won the Irish Times Theatre Award 2017 for Best New Production and The UK Critics’ Circle National Dance Award for Best Production 2018.
Michael rose to acclaim as the artistic director of Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre (1997-2015), creating three Olivier Award-nominated productions: Giselle (2003), The Bull (2005), and The Rite of Spring (2009). In 2004, Giselle won an Irish Times Theatre Award and The Bull received a UK Critic’s Circle National Dance Award in 2008. Rian, created in 2011, won a Bessie Award (New York Dance and Performance Award) in 2013 for Best Production.
In 2012 he directed and choreographed a new production of Handel’s Julius Caesar at the London Coliseum, for English National Opera. In 2015 he created an original piece, The Big Noise, for the GoteborgOperans DansKompani working closely with celebrated Nordic Folk Musician, Ale Moller. As Guest Artistic Director of the National Youth Dance Company at Sadler’s Wells London for the 2015 – 2016 season, Michael created In-Nocentes. In March 2017, he devised a new work to Dvorak’s 8th Symphony for the Dance Company at the Gärtnerplatztheater, Munich.
ABOUT NORTHROP, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
Located in the heart of the University of Minnesota campus, Northrop presents world-class dance and music performances, speakers, comedians, films, exhibits, and more. Northrop has opened new worlds to generations of diverse audiences and been a catalyst for innovation and learning since 1929. For nearly 50 years, Northrop has been home to the signature Dance Season of national and international ballet and contemporary dance. Visit Northrop.umn.edu for more.
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