Credit: Johan Persson
On Friday 29 September and Saturday 30 September 2017, the Grand Théâtre will host the world premier of Dystopian Dream, featuring Nitin Sawhney, Sébastien Ramirez & Honji Wang, with both performances at 20:00.
Nitin Sawhney is a pioneering musician, producer and composer noted for spearheading the 90’s “Asian Underground” movement with his ground-breaking and Mercury-nominated album, Beyond Skin. Dystopian Dream is his 10th studio album released on 6th November 2015. At the time, Sawhney described the album as “a journey towards a light at the end of an infinite tunnel”, focusing on themes of loss, isolation, surrender and continuity. Now, Luxembourg audiences have the privilege to experience the world premiere of Dystopian Dream, the full theatrical production of Nitin’s album, choreographed by the acclaimed Wang Ramirez dance company in collaboration with Nitin Sawhney.
Bessie award-winning choreographers Sébastien Ramirez and Honji Wang are renowned for developing a unique movement language rooted in hip hop that incorporates multiple artistic vocabularies. They have ingeniously reimagined this urban dance form with vivid abstractions and intelligent, innovative theatricality.
This remarkable cross-fertilisation of music and dance that speaks of many worlds will integrate cutting-edge sustainable energy technology, animation and film aiming to create a theatrical experience which is infused with excellence, accessibility, adventure and surprise. Although this is their first collaboration, none of the artists are newcomers to Luxembourg; Wang Ramirez were at Breakin’ Convention in 2016 and Nitin Sawhney worked with Akram Khan for Confluence in 2012.
Sawhney’s music typically reflects the moods, aggravations and dysfunctions in society and Dystopian Dream muses on the rise of popularism and increasing expressions of hostility to immigrants. Overall, the ambiance is moody, frustrated trip-hop, enlivened with Indian instrumentation and intricate guitar solos.
This stage interpretation focuses on themes of loss, isolation and surrender combining choreography, music and theatre to take the audience on a journey through parallel universes and dreams. Wang Ramirez’s hip-hop-influenced dance language is united with Sawhney’s iconic music, to generate a mesmerising creation. They combine animated projections, lighting and set to create a stunning visual show that is a delight for the eyes as well as the ears.
Running time approx. 75 mins. (no intermission)
Production Sadler's Wells London; Co-production Compagnie Wang Ramirez, Clash66, Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg, Théâtre de la Ville-Paris, Stanford Live, Théâtre de l’Archipel, scène nationale de Perpignan; Support With the support of COLAS
Tickets cost €25, €20, €15 (U26 €8) from www.lestheatres.lu or www.luxembourgticket.lu
