Ghost Light

In the organizer's words:

Internationally, the Hamburg Ballet was one of the first companies to resume work in the ballet hall after the shutdown. John Neumeier developed the idea of creating a ballet that not only respected the established rule of spacing, but at the same time made it the basis of the structure. The work was an exercise in creativity, born out of a need felt by the choreographer and his dancers.

John Neumeier's concept involves all 60 dancers in his company. Keeping in mind the spacing requirement, he designs the practical work in small groups of two to a maximum of eight dancers. "'Ghost Light' is an ensemble ballet that I develop in fragments. It is comparable to individual instrumental parts of a symphony - or a traditional Japanese meal: a sequence of carefully arranged, hopefully 'delicious' miniatures. How the individual parts ultimately combine to form a work will depend on the moment when we are allowed to get close and touch each other again on stage," says John Neumeier.

With the title "Ghost Light", John Neumeier takes up a tradition of the American theater. After rehearsals or performances, a metal stand with a single light bulb is placed in the middle of the stage. The light indicates that no performer is allowed to use the stage. The Ghost Light burns all night long - until the stage fills with life again.


Music: Franz Schubert
Choreography, stage, lighting and costumes: John Neumeier
Costumes from "The Lady of the Camellias" and "The Nutcracker" by Jürgen Rose

1 hour 45 minutes | no intermission

WORLD PREMIERE:
Hamburg Ballet, Hamburg, Sept. 6, 2020

GUEST PERFORMANCE:
2022 Tarbes