Short Stories
Ballet 04.06.2022 > 04.08.2023
Atelier de la Danse, Monte-Carlo Ballet Company
Monaco
Choreography
Portia Soleil-Adams
Set design, costumes and lighting
Léah Friedman, Ahyoung Byeon
Performers
Juliette Klein, Jaat Benoot,
Christian Tworzyansky, Lydia Wellington,
Kathryn McDonald
Short Stories is a ballet in two acts, created by choreographer Portia Adams and directed by set designers Léah Friedman and Ahyoung Byeon.
In partnership with the Monte-Carlo Ballet Company and Jean-Christophe Maillot, Choreographer and Director.
The first act of the ballet is inspired by Alice Walker's poem titled I will keep Broken things. Performed by three dancers, it explores the tumultuous dynamics of human relationships, shedding light on their sometimes violent nature and their repercussions on those around them.
The second act of the ballet addresses the theme of narcissism from a critical and absurd perspective. Two dancers take the stage, competing for a mirror, sometimes rivals and sometimes allies.
The scenography plays a central role in this creation, offering an intimate and versatile space that blurs the boundaries between inside and outside. It serves as a framework where the connections between the dancers are formed and dissolved.
The abstract architecture resembling a room is at the heart of this scenography. A central door allows for a smooth transition between two environments and shapes the transformation of the space throughout the ballet.
The walls of this room are made of a fabric that cleverly plays with transparency and opacity, revealing or concealing the gestures and relationships of the dancers.