by Paula Citron
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Kylian le Grand – A Tribute to Jiri Kylian
Danse Danse
Choreography Jiri Kylian, Johan Inger, Paul Lightfoot and Sol Léon, and Mario Radacovsky
Performed by Anik Bissonnette, Mario Radacovsky, Lesley Telford, Francesco Nappa, Megumi Nakamura, Gioconda Barbuto and David Krüger, with dancers from the Slovak National Theatre Ballet
Théâtre Maisonneuve, Place des Arts
In Montreal
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Kylian le grand is a loving homage to the great Prague-born choreographer Jiri Kylian, conceived by Anik Bissonnette and Mario Radacovsky. It is a judicious mix of film and live performance that features beautiful dancing and masterful choreography.
Kylian’s name is inextricably linked with Nederlands Dans Theater, the contemporary dance company that he led to greatness. Six pieces on the program are by Kylian while three are by choreographers he has mentored over the years and who are all former NDT dancers. The structure of the evening consists of film clips of Bissonnette’s interview with Kylian interspersed with live performances. In both the living dance and Kylian’s commentary, his shining humanity rings true.
Given the structure of the program, most of the works, rarely if ever seen in North America, are excerpts, but a little bit of Kylian goes a long way. The show is also a farewell tour for Quebec’s prima ballerina Bissonnette, who will be missed.