Richard Siegal / Ballet of Difference am Schauspiel Köln

When you read the word "triple", it means triple on the truest sense of the word: three pieces created by Richard Siegal between 2014 and 2021. ALL FOR ONE starts the evening off and takes us into a neon-lighted world where the dancers come on the stage in object-like, sculptural costumes. The virtuousic use of pointe shoes intensifies the impression of an architectonic cleanliness and the light sculpture, which dances along with the dancers, sets the tone for the second piece: METRIC DOZEN is a cool, fast and razor-sharp ballet, originally choreographed for Ballet National de Marseille. The movements of the ten dancers are based on an imaginary pattern in the space, and although we do not realize much of this, we do see very clearly the systematic steps, the bodies' clear statements. The game of self-expression lies in seeing and being seen, giving and taking in the spotlight. The evening closes with MY GENERATION, a colorful firecracker created for Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet in New York, which fits the dancers of Ballet of Difference at Schauspiel Köln snugly as though it were made for them. A piece you have to love, a virtuosic danced, trendy work in pointe shoes that breathes classical ballet as well as Malibu – somewhere between ironic exaggeration and a celebratory avowal of pop culture.

The German dance scene is impossible to imagine without the choreographer Richard Siegal. Originally from the U.S., this former Forsythe dancer is active in Munich and Cologne, and he continuously creates works that may work with the means of classical ballet, but at the same time they question the concept of ballet, deconstruct it, and develop it further, thus conveying them into the future. With his company Ballet of Difference at Schauspiel Köln he is approaching his goal, step by step.

Richard Siegal is a regular guest at DANCE and his works were performed at the last five editions of the festival; since 2017 with his Ballet of Difference at Schauspiel Köln. He recently enthused audiences with his works NEW OCEAN SEA CYCLE and TWO FOR THE SHOW, which was created especially for digital spaces as part of DANCE 2021. The first part of TRIPLE, ALL FOR ONE, was already part of this digital live performance.  

DANCE 2023 will also feature XERROX VOL. 2 by Richard Siegal.

More about TRIPLE in the magazine