Boston Ballet Presents Full On Forsythe

Boston Ballet's 2018-2019 spring season opens with Full on Forsythe, a program that showcases the many facets of acclaimed choreographer William Forsythe with three of his works including Playlist (EP), Forsythe's first world premiere created on an American company since 1992, the North American premiere of Blake Works I, and the return of Pas/Parts 2018. Full on Forsythe runs March 7-17 at the Boston Opera House.

"William Forsythe is one of the most influential choreographers living and working today. For over four decades, his works reexamine ballet's past, redefine its present, and reimagine its future," said Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen.

Playlist (EP)

Playlist (EP) is the first world premiere Forsythe created on an American company in 27 years. He premiered a 10-minute work for 12 male dancers called Playlist (Track 1, 2) for English National Ballet in April 2018 as part of the Voices of America program, which was named the number one dance show of 2018 by The Guardian. Judith Mackrell of The Guardian described the style of the movement as "pure joy, as Forsythe inflects his academic language with disco bounce and shrug." Forsythe built on that early work to create Playlist (EP), set to an eclectic mix of hip-hop and R&B songs by Peven Everett, Abra, Lion Babe, Khalid, Barry White, and Natalie Cole.

"The popular musical genres of Playlist (EP) support ballet's strict structures extremely well. The juxtaposition of popular music with classical ballet enables contemporary audiences to see the practice of ballet as an ongoing project of cultural relevance," said Forsythe.

Blake Works I

Making its North American premiere is Blake Works I, a work for 21 dancers set to music from GRAMMY-nominated British musician James Blake's album "The Colour in Anything." According to Forsythe, the ballet is dedicated to all the teachers who have enabled us to see the joy in rigor. Premiered in 2016 for Paris Opera Ballet, Blake Works I was the first ballet that Forsythe created since 1999 when he choreographed Woundwork I and Pas/Parts for Paris Opera Ballet. It was described as "sheer joy" by Roslyn Sulcas of The New York Times.

Pas/Parts 2018

Pas/Parts 2018 consists of 20 quick-paced divertissements of solos, duets, trios, quartets, and ensemble movements for 14 dancers. The work is visually striking with costume design by Stephen Galloway and scenic design by Forsythe. It is set to an electronic score by frequent Forsythe collaborator Thom Willems. Forsythe originally choreographed Pas/Parts for Paris Opera Ballet in 1999, revised it in 2016 for San Francisco Ballet and 2018 for Boston Ballet.

Forsythe has produced an extensive body of work that continues to be commissioned by the world's most prestigious ballet companies. He also has a parallel practice in the field of visual arts. His work has been presented at museums around the world for the last 25 years. William Forsythe: Choreographic Objects, his first comprehensive U.S. exhibition, is on display now through February 21 at the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston.

Forsythe danced with the Joffrey Ballet and Stuttgart Ballet, where he was appointed Resident Choreographer in 1976. In 1984, he began a 20-year tenure as director of Ballet Frankfurt. He later served as the director of The Forsythe Company-a new, independent ensemble based in Dresden and Frankfurt am Main, Germany-which he directed from 2005 to 2015. Boston Ballet established a long-term partnership with Forsythe in 2016.

Related Events

Boston Ballet Ball 2019 Celebrating Forsythe: Saturday, February 2, 2019 at 6 pm

Chaired by Charles Carignan and Michael Cerruti, the Boston Ballet Ball is an annual signature event in support of Boston Ballet. This year, it will honor the Company's unique partnership with world-renowned choreographer William Forsythe at The Castle at Park Plaza.

BB@home: Full on Forsythe Preview: Friday, February 22 and Saturday, February 23 at 7:30 pm

Before Full on Forsythe opens at the Boston Opera House, audiences can get a sneak peek of the program at Boston Ballet's South End headquarters (19 Clarendon Street) in an intimate, black box theater setting which includes a conversation with Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen, William Forsythe, and dancers following the performance.

William Forsythe: Choreographic Objects: Now-February 21, 2019 at the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston

Audiences in Boston have the unique opportunity to experience the full breadth of William Forsythe's pioneering body of work-both on the stage and in the galleries. The Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston presents the first comprehensive U.S. exhibition of William Forsythe's choreographic objects and video work, including room-size interactive sculptures that invite the viewer to engage with the fundamental ideas of choreography.

All performances of Full on Forsythe will take place at the Boston Opera House (539 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111).

Thursday, Mar 7 at 7:30 pm
Friday, Mar 8 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, Mar 9 at 1:30 pm
Saturday, Mar 9 at 7:30 pm*
Sunday, Mar 10 at 1:30 pm
Thursday, Mar 14 at 7:30 pm
Friday, Mar 15 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, Mar 16 at 7:30 pm
Sunday, Mar 17 at 1:30 pm

*Indicates post-show talk

Tickets start at $37. For more information, visit bostonballet.org or call 617.695.6955.

Full on Forsythe is approximately two hours and twenty minutes long with two intermissions.

Playlist (EP)

World premiere
Choreography: William Forsythe
Music: Peven Everett's "Surely Shorty"; Abra's "Vegas"; Lion Babe's "Impossible" (Jax Jones remix); Khalid's "Location"; Barry White's "Sha La La Means I Love You"; and Natalie Cole's "This Will Be (Everlasting Love)"
Costume Design: William Forsythe
Lighting Design: Tanja Rühl

Blake Works I

North American premiere
Choreography: William Forsythe
Music: James Blake
Stage Design: William Forsythe
Costume Design: William Forsythe and Dorothee Merg
Lighting Design: William Forsythe and Tanja Rühl

Pas/Parts 2018

Choreography: William Forsythe
Music: Thom Willems
Scenic and Lighting Design: William Forsythe
Costume Design: Stephen Galloway