LA BAYADÈRE IN MUNICH
BACKGROUND TO THE PLAY
La Bayadère - colorful dance fairy tale, gripping drama and an important classic in the history of dance. To this day, this 19th century ballet is considered one of the most important in Marius Petipa's oeuvre and - just think of the white shadow nude - at the same time a canon-forming, almost iconic work of classical ballet.
The plot, set in an imaginary India and featuring the temple dancer Nikjia, corresponded at the time of its creation to a pronounced interest in distant life worlds and orientalist motifs; in dance as well as in all other arts. Based on a historical understanding of the Orient, the ballet fairy tale La Bayadère has, however, in the recent past repeatedly faced the accusation of conveying a clichéd image of India and its cultural practices.
The Bavarian State Ballet presents La Bayadère in a version by Patrice Bart from 1998. Together with the Japanese set designer Tomio Mohri, the French choreographer has created a very stylized image of the story around the temple dancer, which deals extremely cautiously with clichéd modes of representation.
To contextualize possible colonialist thinking and theatrical practices, dramaturg Serge Honegger offers specific introductions to the work before each performance. (Except for the family performance on 6/18/2023, when there will be an introduction for children). Current articles from the newly published program book address the topics discussed. Excerpts of the texts can be found below on the website and invite you to immerse yourself in the discourses and different perspectives of the world of the Bayadères.
The program book will be published approximately on 25.04.2023 and will be available in the webshop from then on.
