Opernhaus Bratislava/Pressburg - FASHION BALLETT

The new edition, already the third iteration of the successful Fashion Ballet project, once again brings four original miniatures, in which choreographers and fashion designers will perform in tandem. Fashion will come alive through movement in original choreographies, and vice versa; the fashion designers will illustrate the sculptural beauty of the dancers of the SND Ballet through costumes.

DREAM OUT
Choreography Andrej Cagáň
Costume Design Ida Sandor
Music Roman Harvan

The original dance miniature results from the mutual inspiration of the dancer Andrej Cagáň and the cellist Roman Harvan, whose artistic careers have long been linked to the Slovak National Theatre. The authors try to address the questions - what do our dreams reflect, and why do they come at the turning points? Do they provide the solutions we are looking for? The costumes for the choreographic miniature about dreams were designed by the renowned designer Ida Sandor, whose work is characterised by minimalism, geometric shapes, original cuts, quality materials and attention to detail.

PARADE
Choreography Andrej Petrovič
Costume Design Veronika Hložníková
Music Vladislav Šarišský
Dramaturgy Eva Gajdošová

The focus of Andrej Petrovic's intimate work is a quartet of fashion designers. They face the challenge of finding the right ideas in their pursuit of creating the perfect work of art. How will their anticipation of the muse turn out? Andrej Petrovič uses a distinctive movement vocabulary in an attempt to portray the uniqueness of each of the dancers, the power of inspiration and the importance of collaboration, at the end of which there is an attraction to beauty. The sparkling music of Vladislav Šarišský enhances the atmosphere of the work. The costume design by Veronika Hložníková contrasts stylised men's fashion and feminine shapes, white and black, with accents of bold colours in an exciting play with silhouettes and shapes.

GAIA
Choreography Marek Grega
Costume Design Jaroslava Wurll Kocanova
Music Stanislav Palúch

The choreography in Gaia's five scenes celebrates Mother Earth, her vital force and her ability to be reborn. The work about the necessity to return to nature carries the style of Marek Grega, a long-time soloist of SĽUK. It combines folk dance motifs with contemporary movement vocabulary. In keeping with the original music of the well-known violinist and multi-genre composer Stanislav Palúch, it emphasises strong dynamics and rhythm. The overall idea of the work is enhanced by the costumes of Jaroslava Wurll Kocanova, who employs modern technology in her quest for sustainable fashion. Her work is inspired by Slovak folk embroidery, patterns and ornaments, which she transforms into a modern, sophisticated form.

Trembling of the moment
Choreography by Nina Poláková
Music by Ľubica Čekovská
Costume design Petra Kovacs
 
Life offers an infinite number of ways to uncover its purpose. Isn't it enough if that purpose is life itself? The duet Trembling of the Moment, which comes from the collaboration of three renowned artistic personalities - Nina Poláková, Ľubica Čekovská and Petra Kovacs offers an answer to this question. Petra Kovács is one of the distinctive talents of the current young generation, who focuses on ecology and sustainability in fashion. Her costume complements the evocative and mysterious nature of the duet, which reveals the inner depths of a woman's soul.

Place

The Slovak National Theatre is the second oldest Slovak professional theatre. It has 3 ensembles (drama, opera and ballet). It was founded in 1920 after the creation of Czechoslovakia as a cooperative and became a state-run company in 1945. Between 1920 and 1945, there was also a musical ensemble. The Slovak National Theatre has represented Slovak culture on its numerous tours abroad.

It was created and, in the 1920s, also run by Czech artists (e.g. Oskar Nedbal, director during 1923-1930). The first performance was the Czech opera Hubička by Bedřich Smetana on March 1, 1920. The ensembles were Slovakized only gradually. In 1932, the drama ensemble split into the SNT Slovak Drama Company led by Janko Borodáč, and into the SNT Czech Drama Company, led by V. Šulc. The Czech Drama Company ceased to operate when it was forced to leave Slovakia in 1938. Since then, the drama ensemble has performed in Slovak only, but in the opera ensemble there were Czech artists even after 1945. In recent years, operas have been presented in their original languages.

Initially, all 3 ensembles were active at the old Slovak National Theatre building. From 1955 to early 2007, the drama company performed at the P. O. Hviezdoslav Theatre and from 1962 to (?)2006 also at a chamber theatre called Malá scéna SND (SNT Small Stage). Since 2007, the ensembles perform only at the old Slovak National Theatre building and the new Slovak National Theatre building opened in April, 2007.

The drama company was shaped by the directors Janko Borodáč, F. Hoffman, J. Jamnický, J.Budský, T. Rakovský, K. I. Zachary, P. Haspra, M. Pietor and the current one – Dušan Jamrich.

The opera ensemble was led by conductors such as Oskar Nedbal, K. Nedbal, J. Vincourek and T. Frešo, and directors including V. Šulc and M. Wasserbauer. The opera became known abroad under the leadership of Czech conductor Oskar Nedbal, who also introduced the first Slovak operas of Jozef Levoslav Bella and V. Figuš Bystrý, and under K. Nedbal, who improved the dramma programme. A great boom occurred after WWII. The SNT witnessed the rise of modern Slovak opera by Eugen Suchoň, Ján Cikker, Alexander Moyzes, Tibor Andrašovan, T. Frešo, and many others. Many singers from the SNT are famous abroad, e.g. Edita Grúberová, Lucia Popp, Peter Dvorský, R. Petrák, S. Kopčák, M. Hajóssyová, E. Jenisová, J. Galla, Jozef Kundlák, and many others.

The ballet ensemble has grown from a small group in 1920 to a huge ensemble today.