A vibrant celebration of the renowned Czech choreographer Jiří Kylián is taking place at Oslo’s iconic opera house. The festival, which spans more than two weeks, serves as both a major retrospective of Kylián’s extensive work and a platform for new creations inspired by his journey as a dancer and choreographer. The event has transformed the opera house into a lively artistic venue, featuring colorful performances and installations, including sculptures digitally replicated from dancers’ bodies that dramatically engage with the building’s architecture.
Kylián, who is now 78, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity provided by Ingrid Lorentzen, the artistic director of the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet. This festival marks a significant milestone for him, showcasing not only his past works—many of which are now part of the Norwegian Ballet’s repertory—but also his innovative new creations. He reflects on his longevity in the field amid a mix of pride and humility, saying, “I must have done something right! I’m not a particularly confident person.”
The festival features an array of performances and short films that celebrate Kylián’s whimsical style and profound approach to dance. He attributes his passion to early influences, including his mother—a former child star—who ignited his interest in performance. Furthermore, his career was notably shaped by a scholarship he received at the Royal Ballet School in London, where he encountered dance legends and developed his distinctive artistic voice.
Kylián’s legacy includes exploring the interplay of music and movement, often collaborating closely with composers and integrating innovative design concepts into his works. His choreography often reflects on themes of existence and transformation, capturing fleeting moments with a unique sense of time and space.
The festival also serves as an homage to his connection with Norway, having worked with the Norwegian Ballet for nearly 40 years. Kylián emphasized how the festival’s setting—an opera house with open accessibility—mirrors his vision of engaging audiences in meaningful ways. The glass facade of the building plays a particularly critical role, offering a playful interaction between the inside and outside, echoing his choreography’s themes.
While Kylián reminisces about challenging interactions with critics in London and his storied career, he remains focused on the future and his evolution as an artist. He mentioned a shift from creating traditional ballets to exploring visual art and film in his later years, signifying a transition in his creative journey.
With installations that evoke the rich visual language of his past productions, the festival is not only a testament to Kylián’s remarkable career but also an invitation for a new generation of audiences to experience the transformative power of dance. The celebration ultimately resonates with hope and possibility, illustrating that art continues to inspire and connect people, regardless of age or circumstance.