Unique and exclusive recording of the Sadler’s Wells box office hit, produced to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Ballets Russes, including the never-before-broadcast fourth piece, Javier De Frutos’ controversial Eternal Damnation to Sancho and Sanchez.

Each artist, working with all or part of his own company, gives their own original response to the famous challenge that Diaghilev once issued to Jean Cocteau: “Surprise me!”

Contents:
Wayne McGregor: Dyad 1909
Inspired by Shackleton's Nimrod expedition to the South Pole in 1909, the year that Les Ballets Russes was founded, Wayne McGregor creates a brand new Ballet Blanc, Dyad 1909. Wayne McGregor / Random Dance collaborates with acclaimed artists and filmmakers Jane and Louise Wilson, lighting designer Lucy Carter and costume designer Moritz Junge. Music is by acclaimed Icelandic composer Ólafur Arnalds.

"A true salute to Diaghilev" - ****The Guardian

Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui: Faun
Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui examines the animalistic nature of human movement and the power of mythology in Faun. This brand new duet, created for two of his company dancers, takes an alternative look at the eponymous creature from Stéphane Mallermé's poem, Claude Debussy's music and Vaslav Nijinsky's choreography. With additional music by Nitin Sawhney and costumes by leading fashion designer Hussein Chalayan.

"Everything about this Faun works spectacularly well" - ****The Times

Russell Maliphant: AfterLight
Using Vaslav Nijinksy's geometric drawings and paintings as a starting point, Russell Maliphant creates a brand new solo entitled AfterLight. Featuring Daniel Proietto from the Russell Maliphant Company, lighting and sound design is from regular Maliphant collaborators Michael Hulls and Andy Cowton. The work has been developed in collaboration with designer Es Devlin and animation company onedotzero industries.

"Obsessive, revealing, true to Maliphant's manner and to Nijinsky's imagery" - ****Financial Times
"A miniature masterpiece" - ****Daily Telegraph

Javier De Frutos: Eternal Damnation to Sancho and Sanchez
Olivier Award-winner Javier De Frutos's Eternal Damnation to Sancho and Sanchez is a cautionary fable inspired by Cocteau's scenarios and designs for Les Ballets Russes and set to Maurice Ravel's La Valse. De Frutos joins forces with theatre designer Katrina Lindsay and lighting designer Michael Hulls.
 
"This is absolutely the way dance theatre should go: shaking up the repetoire, encouraging bold collaborations" - Evening Standard

Format: PAL, Region 0
Territory: Worldwide