The unique production Kylián – Bridges of Time features works by Jiří Kylián, the celebrated Czech choreographer, a true icon of global dance. The mixed bill includes four of his opuses – Bella Figura, Gods and Dogs, Petite Mort and Six Dances, all of them gems that adorn our repertoire. The Czech National Ballet feels greatly honoured to stage these Kylián works, which represent a challenge for its dancers, who have thus been afforded an enormous professional experience.

The ballet evening KYLIÁN – Bridges of Time is dedicated to the work of Jiří Kylián, a renowned choreographer born in the Czech Republic who gained international fame.

Dance does not only serve to express joy, sorrow and emotional states of mind, it can also be a prayer, a ritual, therapy or intellectual structure. In limitless ways, dance is capable of depicting the abstract and reality alike. And when done professionally, it is as though the dancer were saying: I am a work of art! Jiří Kylián

The production Kylián – Bridges of Time presents on stage the very essence of Kylián’s personality, that which makes the audience hold their breath, quickens their pulse, brings tear to their eyes and compels us to ponder pure beauty and perfect art. Such facets are almost palpable in Bella Figura and Gods and Dogs, as well as in the “Mozart choreographies” Petite Mort and Six Dances.
“I am glad that Jiří Kylián has chosen these choreographies in particular for staging in Prague. I consider them highly sensitive and think that they are among the most remarkable of his creations”, added Filip Barankiewicz, the Artistic Director of the Czech National Ballet.

Premiere: Kylián – Bridges of Time was first performed on 11 October 2018 within the celebrations marking the centenary of the foundation of the Czechoslovak Republic. The Czech National Ballet has staged the current, updated production of Kylián – Bridges of Time since 21 November 2019.

For his choreographic performance Petite Mort, Jiri Kilian, who is also called the “Picasso dance”, used two slow fragments from two of Mozart’s most famous concerts for piano. He deliberately cut out fast movements, leaving only slow music, helpless, like mutilated bodies, appearing to listeners and spectators. According to the choreographer himself, this is against all rules, but, nevertheless, it was decided to do just that. After all, the world around us is far from ideal and the rules are constantly violated. Jiri Kilian also decided to keep up with this general trend.

Indeed, since Mozart created his divine music, and to this day, many wars have occurred in the world, and rivers of blood have spilled under the “Bridge of Time”. In order to demonstrate male potency and a thirst for power (possession), swords were symbolically involved in the composition.

So, throughout our entire life, “Death” always accompanies us, sometimes it is “small” and sometimes “large”, but it is it that is our faithful companion from dawn to dusk of our life.