ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE FLAMES - Our Firebird Ballet
Premiere on 26th Sept 2024 at Dom im Berg, steirischer herbst Festival, Graz
In her new work ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE FLAMES - Our Firebird Ballet, Marta Navaridas stages a multifaceted modern fairy tale, in which the characters are six performers from five different countries. Through individual autobiographical stories from their childhood and coming of age, they reveal some of the power dynamics of repressive, patriarchal, and nationalistic-folkloristic agendas they were exposed to in their respective ballet and folk dance training.
To the sounds of Igor Stravinsky's Firebird ballet from 1910, they engage in a cathartic choreography that liberates and empowers them both individually and collectively.
"Marta Navaridas Liberates Female Bodies from the Constraints of Patriarchy"
Krone Zeitung, 28.09.2024
"Navaridas’ untamed dance performance, in which she tells rebelliously and provocatively, yet also humorously and movingly, of women’s liberation from their restrictive structures"
Christoph Hartner, Krone Zeitung, 28.09.2025
"Stravinsky’s unleashing of the maidens culminates here, on the path of naked truths, in ecstasy. Instead of the evil sorcerer, the six dancers of the steirischer herbst production — alongside Navaridas, these are Veza Fernández, Stina Fors, Lau Lukkarila, Maia Osoinik, and Denise Palmieri — are freed from conventions and clothing. What a finale!"
Daniel Hadler, Kleine Zeitung, 27.09.2024
DATES
23., 24., 26., 27., 28.01.2026 brut Nordwest, Vienna
26.09.2024 Dom im Berg, steirischer herbst Festival, Graz (premiere)
28.09.2024 Dom im Berg, steirischer herbst Festival, Graz
Concept and Direction Marta Navaridas Text and Performance Veza Fernández, Stina Fors, Lau Lukkarila, Marta Navaridas, Maja Osojnik, Denise Palmieri Music Igor Stravinsky Live Electronics and Sound Design Manuel Riegler Dramaturgical Advice Alex Deutinger and steirischer herbst team Outside Eyes Nerea González, Sara G. Novi, Jenny Weiss Costumes Annemarie Arzberger Stage Design Georg Klüver-Pfandtner Light Design Christina Bergner Production Management Sophie Schmeiser/mollusca productions Production PERFORMANCEINITIATIVE 22 and steirischer herbst Supported by Kultur Stadt Graz, Land Steiermark, Bmkös Thanks Alix Eynaudi
Photos Elsa Okazaki, Clara Wildberger
Video Documentation Ulrich Reiterer
Comissioned by steirischer herbst ´24
