Jiri Kylian: Kaguya - Princess of the Moon

The performance of modern dance classic Jiri Kylian, based on the Japanese fairy tale about the Moon Princess (Kaguya-hime), was born and lives at the junction of civilizations and worlds, in the interweaving of ancient rituals and modernity, in a balance between meditation and powerful drive. The unearthly girl looks like a cold gemstone that beckons with its iridescent facets. Fascinated by her hypnotic magnetism and alien strangeness, the young men engage in bloody battles with each other for the right to approach her. But she belongs to the Moon and, sooner or later, will return home. The tale of the moon princess is one of the most important in Japanese folklore. No matter how beautiful, so sad, the philosophical story, somewhat reminiscent of the fairy tale about the Snow Maiden, could not pass by the theater. In 1985, Japanese composer Maki Ishii wrote the libretto and music, slightly changing the plot of the fairy tale - an unearthly beauty submissive to fate became the cause of madness and wars. The story and its musical solution captivated the famous choreographer Jiri Kylian - and a ballet of amazing beauty and inner strength was born. Story-driven performances are rare for Kilian, but Kaguya-hime (Moon Princess) was a wonderful exception to the rule. Kilian is a master of subtle, elusive beauty. And “Moon Princess” has it in abundance. Kaguya's mesmerizing, brittle, translucent dance seems to be a reflection of the light of the Moon, calling and frightening her. But earthly people, on the contrary, are full of passions and inner strength. White meditativeness gives way to red flashes of passion, and lingering sounds are replaced by energetic drums. Good-natured duets give way to tough dance duels. The shine of the Emperor's earthly gold fades before the blinding moonlight. An almost piercing silence competes with the frantic roar of the drums. The mesmerizingly beautifully staged light works in collaboration with ideal geometry and carefully calculated chaos of dances. If there is ever a hypnosis performance in the world, it is definitely “The Moon Princess” by Kilian.