Royal Ballet: Wayne McGregor Triple Bill

For the last decade, Wayne McGregor has intrigued classical and contemporary dance fans by fusing his inventive approach to movement with the dancers of The Royal Ballet. His work has introduced new audiences to the Company, while his pioneering preference for co-creation has inspired dancers and aspiring choreographers.

In celebration of McGregor’s considerable impact, the Royal Opera House has this first ever mixed programme featuring a trio of works solely choreographed by the man of the moment as a highlight of its Autumn season.

On the bill are McGregor’s Olivier Award-winning works Chroma and Carbon Life, with an as yet unnamed world première nestled between them.

Chroma (2006) is an exhilarating composition set to a score by Joby Talbot and The White Stripes’ Jack White with a minimalist set by John Pawson.

Nine dancers execute enigmatic, energetic choreography as McGregor attempts to examine the drama of the human body and its ability to communicate extremes of thought and emotion.

This special revival of Chroma will feature dancers from Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performing with Royal Ballet dancers.

The highly-anticipated world premiere will be a new ballet set to a commissioned score by Steve Reich, who celebrates his 80th birthday this October.

McGregor is, of course, internationally renowned for exploring the limits of what the body can do, while Reich is a pioneer of minimalist music, which he takes to uncompromising extremes. Their awesome partnership will be complemented by acclaimed artist Rashid Rana, who will create the designs for the ballet – making this première an artefact of leading figures from three creative realms.

Carbon Life (2012) is a vibrant ballet that merges the fashion designs of Gareth Pugh with music by Grammy Award-winning pop icon Mark Ronson (the leading musician, producer and DJ who gave us hit song Uptown Funk, featuring Bruno Mars).

Nine pop songs, performed live on stage, give a cast of 18 dancers plenty of scope to tell a story of love through McGregor’s thrilling choreography for solos, duets and ensemble arrangements.

In 2006 Wayne McGregor was a radical choice to follow in the footsteps of Frederick Ashton, Kenneth Macmillan and David Bintley. Yet, ten years on, he is lauded as one of the most important and imaginative visionaries in contemporary ballet – something to celebrate indeed.