Parsons Dance
The Malibran Theatre in Venice hosts the renowned American touring company Parsons Dance in a performance of five distinct pieces that span both time and musical styles. Founded in 1985 by David Parsons and Howell Binkley, the company has garnered much acclaim around the world for its often visionary work. The performance features choreography set to music by diverse figures ranging from Ludwig van Beethoven to Cat Stevens. This dance extravaganza is sure to delight audiences at Teatro Malibran, one of Venice's foremost cultural arts establishments.
The programme opens with Ludwig, a dance first performed in 2026 that showcases David Parsons’ choreographic style exquisitely. Based on the second movement of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, the dance constitutes something of a tribute to the composer in the way Parsons interprets the expressive strength of the music. During the performance, the dancers wear eye-catching shades of orange, while executing fluid movements that are full of energy. Ludwig combines the technical precision required of contemporary dance, blending classical music with funk movements at times, doing so with a sense of joy and sheer theatricality, setting the tone for what is to come.
Brothers, a dance piece that originated in collaboration with Daniel Ezralow, follows. It premiered in 1982, before Parsons formed his own company. The music for this dance is provided by Igor Stravinsky, the great Russian composer, who reworked his 1920 string quartet Concertino into a new arrangement called Concertino for Twelve Instruments, premiering in 1952 in Los Angeles. Brothers is an enthralling yet playful duet for two dancers, with frenetic movements that convey moments of sibling rivalry and fraternal embrace in equal measure.
Next on the programme is a rendition of The Road, a contemporary dance that Parsons created in 2021. Performed to music by Cat Stevens, also known as Yusuf, the dance provides a spellbinding visual and emotional interpretation of the journey of life. During the performance, there is an almost constant flow of dancers on the stage who collectively convey a sense of journey by travelling on 'the road' in one direction. Parsons uses this theatrical metaphor to convey the feeling of a journey without return, exploring the idea of an existential path throughout life.
Then comes Caught, which, like Brothers, dates from 1982 and has stood the test of time. It is set to the atmospheric Let the Power Fall by the highly regarded British guitarist Robert Fripp. Parsons originally created the dance to be performed by himself. As a solo performance, it makes great use of theatrical lighting, including strobe light effects, to generate a stunning effect on audiences.
The programme concludes with Nascimento Novo. Created in 2006 by Parsons to music composed by the hugely popular Brazilian musician Milton Nascimento, this dance piece makes great use of the rhythms of Brazil to evoke a powerful sense of sensuality. With five such varied and interesting contemporary dances featuring music that is always dynamic and expressive, this performance by Parsons Dance at the Malibran Theatre provides a thrilling showcase of the company's artistry, providing an evening of infectious energy and visual imagination.