“Le Petit Prince” by Antoine de St-Exupéry is probably one of the most popular books in the world. The modern fairy tale has been translated into 200 different languages and has recently been made into an original ballet.
The Dutch choreographer Didy Veldman created a wordless dance performance of “The Little Prince” for Les Grands Ballets Canadiens. The production premiered at Canada’s world renowned art centre the Place des Arts, in Montréal.
Veldman has worked with the Scapino Ballet in Rotterdam, the Ballet du Grand Théâtre in Geneva and the Rambert Dance Company in Londen. Her interpretation of “The Little Prince” meets the challenge of transforming the written word into dance movement and visual effects. Set designer Kimie Nakano – also known for her work in “Vertical Road” by the Akram Khan Company – made use of a GiantMirror by ShowTex to create the effect of doubling the amount of dancers on stage and to give the audience the chance to see the dancers’ movements from two different points of view.
We used video art, enhanced by a giant 2-way mirror, which gave an illusion of depth and space. The clever use of a wind-blown, fine silver voile (using motors), gave both a feeling of a desert mirage and the northern lights in a night sky. The video images (sunset, sand storm, growing roots and megalopolis) are simple abstract and mainly in slow motion.
Kimie Nakano
