Every season, the ballet ensemble of the Theater Krefeld und Mönchengladbach presents four full-length ballet productions with choreographies by Robert North on the big stages of both houses, two of them new works. Two ballet evenings each season are accompanied by the Niederrheinische Sinfoniker. The ensemble has 18 permanent positions (9 female, 9 male) and currently features dancers from 10 different countries.
When necessary, the ensemble is expanded to include guests. The artistic direction of the ensemble is clearly evident in the above statement by Robert North, who has been working with the group since 2007 and tirelessly promotes and develops the potential of young dancers as part of this role. In collaboration with pianist and composer André Parfenov, the company develops both original work and ballet evenings in which piano music is an integral element.
The dancers also perform in opera, operettas and musicals.
On the ensemble’s history
In 1950, the cities of Krefeld and Mönchengladbach decided to begin joint operation of a theatre that featured divisions for music theatre, ballet, drama, theatre pieces for children and young adults, as well as music concerts in order to offer a diverse cultural programme for regional audiences.
Since this consolidation of both theatres, the ballet ensemble has worked under directors such as Werner Stammer, Marianne Wick, Wolfgang Winter, Gise Furtwängler, Frank Croszey, Irene Schneider and Madeleine Bart in recent decades. Heidrun Schwaarz was appointed ballet director in 1996. Following her sudden death, Robert North assumed leadership of the ensemble. In defiance of all budget cuts, it has been possible to maintain the ballet as an independent division until today.
Robert North
Robert North studied dance in London at the Royal Ballet School and at the Contemporary Dance Theatre, going on to dance with the Martha Graham Company in New York, for example. In 1981, he was appointed artistic director of the Ballet Rambert and in 1990 became ballet director of the Teatro Regio in Turin (Italy). He has also acted as artistic director of the Gothenburg Ballet, Corpo di Ballo Dell‘Arena di Verona and the Scottish Ballet. North has produced over 100 choreographies, e.g. THE ANNUNCIATION, ROMEO und JULIA, ELVIRA MADIGAN, LIVING IN AMERICA, THE RUSSIAN STORY, FADO / BOLERO, CARMEN und VERLORENE KINDER. He has worked with more than 95 companies worldwide and been awarded numerous prizes such as the Golden Prague Award for “FOR MY DAUGHTER”.
Productions from the 2022/2023 season
Beethoven!
World premiere: 2020
Choreography: Robert North
Music: Ludwig van Beethoven, J.S. Bach, John Cage, W.A. Mozart and André Parfenov
20 dancers, 1 pianist, 1 actor
120 minutes (one intermission)
Der Sturm / Ein Sommernachtstraum
World premiere: 2006
Choreography: Robert North
Music: Jean Sibelius, Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy
Niederrheinische Sinfoniker, Conductor: Sebastian Engel
20 dancers
105 minutes (one intermission)
Peter und der Wolf
World premiere: 2022
Choreography: Robert North
Music: Sergei Prokofiev
Members of the Niederrheinische Sinfoniker, Conductor: Sebastian Engel / Giovanni Conti
20 dancers, 1 actor
50 minutes
Mata Hari
World premiere: 2023
Choreography: Robert North
Music: Christopher Benstead
Lower Rhine Symphony Orchestra, Conductor: Sebastian Engel
20 dancers
100 minutes (one intermission)
Seide – Band – Bandoneon
World premiere: 2023
Choreography: Robert North
Music: André Parfenov
Stephan Langenberg (bandoneon), Iuliana Münch (violin), André Parfenov (piano)
20 dancers
60 minutes
Stage dimensions
Mönchengladbach:
maximum portal opening 11.95 m x 6.70 m
maximum depth with orchestra pit 18.90 m on the centre line
(parapet of orchestra pit curved towards auditorium)
Maximum depth without orchestra pit 14.80 m
4 lifting platforms 12.00 m x 2.50 m to be moved to + 2.50 m and - 2.50 m
maximum drawbar height 16.20 m
Krefeld:
maximum portal opening 15.95 m x 6.70 m
maximum depth with orchestra pit 17.00 m on the centre line
(parapet of orchestra pit curved towards auditorium)
maximum depth without orchestra pit 12.60 m
4 lifting platforms 16.00 m x 2.00 m to be moved to +1.80 m and - 1.80 m
maximum drawbar height 19.00 m
Productions of the season 2021/2022
Alles neu
Premiere: 2021
Choreographies: Robert North (Technical Difficulties), Marco A. Carlucci (Freedom), Takashi Kono (Respect Bro), Yoko Takahashi (Haru Spring)
Music: Ludovico Einaudi, Massimo Durante, Arvo Pärt, André Parfenov, 2Cellos, Antonio Vivaldi
Intermezzo by and with André Parfenov on the grand piano
9 dancers
70 minutes
Während wir warten
Premiere: 2021
Choreographies: Robert North (In Search), Alessandro Borghesani (Metro 6), Teresa Levrini (Summertime), Francesco Rovea and Radoslaw Rusiecki (Quo Vadis); film project by Amelia Seth
Music: Ennio Morricone, André Parfenov, Antonio Vivaldi, Led Zeppelin and others.
On the grand piano: André Parfenov
14 dancers
80 minutes
Winterreise
Premiere: 2021
Choreography: Robert North
Music: Franz Schubert
Singing: Rafael Bruck
On the grand piano: André Parfenov
6 dancers
75 minutes
Beethoven!
Premiere: 2020
Choreography: Robert North
Music: Ludwig van Beethoven, J.S. Bach, John Cage, W.A. Mozart and André Parfenov
20 dancers, 1 pianist, 1 actor
120 minutes (one intermission)
Der Sturm / Ein Sommernachtstraum
Premiere: 2006
Choreography: Robert North
Music: Jean Sibelius, Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy
Niederrheinische Sinfoniker, Conductor: Sebastian Engel
20 dancers
105 minutes (one intermission)
Rückblick – Ausblick
Premiere: 2022
Choreographies: Robert North
Music: J.S. Bach, John Lee Hooker, André Parfenov, Igor Stravinsky, Peter Tchaikovsky, 2Cellos a.o.
20 dancers
90 minutes (one intermission)
Stage dimensions
Mönchengladbach:
maximum portal opening 11,95 m x 6,70 m
maximum depth with orchestra pit 18.90 m on the center line
(parapet of orchestra pit curved towards the auditorium)
maximum depth without orchestra pit 14.80 m
4 lifting platforms 12.00 m x 2.50 m to be moved to + 2.50 m and - 2.50 m
maximum tie rod height 16.20 m
Krefeld:
maximum portal opening 15.95 m x 6.70 m
maximum depth with orchestra pit 17.00 m on the centerline
(parapet of orchestra pit curved towards auditorium)
maximum depth without orchestra pit 12.60 m
4 lifting platforms 16.00 m x 2.00 m to be moved to +1.80 m and - 1.80 m
maximum height of tie rods 19.00 m
Productions of the season 2020/2021
Dis-Tanz
Premiere: 2020
Choreographies: Robert North (Distance, Fade out), Alessandro Borghesani (Dawn), Takashi Kondo (Milonga)
Music: Ludwig van Beethoven, Frederic Chopin, André Parfenov, Astor Piazzolla, Franz Schubert, 2Cellos
Members of the Niederrheinische Sinfoniker (string quartet)
On the grand piano: André Parfenov
9 dancers
80 minutes
Alles neu
Premiere: 2021
Choreographies: Robert North (Technical Difficulties), Marco A. Carlucci (Freedom), Takashi Kono (Respect Bro), Yoko Takahashi (Haru Spring)
Music: Ludovico Einaudi, Massimo Durante, Arvo Pärt, André Parfenov, 2Cellos, Antonio Vivaldi
Intermezzo by and with André Parfenov at the grand piano
9 dancers
70 minutes
Während wir warten
Premiere: 2021
Choreographies: Robert North (In Search), Alessandro Borghesani (Metro 6), Teresa Levrini (Summertime), Francesco Rovea and Radoslaw Rusiecki (Quo Vadis); film project by Amelia Seth
Music: Ennio Morricone, André Parfenov, Antonio Vivaldi, Led Zeppelin and others.
On the grand piano: André Parfenov
14 dancers
80 minutes
Stage dimensions
Mönchengladbach:
maximum portal opening 11.95 m x 6.70 m
maximum depth with orchestra pit 18.90 m on the center line
(parapet of orchestra pit curved towards auditorium)
maximum depth without orchestra pit 14.80 m
4 lifting platforms 12.00 m x 2.50 m to be moved to + 2.50 m and - 2.50 m
maximum tie rod height 16.20 m
Krefeld:
maximum portal opening 15.95 m x 6.70 m
maximum depth with orchestra pit 17.00 m on the centerline
(parapet of orchestra pit curved towards auditorium)
maximum depth without orchestra pit 12.60 m
4 lifting platforms 16.00 m x 2.00 m to be moved to +1.80 m and - 1.80 m
maximum height of tie rods 19.00 m
Productions of the season 2019/2020
Farben der Welt (Premiere)
Choreography: Robert North
Music: I. Stravinsky (1882-1971), Howard Blake (*1938), André Parfenov (*1972) and Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
Premiered "Miniaturen" 1984 England, "Verkündigung" 1979 Jerusalem,
"Malewitsch" 2019 Mönchengladbach, "Tempus Fugit" 2005 Lyon
Niederrheinische Sinfoniker
Piano: André Parfenov
Conductor: Yorgos Ziavras
20 dancers
Duration: approx. 120 minutes (one intermission)
Living in America
Choreography: Robert North
Music: Aaron Copland (1900-1990), George Gershwin (1898-1937), John Lee Hooker, Yello, The Drifters, Peter Gabriel, Jean Michel Jarre, Christopher Benstead and James Brown
First performance 1991 Gothenburg
20 dancers
Duration: approx. 150 minutes (two breaks)
Beethoven (working title)
Choreography: Robert North
Music: Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), John Cage (1912-1992) a.o.
World premiere 25.01.2020 Krefeld
20 dancers
Duration: approx. 90 minutes (one intermission)
Productions cancelled due to corona
Der Sturm / Ein Sommernachtstraum
Choreography: Robert North
Music: Jean Sibelius (1865-1957) and Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809-1847)
World premiere 2006 Turin
Niederrheinische Sinfoniker
Conductor: Yorgos Ziavras
20 dancers
Duration: approx. 120 minutes (one intermission)
Balletgala
Choreography: Robert North
19.06. Krefeld, 20.06. Mönchengladbach
20 dancers
Duration: approx. 120 minutes (one intermission)
Productions from the 2018/2019 season
Nachtvariationen (UA) / Für meine Tochter / Boléro
Choreography: Robert North, music: André Parfenov (*1972), Leoš Janácek (1854 – 1928) and Maurice Ravel (1875 – 1937)
Premier: „Nachtvariationen“ (2018), piano: André Parfenov
20 dancers
duration: ca. 120 min. (incl. interval)
Souvenirs aus West und Ost (2018)
Choreography: Robert North
Music: George Gershwin (1898-1937), Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) and Dmitri Schostakowitsch (1906-1975)
Niederrheinische Sinfoniker, piano: André Parfenov, conductor: Andreas Fellner
20 dancers, ca. 140 min. incl. interval
Choreography-Werkstatt 2018/19
Premiers 2018
Choreography: Victoria Hay, Amelia Seth, Yoko Takahashi, Takashi Kondo, Francesco Rovea, Radoslaw Rusiecki, Teresa Levrini, Alessandro Borghesani, Marco A. Carlucci
Music: Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741), Giovanni Battista Pergolesi (1710-1736), Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992), Ane Brun, Ida Jenshus, Simon & Garfunkel, Stavros, The Ronettes, Ezio Bosso and Canzoniere Greconico Salentino
20 dancers, duration: ca. 120 min. (incl. interval)
Living in America
Choreography: Robert North, music: Aaron Copland (1900-1990), George Gershwin (1898-1937), John Lee Hooker,
Yello, Peter Gabriel, Jean Michel Jarre, Christopher Benstead and James Brown
20 dancers, duration: ca. 120 min. (incl. interval)
Farben der Welt (UA)
Choreography: Robert North
Music: I. Strawinsky (1882-1971), Howard Blake (*1938), André Parfenov (*1972) und Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
Premier part 3 2019
Niederrheinische Sinfoniker, Klavier: André Parfenov, Dirigent: Andreas Fellner
20 dancers, duration: ca. 120 min. (incl. interval)
Productions from the 2017/18 season
Pinocchio (2016)
Ballet for childre and adults based on Carlo Collodi
Choreography: Robert North
Music: André Parfenov
20 dancers, 7 members of Niederrheinische Sinfoniker, piano: André Parfenov, violin: Juliana Münch, ca. 60 min (no interval)
Sinfonie des Lebens
Consisting of the following choreographies:
JUGEND (2003)
DER SCHLAF DER VERNUNFT (1986)
FARBENSPIEL ("Colour Moves") (1983)
Choreography: Robert North, music: Benjamin Britten, Dmitri Schostakowitsch and Christopher Benstead
20 dancers, 1 Sopran, 1 Bass, Niederrheinische Sinfoniker, ca. 130 min (incl. 2 intervals)
Teufelskreis
Choreography: Robert North
Music collage with works from David Byrne, Christopher Benstead, Einstürzende Neubauten, Michael Jackson, Jean Sibelius, Richard Wagner among others
20 dancers, ca. 95 min (incl. interval)
N.N. (UA) / Für meine Tochter / Boléro
Choreography: Robert North, music from André Parfenov, Leoš Janácek and Maurice Ravel
20 dancers, ca. 120 min (incl. two intervals)
Souvenirs aus West und Ost
Choreography: Robert North
Music from George Gershwin and Dmitri Schostakowitsch
20 dancers, Niederrheinische Sinfoniker, piano: André Parfenov, conductor: Andreas Fellner, ca. 120 min (incl. interval)
Productions from the 2016/2017 season
Rhapsodie und Rumba (2016)
Choreography: Robert North, music: Franz Liszt, John Lee Hooker,
Paco de Lucia, Simon Rogers and others
21 dancers, approx. 105 min (incl. interval)
Eine Frau ohne Namen (2016)
Choreography: Robert North
Music: Howard Blake
20 dancers, 1 Soprano, Niederrheinische Sinfoniker, Choir, approx. 105 min (incl. interval)
Pinocchio (2016)
Ballett for children and adults after Carlo Collodi
Choreography: Robert North
Music: André Parfenov
21 dancers, Niederrheinische Sinfoniker, piano: André Parfenov, violin: Juliana Münch, approx. 60 min
Sinfonie des Lebens
Choreography: Robert North
Music: Benjamin Britten, Dmitri Schostakowitsch and Christopher Benstead
21 dancers, 1 Soprano, 1 Bass, Niederrheinische Sinfoniker, approx. 110 min (incl. intervaln)
Teufelskreis
Choreography: Robert North
music-collage from pieces of David Byrne, Christopher Benstead, Michael Jackson, Jean Sibelius, Richard Wagner and others
20 dancers, approx. 60 min (incl. interval)
Productions from the 2014/2015 season
Petruschka / Offenbach (2015)
Choreography: Robert North
Music: I. Strawinsky and Jacques Offenbach
Tangonacht plus … (2015)
Choreography: Robert North
Music: Astor Piazzolla, André Parfenov and others
Carmina Burana (2014)
Choreography: Robert North
Music: Carl Orff
16 dancers, 70 min
Lachen und Weinen (2014)
Choreography: Robert North
Music: F. Chopin and F. Schubert
16 dancers, 130 min
Productions from the 2013/2014 season
Carmen (1997)
Choreography: Robert North
Libretto: Robert North (adapted from Mérimée)
Composition: Christopher Benstead
22 dancers, 100 min
Prinz Rama (1992)
Choreography: Robert North
Music: Christopher Benstead
16 dancers, 1 narrator, 4 musicians (Percussion), 60 min
Bilder aus der Neuen Welt / Verlorene Kinder
Bilder aus der Neuen Welt (1988)
Choreography: Robert North
Music: Aaron Copland / Niederrheinische Sinfoniker
20 dancers, 35 min
Verlorene Kinder (2013)
Choreography: Robert North
Music: André Parfenov / Niederrheinische Sinfoniker
20 dancers, 1 singer, 60 min
Der Sturm / Ein Sommernachtstraum
Trailer
Peter und der Wolf
Trailer
Beethoven!
Trailer
Theater Krefeld und Mönchengladbach
Theaterplatz 3 | 47798 Krefeld
Tel 02151 805 0
Kindly supported by
Gesellschaft für Ballett und Tanz,
Theaterfreunde Krefeld
and Theaterfreunde Mönchengladbach.