DORIAN GRAY

German premiere for a danced novel

Following Enrique Gasa Valga's dance gala during the ball season, which offered our visitors an extensive showcase of the internationally successful choreographer's work, we are presenting Dorian Gray, one of a total of three German premieres with the Limonada Dance Company. The production is based on the novel The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, which was published in 1890 and is considered the manifesto of aestheticism.

Reinterpretation of a myth

For Gasa Valga, the story is a modern reinterpretation of the "myth of Narcissus": both characters fall in love with their own reflection - whether in a reflection on the surface of the water or on a screen. The choreographer delves deep into the vulnerability of our human soul and spirit and explores the temptations and pleasures to which they succumb. The piece reveals their feelings and instincts, their mistakes and regrets.

The music as a "red thread" provides a mixture of immortal classics, rearranged for a seven-piece band, as well as new compositions specially arranged for this production by musical director Roberto Tubaro. Elisa Gobbi, Greta Marcolongo and Jana Stöckler-Spazier guide Dorian and the audience through the story in the roles of the three "Dark Soul Girls" as Henry's angels (or rather "demons"). The set design by Helfried Lauckner and the costumes by Birgit Edelbauer-Heiss captivate with their elegant but trendy 50s flair.

Controversial and celebrated

The novel is set in London in the late 18th century and tells of the life of a beautiful young man named Dorian Gray, who falls under the spell of the hedonistic ideals of the "dandy" Henry Wotton. The story takes a dark turn when Dorian wishes for his portrait - painted by his good friend, the sensitive and talented painter Basil Hallward - to age in his place. As the story progresses, a moral decline becomes apparent, resulting from his dissolute lifestyle.

Historically, the novel was controversial when it was first published and was criticized for its supposed "offensiveness". Over time, the story developed into a celebrated work, appreciated for its sharp wit, social analysis and profound exploration of philosophical themes.