The groundbreaking contemporary ballet trilogy shared in full for the first time.
A landmark Australian exclusive and world premiere, Gems by Benjamin Millepied, is presented in its entirety for the very first time at Brisbane Festival.
This bold contemporary ballet trilogy by L.A. Dance Project, in collaboration with Van Cleef & Arpels, reimagines the spirit of George Balanchine’s revolutionary Jewels through a modern lens.
Since 1896, Van Cleef & Arpels has maintained close ties with dance, inspiring many creations. A pivotal partnership between Claude Arpels and George Balanchine led to the masterpiece Jewels in 1967. Forty-five years later, Van Cleef & Arpels CEO Nicolas Bos and Millepied envisioned a new contemporary ballet continuing Jewels legacy. This led to Millepied’s trilogy, Gems.
Each chapter, Reflections, Hearts & Arrows, and On the Other Side, serves as a contemporary counterpoint to Balanchine’s Rubies, Emeralds, and Diamonds. Together, they form a dazzling triptych of distinct works, each chapter is inspired by the brilliance and character of its namesake gem.
Now, twelve years since the project began, the entire Gems trilogy is presented together for the first time. This groundbreaking dance event celebrates the unity of dance, music, and visual art.
Dates & Times
4 - 7 Sep
Duration: 2 hrs 15 minutes including two intervals
Venue
Playhouse
Prices & Ticket Info
Premium Adult - $135 Premium Concession - $120 Premium Mobtix - $40 A Reserve Adult - $115 A Reserve Concession - $105 A Reserve Mobtix - $40 B Reserve Adult - $105 B Reserve Concession - $90 B Reserve Mobtix - $40
Accessibility
- Wheelchair Access
- 50% Visual Content
- Assistive Listening
If you're looking to book Audio Description for this performance, please contact QPAC Group Sales on either 07 3840 7466 or groups@qpac.com.au
Credits
Reflections
Choreographer / Benjamin Millepied, in collaboration with Julia Eichten, Charlie Hodges, Morgan Lugo, Nathan Makolandra, and Amanda Wells
Visual Concept / Barbara Kruger
Music / David Lang: This was Written by Hand / Memory Pieces (selections)
Hearts & Arrows
Choreographer / Benjamin Millepied
Visual Concept / Liam Gillick
Music / Philip Glass: String Quartet No. 3 (Mishima) 1957 - Award Montage
November 25 - Ichigaya
1934 - Grandmother and Kimitake
1962 - Body Building
Blood Oath
Mishima/Closing © 1985, Dunvagen Music Publishers Inc. (ASCAP). Used by permission. Performed by Kronos Quartet - Nonesuch Records. Recorded in 1993. Produced by Judith Sherman, Kurt Munkacsi, and Philip Glass
On the Other Side
Choreographer / Benjamin Millepied
Visual Concept / Mark Bradford
Music / Philip Glass:
Etude No. 1, 2, 6, 12, 16, 18
Orphee Suite - Movement 2 & Movement 7
Trilogy Sonata Movement 1 - Knee Play No. 4 from Einstein on the Beach © 1999, 2012, 1993, 1976, Dunvagen Music Publishers Inc. Used by permission. From Philip Glass: The Complete Piano Etudes - Maki Namekawa, piano (2014, Orange Mountain Music) From The Orphee Suite for Piano, Music by Philip Glass - Paul Barnes, piano (2003, Orange Mountain Music)
Commissioned by Van Cleef & Arpels
Image by Laurent Philippe
Supported By
Gems is supported through Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels. This event is supported by the QPAC 40 program, celebrating 40 years of curiosity, inclusion, gathering and stories. This project is supported through the Giving Program by Ian and Cass George's Gems Syndicate and Haymans Electrical.
Chapters
Reflections
The first chapter of Gems, Reflections, premiered in 2013 and was conceived as a true artistic collaboration, not only between choreographer Benjamin Millepied, composer David Lang, and artist Barbara Kruger, but also between Millepied and the dancers of L.A. Dance Project. Reflections is the contemporary counterpoint to Balanchine’s Rubies. The stark essentiality of Kruger's artwork captures the sensuality and ephemeral feelings of longing and desire that run through all of Millepied's work. David Lang's minimal score for piano solo is a unique selection from This Was Written by Hand/Memory Pieces, carefully chosen by Millepied and Kruger during the collaborative workshop process in Los Angeles, now performed in Brisbane by pianist Yanfeng (Tony) Bai from Trio Azura.
Hearts & Arrows
Hearts & Arrows premiered in 2014. Millepied has described this trilogy of ballets as “an emotional journey” with “a strong and hopeful sense of lasting love and community amidst the uncertainty in which we live.” Hearts & Arrows is inspired by diamonds and the idea of light and serves as a contemporary counterpoint to Balanchine’s Diamonds. The dancers in this act will be accompanied by Camerata – Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra. Choreographed by Benjamin Millepied with visual concept by Liam Gillick and music from composer Philip Glass, The New York Times described the work as “a propulsive, kinetic stream of movement...[that] offers a glowing display of Mr. Millepied’s craftsmanship — the way he keeps his eight dancers constantly moving through asymmetrical and contrapuntal patterns...Everything is unexpected, everything feels serendipitously right.”
On the Other Side
Set to a suite of piano études by Philip Glass, On the Other Side features eight dancers who ebb and flow naturally between ensemble dancing, pas de deux, solos, and groups of three or four. This sustains choreographer Benjamin Millepied’s high lyricism and emotional momentum through the ballet’s pensive conclusion, once again joined by pianist Yanfeng (Tony) Bai. On the Other Side is the contemporary counterpoint to Balanchine’s Emeralds.
Reviews
The Guardian
The New Yorker
Artists
L.A. Dance Project
Los Angeles
L.A. Dance Project is a non-profit dance company under the Artistic Direction of Benjamin Millepied. Founded in 2012, we opened the doors to our studio and performance space in Los Angeles’ downtown arts district in 2017.
L.A Dance Project is dedicated to the pursuit of artistic innovation and excellence in the realm of contemporary dance. Our mission is to explore the boundaries of movement, creativity, and expression. Through experimentation and collaboration, we strive to create captivating performances that challenge, provoke, and inspire audiences worldwide. Grounded in a commitment to artistic integrity and authenticity, we aim to cultivate a culture of curiosity, openness, and growth within our company and beyond. With humility and passion, we seek to contribute to the evolution of dance as a dynamic and transformative art form, enriching lives and fostering connections across cultures and communities.
Benjamin Millepied
Benjamin Millepied is a choreographer, filmmaker, former principal dancer with the New York City Ballet, and Artistic Director to L.A. Dance Project and Paris Dance Project .