Kyiv Modern Ballet. Two one-act ballets: ‘Rain’ and ‘In Pivo Veritas’

‘Regen’ is a philosophical choreographic suite exploring the fates of people who are unwittingly linked by the same time and space. Ethnic music from various cultures, as well as preludes and fugues from Johann Sebastian Bach’s *Well-Tempered Clavier*, resound throughout the performance like the voices of people speaking different languages yet sharing a common human experience. The artistic concept behind the piece stems from Radu Poklitaru’s musical vision: universal human values unite different cultures, mentalities and national traditions. The focus is on the individual, their emotions, their inner state and the flow of life itself. The form of the performance unfolds as a sequence of vivid vignettes set to ethnic, strongly national in character, music, interwoven with preludes and fugues by Johann Sebastian Bach. On stage, a community of people emerges, at times crossing the space in frenzied motion, at others groping their way through the uncertainty of the world. From this stream of people emerge duets, trios and solos that reveal individual life stories. Once their stories have been told, the characters are once again absorbed into the crowd, which blurs the fleeting traces of their existence.

‘In Pivo Veritas’ is a stage production whose title offers a tongue-in-cheek reinterpretation of the well-known Latin proverb ‘In vino veritas’. It is a colourful, dynamic and ironic stage production, born of the choreographer’s and dancers’ unbridled passion for dance. The performance unfolds in an atmosphere of playfulness, temperament and subtle provocation, in which any similarities to real-life situations remain purely coincidental, whilst conceptual interpretations, analytical observations and parallels to other art forms are expressly welcome. “The truth lies in love” – this is what those who immerse themselves in the intoxicating atmosphere of this spectacular, rousing, modernistically bold yet sophisticated stage production come to realise, a work shaped by the choreographer’s extraordinary creative talent and the dancers’ brilliant mastery.