ARIAS Company: Watch

Can we place the fate of the world in the hands of heroes? One of the inspirations for the creation of this world premiere by Bryan Arias was the bleak superhero comic book Watchmen. The choreographer explores the struggles of modern heroes with their own humanity. He confronts their ominous superpowers with the worst fears of our times and calls the concept of the hero itself into question. Born in Puerto Rico, Bryan Arias grew up in New York, where he was exposed to different styles of street and ballroom dancing. He has been a member of Nederlands Dans Theater (for which he is creating a work in March) and of Crystal Pite’s company Kidd Pivot. These experiences cultivated his love of theatrical, but not necessarily narrative, dance, and of storytelling characterized by melancholic symbolism and a penchant for the satire. In 2013 he founded his own company in New York, with whom he creates poetic, quiet, rather minimalistic works in which the movement of the human body takes centre stage.

“Arias’s approach is similar to the magic mixture in Wes Anderson’s films: The silliness is graced by sincerity, and the poignancy glows with humanity.” – The Boston Globe

Choreography: Bryan Arias | Premiere: June 29, 2019, Stuttgart | Duration: approx. 60 minutes no intermission