Damien Jalet . Kohei Nawa . Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève

A gesamtkunstwerk for all the senses: Damien Jalet creates a dance and visual journey to the limits of our perception with the artist Kohei Nawa and for the Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève.

Dance Between reality and illusion: Inspired by the natural phenomenon of the mirage – an optical illusion created by light distortion – choreographer Damien Jalet and visual artist Kohei Nawa create a stage world in which reality and illusion are inextricably intertwined. Humanity is at the centre, traversing a metaphorical desert landscape behind the veil of illusion in search of humanity. The 16 performers undergo a series of physical and emotional metamorphoses on their journey: initially travelling as individual seekers through a barren landscape, botanical and animal elements increasingly intertwine, the individual becomes part of a larger, living organism. As a sensual journey through changing states of nature, a lush, tropical-looking stage world grows out of the emptiness of the desert. Mirage is a play about humanity in flux – fleeting, vulnerable and always in the process of becoming.

Damien Jalet, an associate artist of the Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève since 2022, presents Mirage, his first world premiere with the company. Known for his visually stunning, contemporary style, he recently attracted international attention as the choreographer of the award-winning musical film Emilia Pérez (2024) by Jaques Audiard. After VESSEL (2016), Mist (2021) and Planet[wanderer] (2021), Mirage is the fourth joint work with visual artist Kohei Nawa, whose artistic practice pursues a dynamic interpretation of the concept of sculpture. His works are sensory experiences that reference the physical properties of materials and deal with themes of life and the cosmos, as well as artistic sensibility and technology. In 2009, he founded the multidisciplinary art platform Sandwich in Kyoto with the aim of making projects and installations accessible to a wide audience.

A co-production of Kampnagel Hamburg, Charleroi Danse, Centro de Danza Matadero-Madrid, Maison de la Danse, Lyon-Pôle européen de création and Festspielhaus St. Pölten.

CAST & CREDITS

Damien Jalet concept, choreography, Kohei Nawa concept, scenography, Kunihiko Morinaga (Anrealage) costumes, Anna Sato costumes assisant, Yukiko Yoshimoto lumière, Thomas Bangalter music, Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève dance, Aimilios Arapoglou Choreographic advisor, Kehua Li choreographic assistant, Nikolai Korypaev scenography assistant, Jamila Hessaïne creative producer for Damien Jalet, Ryo Shikari programming

BALLET DU GRAND THÉÂTRE DE GENÈVE

Aviel Cahn general director, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui director of the ballet, Indosuez Wealth Management partner of the Ballet of the Grand Théâtre

Mirage is a creation based on the project Mirage [transitory], produced and organised by Sandwich Inc, Zero-Ten Inc, Super Massive Global Co. Ltd, sponsored by Yoshimura Holdings and presented in Fukuoka (Japan) in September 2024

In memory of Ryo Shiraki (1990-2025)