‘Defying Gravity’, produced by the National Dance Theater of the Château de Chaillot in France, is a poetic work that perfectly blends extreme sports with dance. It deeply reflects choreographer Rashid Ulan’s infinite fascination with concepts such as ‘takeoff, drifting, weightlessness, and suspension’. Two outstanding extreme sports enthusiasts—a high-altitude rope walker and a climber—meet eight skilled performers on stage, away from their usual arenas. These extraordinary and freedom-seeking individuals rotate lightly on stage, soaring between heaven and earth, reinterpreting the Icarus dream of the modern world in different ways. Huge climbing walls and high-altitude ropes form their stage. At specific moments, it transforms into a massive screen, projecting images of world-class high-altitude rope walker Nathan Paulin and Swiss climber Nina Caprez challenging the limits in breathtaking natural landscapes. The voice-overs of these outstanding extreme sports enthusiasts also play a role, with each person narrating their unique personal experiences. Jean-Baptiste Julien’s music, sometimes light and sometimes passionate, adds subtle and rich layers to the performance, leaving a lasting impression. ‘Defying Gravity’ is not satisfied with mere skill display; it dances with nothingness and explores the dimensions of existence, even the metaphysical dimensions. This performance is rooted in reality and points to a dream world, intimate and extraordinary, illuminating an extraordinary human experience with the brilliance of art. Open from October 11th to October 12th, Friday to Saturday, 19:30-20:30, subject to the actual opening status of the day.
