Benjamin Millepied and Philip Glass ballet collaboration to debut at Dubai Opera

A modern dance work from celebrity choreographer Benjamin Millepied, and set to brand new music by Philip Glass, will receive its regional premiere at Dubai Opera.

Millepied’s leading LA Dance Project will present On the Other Side on September 28, the third and final instalment of his jewel-inspired ballet trilogy. The company – which the French choreographer founded and has directed since 2011 – will also perform opening chapter Hearts & Arrows, which was set to minimalist master Glass’s String Quartet No.3 (“Mishima”).

Millepied is best known for choreographing, and starring, in gritty ballet movie Black Swan – where he met future wife Natalie Portman, whose starring role won an Oscar for Best Actress in 2011.

Inspired by different precious stones, the three-part series debuted in 2012 and has toured 34 cities in 11 countries to date, and makes it GCC debut in Dubai.

Reportedly channeling the properties of emeralds, On the Other Side premiered at London’s Sadler’s Wells in June, with set designs by American artist Mark Bradford.

Opening chapter Hearts and Arrows meanwhile took its queues from diamonds and light, while rubies inspired second part Reflections.

The ostentatious theme comes with backing from a high-profile jewellery brand, with the show’s richly-coloured, “grungey” one-piece costumes designed by Ermenegildo Zegna’s new creative director Alessandro Sartori.

As well as Milliped’s two works, the LA Dance Project will also perform Murder Ballades by Justin Peck.

“LA Dance Project under the direction of Benjamin Millepied is at the forefront of the contemporary dance world right now,” said Dubai Opera chief executive Jasper Hope.

“The GCC premiere of On the Other Side, with music by Philip Glass especially, is an incredibly exciting addition to our dance programme for 2017 and one I know Dubai audiences are going to relish.”

Tickets, priced from Dh150, are on sale now from www.dubaiopera.com.

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