Wayne McGregor: “Chroma”

Wayne McGregor’s new ballet “Chroma“ made only a handful of scheduled appearances at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, in the winter of 2006. The piece was the first item on a Saturday matinee triple bill which included the first show-ing of Christopher Wheeldon’s “DGV” and it seemed inevitable to most pundits that the Wheeldon ballet would grab the press attention. In the event “DGV” was well received, but the excited critical plaudits were reserved for McGregor’s new work.

The unrestrained audience cheering that followed “Chroma’s” premiere was a response few had predicted, and even fewer had experienced within the hallowed environment of Covent Garden. This was a totally different kind of beast: an opera house audience going crazy over a modern dance work.

“Chroma” seemed to have attained the status of instant style icon. The performances immediately sold out. Suddenly McGregor was receiving calls from the likes of Kylie Minogue, Nicole Kidman and The Pet Shop Boys, people he had never met, asking him to get them tickets to see his new work. The biggest surprise, however, was when Monica Mason, Director of The Royal Ballet, announced that Wayne McGregor was being honoured ...