Ed Wubbe mit «De Bruiden»

The dreaded ghosts of history were invoked by  Ed Wubbe  at the premiere of his performance  De Bruiden  (The Brides). It is not surprising that the Ballets Russes performed this piece as “Les noces” in 1923; it must have appealed to their sense of musical daring. This new choreography – performed by  Scapino Ballet Rotterdam – provided a unique re-visualization, evoking Stravinsky musically but abandoning the rituals and traditions which were part of the original dance cantata.

Nine brides, nine women, nine individuals, fight the powerful convention of marriage which threatens their liberty. In a true embodiment of Stravinsky’s music, the women fall, struck by the unseen blows of staccato orche­trations, only to rise again fiercely, rotating and gesturing helplessly with their arms, as if the music were physically present. A male dancer as the groom who wishes to possess and enslave the women would be an overstatement here. Wubbe says that: “the music stands for tradition, rituals, small-mindedness and superstition … my piece is an answer to that … I view it from the standpoint of the women … they revolt against traditions and conventions.” He calls his work a tribute to all those ...