Press release
Singapore Dance Theatre Launches 25th Season with Coppélia
14 – 17 March 2013 at the Esplanade Theatre
As Singapore Dance Theatre (SDT) celebrates its 25th Silver Anniversary, the Company is proud to open its 2013 season with one of the most well-loved comedy ballets, Coppélia – The Girl with Enamel Eyes. From 14 – 17 March at the Esplanade Theatre, SDT will mesmerise audiences with this charming and sentimental tale of adventure, mistaken identity and a beautiful life-sized doll. A new staging by Artistic Director Janek Schergen, featuring original choreography by Arthur Saint-Leon, Coppélia is set to a ballet libretto by Charles Nuittier, with music by Léo Delibes.
Based on a story by E.T.A. Hoffman, this three-act ballet tells the light-hearted story of the mysterious Dr Coppélius who owns a beautiful life-sized puppet, Coppélia. A village youth named Franz, betrothed to the beautiful Swanilda becomes infatuated with Coppélia, not knowing that she just a doll. The magic and fun begins when Coppélia springs to life!
Coppélia is one of the most performed and favourite full-length classical ballets from SDT’s repertoire. This colourful ballet was first performed by SDT in 1995 with staging by Colin Peasley of The Australian Ballet. Following this, the production was revived again in 1997, 2001 and 2007. This year, Artistic Director Janek Schergen will be bringing this ballet back to life with a new staging.
“My personal and professional experience with Coppélia goes back to the time I was dancing the ballet during my career. I participated in every aspect of the ballet as a dancer and had the privilege to watch on as The Royal Ballet’s greatest character artists, Stanley Holden, did the role of Dr. Coppélius with us. Coppélia is a ballet that, at its heart, is both a comedy and a dramatic story. With this new staging, I want to bring those elements out more clearly, enhancing the classical level of dancing within the company by fully realizing all the large group scenes that add to the principal character’s stories. We’ll add in new scenic design as well to give it a fresh look. It is a ballet that has something for everyone,” comments Artistic Director Janek Schergen.
Coppélia premiered in 1870 by the Théatre Impérial de l’Opéra with 16 year old Giuseppina Bozzacchi as the principal dancer taking on the lead role of Swanilda. It was a ballet which introduced automatons, dolls and marionettes to ballet and partly because of its immense success, ballets like The Nutcracker and Petruskha had dolls which came alive. Today, Coppélia enjoys undiminished worldwide popularity in all its light-heartedness and humour.
Probably one of the best-known and most performed comedy ballets, this latest staging of Coppélia will bring fun, laughter and enjoyment for all!
Date : 14 – 17 March 2013 (Thursday – Sunday)
Venue : Esplanade Theatre
Time :
14 & 15 March, 8pm
16 March, 1pm, 8pm
17 March, 1pm, 7pm
Ticket prices :
Evening Performances:
$90, $75, $50, $30 (excluding SISTIC charge)
Matinee Performances:
$70, $50, $30 (excluding SISTIC charge)
Various discount schemes are available
Admission for 6 years old and above
Infants in arms and children below 6 years old are unable to be admitted. Children 6 years
old and above will require a ticket for entry.
Tickets are available through all SISTIC outlets and SDT office from 17 January 2013.