The Rite of Spring (2016)

The creative choreographic duo Airida Gudaitė and Laurynas Žakevčius present a modern version of the classical ballet “The Rite of Spring”. This is the first urban interpretation of this work, the ideological basis of which is the rituals of sacrifice and self-sacrifice. By sacrificing, we destroy, by self-sacrificing, we destroy ourselves. 

The authors seek to get to know the composer’s work, while preparing for the performance they analyze various versions of the work “The Rite of Spring”, delve into the traditions of sacrifice and self-sacrifice, and the manifestations of narcissism prevailing in modern society. The creators point out that now the traditions are different, although still just as sacred and important. Today we strive for other values, we sacrifice ourselves to other gods: consumption, the mass. The performance “The Rite of Spring” shows and at the same time observes how we behave when we think that we are free to choose and do not depend on anyone, and seeks to know how big our “independence” frames really are.

“In the performance, we look at various life situations, transforming the stage into life, and life into the stage, raising questions about what is sacred and important today, not only for the dancer, but for each of us. We bow down to the frames formed by the sense of community and place ourselves in them, we do what is imposed on us from the side, because we are dependent on opinions. But do we become empty and banal because of this?” ask the performance’s choreographers Airida Gudaitė and Laurynas Žakevičius.