About the work
Bare is a world premiere by the Brazilian choreographer Lucas Valente for Ballett Zürich, first performed on 17 January 2026 as part of the evening Timeframed — Valente's first work for the main company after several pieces for the Junior Ballett. On a bare stage lit only by neon tubes, around two dozen dancers perform without any musical accompaniment.
Plot
Bare dispenses with music entirely. Two microphones make the dancers' sounds audible — their breath, their calls, instructions and steps. In a dazzling, perfectly synchronised whirl, the large ensemble moves across the empty stage, generating a gripping, immediate pull from movement, bodily sound and sheer energy alone.
Cultural significance
Bare was hailed as a sensation at its premiere and drew standing ovations. The piece marked the breakthrough of Lucas Valente, a long-standing member of Ballett Zürich, as a choreographer for the main stage, and stands for a radically pared-down, body-centred approach to contemporary dance.