About the work
"Metamorphosis" is a triple bill by Dutch National Ballet (Het Nationale Ballet), danced in March/April 2027 at the Nationale Opera & Ballet in Amsterdam; it brings together choreography by Jiří Kylián, David Dawson and Mthuthuzeli November. Its title work is David Dawson's ballet "Metamorphosis" to music by Philip Glass, which – owing to the pandemic – first appeared as an online world premiere with Dutch National Ballet on 29 April 2021. The evening combines established repertoire with younger choreographic signatures.
Plot
Dawson's "Metamorphosis" is an abstract piece carried by Philip Glass's pulsing minimal music, about transformation and departure, created in the isolation of the pandemic and described by critics as a "vehicle of hope". The evening combines it with a work by Jiří Kylián, one of the most significant choreographers in the company's history, and a piece by Mthuthuzeli November, a rising South African choreographer. Together the programme spans a range from formative repertoire to globally connected new positions in neoclassical and contemporary dance.
Cultural significance
Dutch National Ballet is one of the leading companies internationally; its repertoire links the tradition of Kylián and Hans van Manen with contemporary work. David Dawson, once closely associated with the company, is among the most sought-after choreographers of neoclassical dance; his "Metamorphosis", released in 2021 under pandemic conditions as a digital premiere, became a sign of artistic resilience. The inclusion of Mthuthuzeli November reflects the company's opening towards new, internationally connected voices.