About the work
"Sounds About Right" is a new ballet by the British choreographer William Tuckett, premiered as a world premiere at Dutch National Ballet (Het Nationale Ballet, Amsterdam). In this piece, sound itself takes centre stage: it tells of a dancer trying to hold her ground in a world of sound that becomes increasingly unpredictable. To this end, Tuckett collaborates with a foley artist – a sound-effects performer who creates the sounds live on stage. The production is recommended for ages 6 and up; the first performances took place on the Main Stage in October/November 2026, with further performances in April 2027.
Plot
At the centre is a dancer whose environment consists entirely of sounds. What begins playfully grows increasingly unpredictable: noises appear, disappear and take on a life of their own – and the dancer must learn to find footing and orientation in this unstable sonic cosmos. The live foley artist makes the creation of the sounds visible, turning the stage into a shared playground of movement and sound. Tuckett thus combines dance, live sound design and a touch of humour into a sensory theatrical experience that brings the connection between hearing and seeing, sound and body, especially close to a young audience.
Cultural significance
"Sounds About Right" stands for a contemporary, cross-generational ballet that deliberately makes the boundary between dance, music and theatre permeable. By bringing the normally invisible art of foley sound-making onto the stage, William Tuckett draws attention to the relationship between sound and movement while creating an accessible, instructive format for a family audience. The production fits the ambition of major companies to win young viewers for dance early and at a high artistic level.