Developments in the field of dance take place all over the world and sometimes come from unexpected places. As part of our mission to make interesting, international dance productions and dance artists visible in the Netherlands, Holland Dance Festival is always looking for performances that add something special. Following on from the successful Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 2019 and the internationally celebrated Acosta Danza in 2023, in collaboration with Droom en Daad we are proud to present the Birmingham Royal Ballet with Black Sabbath in 2024. This performance can exclusively be seen at the Luxor Theater, Rotterdam from June 12 to June 15, 2024.
Carlos Acosta is turning up the volume on Birmingham’s musical legacy. Original Heavy Metal heroes, Black Sabbath, provide the soundtrack for Black Sabbath - The Ballet.
Black Sabbath forged their unique sound in Birmingham Royal Ballet’s home city. In Black Sabbath – The Ballet expect a spectacular theatrical evening featuring thrilling dance alongside full orchestrations of legendary Black Sabbath tracks such as Paranoid and Iron Man, as well as new orchestral works inspired by their music - all performed live by Sinfonia Rotterdam.
In the second of three Birmingham-focussed commissions, Carlos Acosta was drawn to both the band’s work and its musical legacy as the originators of Heavy Metal. This full-evening ballet promises to be a unique undertaking with three composers and three choreographers, led by renowned Choreographer Pontus Lidberg (whose work has been performed by the Swedish Royal Ballet and the Paris Opera Ballet) and Composer Chris Austin (whose work includes orchestrating the White Stripes music for Wayne McGregor’s Chroma) working alongside award-winning writer Richard Thomas (Jerry Springer, The Opera) to create an extraordinary metal symphony over three acts. Black Sabbath themselves have been closely involved in developing this unique collaboration.
Sparks will fly in this intriguing new response to Black Sabbath’s music and legacy – the first true heavy metal ballet experience.
“★★★★ “a generous-spirited crowdpleaser””
— Evening Standard
