More than 350 hopefuls have submitted applications to join Romeo and Juliet, the Prokhov ballet set to become a new contemporary dance creation under the direction and choreography of Asun Noales, with Josep Vicent conducting ADDA Simfònica at the helm.
This reimagining of the classic piece marks the first original dance project produced by the Auditorio de la Diputación de Alicante (ADDA), which will host the premiere of this new production in mid-December.
To this end, months ago an international call was launched to select the troupe for the show, which will not be a traditional ballet, as Noales emphasizes, but a fresh choreographic work bringing a personal interpretation to William Shakespeare’s tragedy. The submission deadline for the cast has just ended, and the initial lineup will include ten dancers, five men and five women, who will bring the story to life through movement.
“Entries arrived from all corners of the world, not just Spain. From America, with requests from the United States, to Asia, and across much of Europe including Italy, France, Portugal, and Germany,” says the Illicit director and head of the company OtraDanza, pleased with the strong response: “It’s incredibly exciting that so many people want to participate in this project,” she notes.
Auditions in July
Having more than three years of professional dance experience was nearly the sole requirement of the call, which seeks experienced and versatile dancers capable of performing extensive partnering work in duets and trios, with strong interpretive ability and physical qualities, Noales explains. Among the 350 applicants who sent in their video submissions, about 70 dancers will advance to in-person auditions, scheduled for July 15 and 16 at the ADDA, where the selection will continue.
That stage is where the true dancer emerges. “Until I see them in person at the live auditions, I have no idea who will be in the final group, because two months of teamwork will follow for the production,” the director reveals. She already has scenes in mind for the choreography—conflict between families, romance, and a dramatic end—but she won’t begin crafting anything until the dancers are in front of her, because her instrument is the human body.
Production in October
Starting October 14, preparations will ramp up, with two performances planned for December 13 and 14 at the Auditorio de la Diputación de Alicante. Noales aims to “maximize the venue’s potential or give the story a renewed breath,” refreshing this tale for contemporary audiences.
Meanwhile, Josep Vicent works on adapting the score, since Prokofiev’s music lasts about two and a half hours, while the choreography will be reduced to roughly an hour and a quarter to an hour and a half. Also contributing to Romeo and Juliet are Ana Esteban (costume), Juanjo Llorens (lighting), and Luis Crespo (set design).