Petite Mort (Small Death)
Set to Mozart piano concerti, this sensual ballet for six men, six women and six foils is an ode to love. Created by Jirí Kylián, the piece features intimate duets, each of which evoke a different feeling and mood.

Jirí Kylián (Choreographer) was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia in 1947, and started his dance training at the ballet school of the Prague National Theatre at the age of nine. He later studied at the Prague Conservatory and the Royal Ballet School in London. In 1968 he joined the Stuttgart Ballet under the direction of John Cranko as both a dancer and choreographer. In 1973, he created his first work for the Nederlands Dans Theater, where he became artistic director in 1975 until 1999 and is currently resident choreographer and artistic advisor. Kylián has choreographed 66 works for NDT including Sinfonietta, Sechs Tänze, Kaguyahime and Arcimboldo. His works have been staged by more than 40 companies around the world, such as American Ballet Theater, Royal Danish Ballet, Tokyo Ballet, The Australian Ballet and National Ballet of Canada.

The revival of Petite Mort is sponsored by Alfred McDougal and Nancy Lauter McDougal.

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago: Petite Mort Photo © & courtesy of Todd Rosenberg

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago: Petite Mort Photo © & courtesy of Todd Rosenberg

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago: Petite Mort Photo © & courtesy of Todd Rosenberg