Solo

About

Solo by Hans van Manen is a seven-minute masterpiece created in 1997 for three NDT 2 dancers. Despite its brevity, it is considered a grand work that radiates dynamics, beauty, technical virtuosity, bravura, and infectious joy of dance. Set to Bach’s Violin Partita No. 1, whose blazing tempo makes it impossible for just one dancer to sustain, the piece requires three dancers who hand off seamlessly. Van Manen envisioned a man reassessing his place in the world; the three dancers represent different facets or “colors” of that man. It can also be viewed as three men who spur and challenge one another, bound by a strong connection and complementary styles. The choreography adds a vivid new layer to Bach’s score, making visible the details, nuances, and transitions embedded in the music.