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A true phenomenon in the contemporary repertoire, Play has established itself as the Paris Opera Ballet’s flagship creation of the past decade.
A true phenomenon in the contemporary repertoire, Play has established itself as the Paris Opera Ballet’s flagship creation of the past decade. This unique ballet, at the crossroads of visual theatre, contemporary performance and classical tradition, was unveiled by Alexander Ekman in December 2017 at the Palais Garnier. Since its debut, the piece has been staged over sixty times, consistently receiving enthusiastic acclaim from audiences. The ballet's scheduled performance in Tokyo in July 2025 will reinforce its global standing and showcase how a modern piece can secure a lasting place in a prestigious company's repertoire.
Choreographed by Alexander Ekman in 2017, Play showcases the Paris Opera Ballet dancers' virtuosity through intricate technique, nuanced interpretation, and seamless blending of classical and contemporary styles, offering a vibrant display of the company's artistic range. While drawing on the foundations of classical dance, Ekman renews its codes with contemporary choreographic freedom. The result is a show that is both demanding and deeply joyful. Through a series of tableaux, Play explores with poetry and humour our relationship with play, time, and society.
The first act plunges into a luminous, colourful universe, imbued with the lightness of childhood. The dancers take over an astonishing set, where trampolines, traps, and a pool of green balls become the backdrop for spontaneous exploration. The movement is lively and unpredictable, but always rigorous. Underlying the seeming nonchalance, the choreography unveils itself as meticulously crafted. Classical ballet elements interweave with a more contemporary, fluid movement vocabulary.
The music with multiple influences, played live on stage, contributes fully to the festive, immersive atmosphere. Calesta ‘Callie’ Day's warm voice envelops the moving bodies and accentuates the sensory dimension of the show, which is experienced as a celebration of gesture and life.
Act two plunges into a more complex realm. The tone becomes more serious, the lines stricter, and the gestures more fragmented. The stage environment evokes a rigidly structured world, punctuated by the automatic behaviours and rules of everyday life. Dancers appear trapped in roles and patterns, yet humor persists. Poetic figures emerge, feathers fall in the open space, silhouettes freeze and come to life during rehearsal. The set becomes the mirror of an adult world where the game never completely disappears.
Amidst the heightened drama, the choreography maintains its exquisite detail and technical virtuosity. Classical vocabulary comes to the fore, and there is a powerful contrast between formal rigour and actions whose meaning evolves. The latter segment unfolds ambiguously, inviting diverse interpretations. It prompts questions rather than dictates answers, engaging viewers without excluding them.
Lasting less than two hours, Play offers an extraordinary experience. It is not a story, but a playful and sensitive journey, full of breaks and surprises. The ballet is designed to appeal to a wide audience, from those discovering contemporary dance for the first time to the initiated.
On July 26, 2025, Crédit Agricole CIB welcomes its guests to an exceptional evening in Tokyo, enhanced by a private cocktail reception. This initiative follows on from a first event organised a few years ago, designed to reconnect with the magic of live performance and shared experiences.
This exclusive evening highlights the bank’s ongoing support for the arts through its partnership with the Paris Opera. In 2019, Crédit Agricole CIB became a patron dedicated to the Paris Opera’s international outreach, further affirming its support for cultural creation and global artistic exchange. This collaboration reflects the bank’s broader dedication to promoting cultural heritage and excellence in contemporary expression. At the crossroads of elegance and relationships, this evening reflects a demanding and open vision of partnership, where art becomes the site of a lasting, human, and living bond.
