Brno's Vigil in Prague

This compelling triptych unites the creative voices of two prominent figures in contemporary European dance – Spanish choreographer Nacho Duato and Slovak choreographer and artistic director of NdB Ballet, Mário Radačovský. Together, their works form a deeply emotional and thought-provoking evening that invites the audience to reflect on the fragility and strength of the human soul.

Silent Woods

Originally created for NdB 2, the junior company of the Brno Ballet, Silent Woods by Mário Radačovský is a dreamlike vision of a young woman’s inner world. Set to the evocative music of Antonín Dvořák, the ballet traces an introspective journey through memory – revisiting moments and relationships that have shaped her identity. As she awakens from these reveries, she faces a pivotal choice: return to the familiar past or embrace the uncertainty of a new horizon.

As Radačovský explains: “It’s about self-discovery – unlocking the emotional and sensory potential within every person. The choreography contains a certain naivety and purity, characteristics typical of young people experiencing love and connection for the first time.”

Gnawa

Nacho Duato’s Gnawa is a dynamic, ritualistic choreography inspired by the traditional music and culture of North Africa. Through its mesmerizing rhythms and powerful group formations, the piece celebrates the unity of body, rhythm, and the spiritual energy of community. With both meditative and ecstatic qualities, Gnawa is an ode to movement as a form of collective power and transcendence.

White Darkness

The evening concludes with Duato’s poignant and emotionally charged work White Darkness, dedicated to his late sister. The piece delves into the painful subject of addiction and loss, telling the story of a woman desperately seeking meaning and love, only to find emptiness and isolation.

“It moved me deeply to see how many young people destroy their lives through drugs, sliding into a dark world with no way out,” says Duato, reflecting on the emotional roots of the piece.

With haunting imagery and intimate expression, White Darkness serves as a quiet but devastating finale – a gaze into the white darkness of the human soul.

National Theatre Brno Ballet – A Century of Tradition and a Contemporary Vision

The Ballet of the National Theatre Brno is the second-largest ballet company in the Czech Republic and boasts a proud history spanning more than a century. Since its formal establishment in 1919 under Jaroslav Hladík, the company has grown under the guidance of remarkable figures such as Máša Cvejičová, Ivo Váňa Psota (who presented the world premiere of Romeo and Juliet in Brno in 1938), and Luboš Ogoun.

Since 2013, the artistic leadership has been entrusted to Mário Radačovský – an internationally respected choreographer and former soloist with the Slovak National Theatre, Nederlands Dans Theater under Jiří Kylián, and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens in Montreal. Under his direction, the NdB Ballet has enriched its repertoire with works by George Balanchine, Jiří Kylián, Johan Inger, and Nacho Duato, while also showcasing Radačovský’s own choreographic voice.

Thanks to his international experience, artistic diplomacy, and the ensemble’s growing reputation, the NdB Ballet has entered a new era of artistic excellence and audience acclaim.

A Unique Ballet Event Connecting Two Great Stages

Vigil is a rare artistic encounter between two major Czech institutions – a dialogue in dance between Brno and Prague, tradition and modernity, memory and renewal.

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