The Storyteller

The Storyteller
World premiere date
Premiere company
Premiere location venue
Premiere location place
Melbourne, Australia
Composer
Ki-Young Kim
Costume designer
Lighting designer
Scenic designer
Commissioner

The Australian Ballet

Dancers

Nigel Burley

with Justine Summers, Nicole Rhodes, Kirsty Martin, Damien Welch, Matthew Trent

Total number of dancers
6
Runtime
00:14:36

In the summer of 1997, The Australian Ballet sent six dancers to New York City. They joined Tharp in the studio to learn and rehearse a new work she created for the company.

Set to a composition by Ki-young Kim, The Storyteller is a dramatic ballet with elements of primitive mysticism. The music combines Western forms and a piano with traditional Korean percussion, woodwinds and vocals. The dancers enter in a slow procession. One man – the oracle – emerges from the group. Five other dancers complete the cast, functioning either as a Greek chorus or the players in the oracle’s tale. 

  • Members of The Australian Ballet in performance.

    <p>© Twyla Tharp</p>

  • Tharp rehearses with a dancer from The Australian Ballet in New York City. 

    <p>© Jesse Huot</p>
Video Description

Dancers of The Australian Ballet perform the opening section.

Full music program

Round Dance
Composed by Ki-Young Kim

The Storyteller | University of Cincinnati - College Conservatory of Music
University of Cincinnati, Patricia Corbett Theater
Cincinnati, OH
The Storyteller | Nashville Ballet
Tennessee Performing Arts Center
Nashville, TN
Storyteller (premiere) | The Australian Ballet
State Theatre
Melbourne, Australia