"Welcome to what you think you see."  

William Forsythe

At once scathing, ironic and burlesque, Impressing the Czar reveals all William Forsythe’s theatrical talent and a precise, virtuoso, deconstructed style alternating disequilibrium with speed of movement. Constructed in four parts without any clear narrative, the ballet spans the history of dance, from the Renaissance to the present day. Dresden’s Semperoper Ballet is presenting William Forsythe’s mythical work on the stage of the Palais Garnier on what is their first visit to the Paris Opera. Founded at the beginning of the 19th century, the company is currently directed by Aaron S. Watkin, a former dancer of the Frankfurt Ballet. Comprised of some sixty dancers from a variety of backgrounds, it boasts a rich and varied repertoire that includes works by Marius Petipa and neoclassical ballets by George Balanchine as well as contemporary creations from choreographers like Mats Ek, David Dawson and Alexander Ekman.