About Soldier's Mass —

Jiří Kylián’s Soldier’s Mass explores the horrors  of war through the eyes of young soldiers. Designed for male dancers only, it celebrates the youth and vitality of young men as they go off to war and face adversity as comrades in arms, supporting and buoying each other through the trials of war. While all of Jiří Kylián’s works are very personal to him, Soldier’s Mass truly stands alone as a tribute not only to soldiers across the world but also to male dancers whom Kylián feels are often “underprivileged in their position in the dance world”. As a ballet for 12 men, performed in not a typical ballet style, this epic work really accentuates the strength of the male dancer showing off their technical ability and power. The centre of Kylián’s work is the stunning musicality that is involved in his incredibly difficult choreography. His fast-paced choreography is always unique in its interpretation of the music and this piece is no exception, with both the music and movement unambiguously protesting against war.