Arielle Smith in Studio Crafting World Premiere
In our 2023–24 Season announcement, Artistic Director Tamara Rojo shared, “It’s about time a woman tackled the story of Carmen.” And she knew just the woman for the job when she commissioned Cuban-born choreographer Arielle Smith to tell this eponymous story with a fresh focus and a distinctly current take on the classic.
Arielle Smith’s work crosses performing arts barriers and has created critically acclaimed works in dance, theatre, and film. The London-based choreographer won the Lawrence Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Dance for her work, Jolly Folly, created for English National Ballet and has been named One to Watch in 2022 by The Guardian.
Smith was drawn to the iconic story of Carmen but wanted to reframe the context from its historical trappings. “I was always drawn to it as a woman and a story that's about a woman. But a lot of the time she doesn't feel like the protagonist of her own story. I've always felt a bit of a desire to look into that deeper and to explore how we can make Carmen a piece that's truly about Carmen.” The result is what Smith refers to as a “new classic.” A contemporary take that digs into the complicated humanity of the characters, exploring their strengths, vulnerabilities, and flaws. This retelling has shifted focus from the familiar context of the Bizet opera, making this a truly modern take on the classic.
The creative team is comprised of a deep bench of heavy hitting tastemakers including an original score from Grammy Award-winning composer Arturo O’Farrill, set designs by Tony Award-winning Riccardo Hernández, costumes by sustainable luxury fashion designer Gabriela Hearst, and expert Dramaturg Lucinda Coxon.
