Yesterday I attended this beautiful show at Amare in The Hague.

The general information about the performance is below.

In a unique blend, “Alice in Escherland” marries the timeless enchantment of “Alice in Wonderland” with the ingenious art of M.C. Escher on stage. This Christmas production, featuring eight shows at Amare, marks the festive conclusion of the Escher year in The Hague.

The Dutch Don’t Dance Division (DeDDDD), in collaboration with Amare, presents this special performance. The tale of Alice is combined with the mesmerizing art of Escher, captivating both the young and old. With a reputation for sold-out shows, DeDDDD brings its magical and mysterious world back to The Hague. During the winter season, the performance invites dance and art enthusiasts to engage in this surreal experience.

The adventures of Alice in “Alice in Escherland” transport viewers to a world where reality and fantasy merge. Inspired by Escher’s famous works, optical illusions and symmetry are brought to life in the set design and choreography. This feel-good show is a perfect fit for the festive season, enriched with a charming snowfall.

Thom Stuart, artistic director of DeDDDD, shares his inspiration and experience: “The moment I stumbled upon the ballet music for ‘Alice in Wonderland’ by Tchaikovsky/Carl Davis in a music store in New York, sparked a wonderful creative process. That music, so rich and vivid, inspired me to craft my own version of ‘Alice in Wonderland’. But the real breakthrough came when I read ‘Through the Looking Glass’. The chess scenes reminded me of Escher’s ‘Metamorphosis’. At that moment, I knew I had found something special – a way to intertwine the wondrous world of Alice with Escher’s hypnotic art.

In this production, not only are Escher’s visual elements a source of inspiration, but also the way he plays with perception and reality. This is reflected in how we’ve interpreted and translated Lewis Carroll’s storylines into dance. The most enchanting moment of the performance is undoubtedly when, after the intermission, the curtain opens to reveal a gigantic chessboard. It’s a visual spectacle that instantly captures the audience’s imagination.

I blended elements from both of Carroll’s books and reinterpreted them in my ballet. The moment when the White Queen is thrown off the board, casting a spell, leads to an enchanting snowfall that envelops the stage for twenty minutes. This symbolises the blurring of reality and fantasy, a core theme in both Carroll’s and Escher’s work.

An unexpected moment of affirmation came during preparations in 2016. When I took my dancers to the Escher museum, we discovered Escher himself was an admirer of Lewis Carroll and always had a copy of ‘Alice’ on his bedside table. For me, this was a sign that we were on the right path in merging these two iconic worlds.”

Carl Davis, the recently deceased composer and arranger, reworked Tchaikovsky’s music especially for this ballet. He formed a close bond with DeDDDD after meeting Thom Stuart.

DeDDDD’s performances are known for their innovative interpretations of classic stories. Following successful productions like The Nutcracker and A Christmas Carol, ‘Alice in Escherland’ promises to be an unforgettable experience.

For a full ‘Escher experience’, we advise visitors to explore the fascinating ‘Escher in the Palace’ (Escher in het Paleis) during the day and then immerse themselves in the ‘Alice in Escherland’ performance. This offers an exceptional opportunity to discover the enchanting world of Escher by day and continue the magicd at Amare. A day dedicated to Escher’s art, culminating in a fairy-tale performance, makes it the perfect Christmas experience.

Dates: December 25th to 29th

Location: Amare, Spuiplein 150, The Hague

Choreography: Thom Stuart (DeDDDD)

Music: P.I. Tchaikovsky, arranged by Carl Davis

Dancers: The Dutch Don’t Dance Division & over 80 dancers from ages 5 to 70+

Inspiration: M.C. Escher and ‘Alice in Wonderland’ by Lewis Carroll

Tickets: https://www.amare.nl/en/agenda/1978/de-dutch-don-t-dance-division-i-s-m-amare/alice-in-escherland-6