Stories of love made visible through choreographic languages.

Echoes of Life is a story ballet designed by Silvia Azzoni and Alexandre Ryabko from Hamburg Ballet for themselves. It made its long-awaited Japan premiere in May 2025 following its European tours including Italy, Poland, and Germany.

Known for being an exceptional couple at the supreme of their careers, it is no surprise that the subject Azzoni and Ryabko chose was the inseparable beings that can continue even after one’s departure from this earthly life as if it echoes to the universe. Michal Bialk’s piano is so essential to tell such stories of love in the show - between lovers, family, and siblings.

Entitled as EOL in Japan, Echoes of Life’s appearance in Japan was made in collaboration with some Japanese artists while preserving its nature. Haruo Niyama joined from the creation processes of the three new parts that were world-premiered in EOL. Tailored into Tokyo edition in the direction of a photographer, Yumiko Inoue, several more personnels who lead the Japanese creative industry including CFCL for costume and SHISEIDO for hair and makeup joined to add some unique means of expressing beauty originated from Japan these days.

Intimacy was another major attempt made in the Tokyo edition. Audience members of EOL enjoy the beauty of dancers and piano in a very close distance at a venue with only 288 seats at the theater. Making it into a film production therefore was a part of our initial plans in order to share the beauty of EOL to more audiences who could not fit into such limited seats. Directed by Yoshitomo Okuda, a former classical ballet dancer, this film production offers you the story from some best angles of his selections to take the most of the beauty. Viewers can also listen to interviews with Azzoni and Ryabko.

Based on recordings from performances of EOL at Saitama Arts Theater Adaptable Theater on May 23rd - 25th, 2025.

CAST：
Silvia Azzoni (Hamburg Ballet)
Alexandre Ryabko (Hamburg Ballet)
Haruo Niyama (The Tokyo Ballet)
Michał Białk (piano)

CHOREOGRAPHERS：
Thiago Bordin
Kristina Paulin
Marc Jubete

CREATIVE DIRECTION : Yumiko Inoue
COSTUME : CFCL
MAKEUP : Reiko Ito (SHISEIDO)
HAIR : Joji Taniguchi, Ikuko Shindo (SHISEIDO)

FILM DIRECTION：Yoshitomo Okuda (Okuda Kikaku)

Glassworks : Opening, Études for Solo Piano No. 2, and Metamorphosis II by Philip Glass
1981, 1999, 1988 © Dunvagen Music Publishers Inc. Used by Permission.