On stage, Meirhaeghe presents three striking portraits of exceptionally strong women—performers Sophia Rodriguez, Charly Ange Fogaroli and Courtney May Robertson —each paying a price, both in life and in the spotlight. a rite of spring is not just a tribute to a classic but a radical exploration of the sacrifices women make today.
World premiere
4-7 March 2026
NTGent, Ghent
113 years ago, one ballet shook the entire world of music and theater to its core: Le Sacre du Printemps. Set to earth-shattering, rhythmic music, a young woman was chosen to dance herself to death as a sacrifice for the arrival of spring. Now, Benjamin Abel Meirhaeghe reimagines this iconic piece by Igor Stravinsky and Vaslav Nijinsky, shedding a new light on its timeless themes of sacrifice and transformation. In the spirit of Stravinsky’s ritualistic music, percussionist Lander Gyselinck creates a pulsating new score for drums and electronics.
Direction: Benjamin Abel Meirhaeghe
Music: Lander Gyselinck
Scenography: Benjamin Abel Meirhaeghe in collaboration with visual artists
Costume: Stefan Kartchev
Light design: NN
Dramaturgy: Tom Swaak
Cast: Charly Ange Fogaroli, Courtney May Robertson, Sophia Rodriguez, Lander Gyselinck
Production: Opera Ballet Vlaanderen
Coproduction: Toneelhuis
Commissioned by Vonk – Opera Ballet Vlaanderen
| Date | Performance | City Country | Organisation/Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04.03.2026 | a rite of spring (world premiere) | Ghent (be) | NTGent |
| 05.03.2026 | a rite of spring (world premiere) | Ghent (be) | NTGent |
| 06.03.2026 | a rite of spring (world premiere) | Ghent (be) | NTGent |
| 07.03.2026 | a rite of spring (world premiere) | Ghent (be) | NTGent |
| 11.03.2026 | a rite of spring | Antwerp (be) | Toneelhuis |
| 12.03.2026 | a rite of spring | Antwerp (be) | Toneelhuis |
| 14.03.2026 | a rite of spring | Antwerp (be) | Toneelhuis |
| 15.03.2026 | a rite of spring | Antwerp (be) | Toneelhuis |