The work of art as a mirror of the soul

Based on Oscar Wild's 1890 novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, the artistic director of the Innsbruck Winter Dance Festival, Enrique Gasa Valga, and his Limonada Dance Company are staging a piece whose content seems more relevant today than ever: the story of a man who is given eternal youth by a magical portrait, while the painting ages in its place and shows the effects of his moral transgressions. In this world premiere, Gasa Valga stages the pursuit of pleasure and selfishness that ultimately leads to Dorian Gray's downfall. Gasa Valga illustrates the cult of youth and beauty and its dark consequences in an exciting and at the same time depressing way. It is not only the image, but rather the dance that functions here as a mirror of the soul.

Australian-born Locke Venturato will take on the leading role in the dance piece. He has been a permanent member of the Limonada Dance Company since October 2024 and is already celebrated as an exceptional talent.