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Part French, part Albanian Angelin Preljocaj trained in classical ballet and was influenced by such artists as Merce Cunningham. With his acclaimed company, he is renowned for his emotionally charged, contemporary ballets and has reinvented key works from Diaghilev's Ballets Russes as well as choreographed for the New York City Ballet and Paris Opera Ballet to huge critical acclaim. Originally created for the Berlin Staatsoper Ballet earlier this year, Preljocaj takes Stravinsky's veritable ground swell of music as a jumping-off point for a contemporary version of the age-old ritual. Examining themes of sexual awakening and the dangers of passion, innocent courtship rituals become more primitive as, carried along by the force of desire, the lovers' gentle embraces become more frenzied. The narrative is powerfully portrayed as the relentless build-up reaches its inevitable climax and the chosen one is sought out for the ultimate sacrifice.