Ballet 'Aleko': Chagall's Stage Art Revived in Theatrical Space — Experience Chagall 'as a Space' Unseen in Museums —

Performance: Friday, May 29 – Sunday, June 7, 2026 Venue: Box1000 (MoN Takanawa: The Museum of Narratives) MoN Takanawa: The Museum of Narratives (Minato-ku, Tokyo / Operated by JR East Culture Creation Foundation, hereinafter MoN Takanawa), an experimental cultural museum opened on March 28, 2026, in TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY, will present the ballet 'Aleko' as its opening commemorative program from Friday, May 29 to Sunday, June 7, 2026. This performance is a new stage production that reconfigures Marc Chagall's stage art 'Aleko,' created in 1942, with high-definition LED spatial direction, and brings it to life with contemporary dancers and direction. It will be presented as a new attempt to experience Chagall's works, usually viewed at the Aomori Museum of Art, 'as a stage space.' ◾️ Highlights of the Ballet 'Aleko' Performance at MoN Takanawa 1. Experience Chagall's stage art in a theatrical space Chagall's stage art 'Aleko' (created in 1942, approximately 9m x 15m) is reconfigured with high-definition LED. This creates an immersive theatrical experience, different from viewing paintings. It is an attempt at a unique viewing experience only available at MoN Takanawa. 2. Changes as the original stage background, according to the story 'Aleko' was created as a four-act stage background, with each act having its own setting. In this performance, digital technology allows the background to change with each act, as originally intended, linking the story and the stage. 3. New direction by acclaimed choreographer Naoya Homma Naoya Homma, the choreographer who directed the Aomori Museum of Art version of 'Aleko' ballet in 2024, will compose new direction and choreography for this performance. 4. Collaboration of domestic and international dancers Oleksandr Trush, an international dancer from Ukraine, and Koya Okawa, a promising young dancer, will co-star in the lead roles. 5. Realized through collaboration between a museum and a theater With the cooperation of the Aomori Museum of Art, this project was realized as an interdisciplinary initiative spanning museum collections, performing arts, and digital technology. It is also an attempt at new ways to utilize museum collections. 6. Realized through collaboration between a museum and a theater (Duplicate heading in original, content is different) Ballet 'Aleko' was conceived in the United States in 1942, produced by Russians, and premiered in Mexico. After many years, a new 'Aleko' by Japanese artists will be born in 2026. ◾️ Highlights of the Ballet 'Aleko' Performance at MoN Takanawa (Duplicate heading in original) Ballet 'Aleko' is a story based on Alexander Pushkin's poem 'The Gypsies' (1827), a Russian literary giant. For its premiere in 1942, Tchaikovsky, a leading Russian composer, arranged his Piano Trio in A minor for orchestra, while Leonid Massine, also a Russian dancer, choreographed, and Marc Chagall painted the backdrops. Currently, Chagall's backdrops are exhibited as art pieces in the Aleko Hall of the Aomori Museum of Art, and in November 2024, the Aomori Museum of Art version of 'Aleko' ballet was performed with new direction by Naoya Homma. Aleko, a young Russian nobleman disgusted with civilized society, joins a group of Roma (Gypsies) in search of freedom, and falls in love with Zemfira, the chief's daughter. However, before long, the free-spirited Zemfira shifts her affections to another young Gypsy. Upon learning this, Aleko, in a fit of rage, stabs Zemfira and her lover to death—a tragedy born of jealousy and possessiveness. The work, which embodies universal themes such as freedom and possession, civilization and nature, love and control, continues to be highly acclaimed today. ◾️ Significance of Staging Aleko at MoN Takanawa What is MoN Takanawa? MoN Takanawa: The Museum of Narratives has a mission to 'connect culture to the next 100 years,' creating new narratives by integrating diverse cultural fields and technology. Japanese culture can be described as a situation where fans in various artistic fields—classical performing arts, contemporary dance, traditional art, contemporary art, manga, animation, etc.—specialize and are fragmented. At MoN Takanawa, we believe that connecting these together and creating many choices constitutes cultural richness. Why Ballet 'Aleko' at MoN Takanawa? This is an attempt to evolve the performance at the Aomori Museum of Art and present the classical Chagall stage background 'Aleko' in a new form of ballet 'Aleko' with contemporary choreography, dancers, and technology, which can only be realized at MoN Takanawa. The stage background painting 'Aleko' originally consists of four background paintings that change with each act. Aomori Prefecture