AfterLight (Part One)

AfterLight (Part One) is a 15-minute solo created by Russell Maliphant for Daniel Proietto in 2009. The work was commissioned by Sadler’s Wells as part of In the Spirit of Diaghilev, marking the centenary of Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes.

The choreography draws inspiration from Vaslav Nijinsky — in particular his geometric drawings and archival photographs from the later years of his life. These visual traces inform the work’s exploration of flow, continuity, and the movement of energy through the body.

Light, Motion, Presence

Projected animations and sculptural lighting interact with the dancer, allowing form to emerge and dissolve. The body appears intermittently — carved from shadow, interrupted by image — producing a figure that resists fixed identity.

Set to Erik Satie’s Gnossiennes, the work unfolds as a quiet dialogue between movement, light, and sound. Rather than narrating Nijinsky’s life, AfterLight attends to sensation, fragility, and transformation.

Reception and Circulation

Following its premiere, AfterLight (Part One) was presented internationally and broadcast by the BBC. The work received recognition from major dance institutions, including a nomination for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Dance Production and the Critics’ Circle National Dance Award for Best Modern Choreography.

Over time, the solo has come to be regarded as a significant work within contemporary dance practice.

Context within KNOW NATION

AfterLight (Part One) is presented on KNOW NATION as part of an ongoing commitment to preserving and contextualising important choreographic works through film.

The work is made available without reinterpretation, allowing the encounter to take place through attention, duration, and presence.

Credits

Choreography: Russell Maliphant
Created with and performed by: Daniel Proietto

Lighting design: Michael Hulls
Video animation: Jan Urbanowski
Costume design: Stevie Stewart
Sound design: Andy Cowton
Collaborative assistant: Dana Fouras

Music: Gnossiennes 1–4 — Erik Satie, performed by Dustin Gledhill

Original concept created with: Es Devlin
Animation produced by: Onedotzero Industries
Produced by: Sadler’s Wells (2009)