Fifteen years ago Edward Clug headed the SNG Maribor Ballet and put it on the international map of ballet companies, widely known beyond Slovenia. Today the Maribor Ballet forms part of the Slovene National Theater of Maribor (SNG Maribor), a cultural institution that consolidated opera, ballet as well as drama theater. This neighborhood gives one benefit: drama approach to direction enriched chorographical language of the company with thin psychologism and helped to create a whole gallery of complex and complicated characters. Company’s unique style is notable for its innovative productions based not only on radical novelty, but also on deep knowledge of traditions.

Edward Clug’s choreography is remarkable for abstract, minimalist style that demonstrates constant searching of something new in a dance language. Clug often refers to classical narratives and makes absolutely unusual interpretations, that is especially evident even in the choice of music (as for example Radio and Juliet production, staged to music of Radiohead).

As for Stabet Mater, the story is seemed to be told by the music of Giovanni Battista Pergolesi: the medieval catholic hymn Stabat mater dolorosa tells about one of the most pathetic evangelic stories. But for Clug this music determinates, first of all, by hope and solace without any imposition of concrete fable and names.

The audience should not look only for destiny of Virgin Mary, but also for sufferings and joy of all women-mothers, women-friends, women-muses…There is always He near Her, masculine — near feminine, light — near darkness. Disengaged meditativeness of the ballet is shaded with tenderness and silent admiration for such self-sacrifice…