Uraufführung

Chicxulub or The Devil's Flea

Summary

A dance piece for children by _Dominik White Slavkovský_\Music by _Egon Thuile_ and others
A dance piece for children by Dominik White Slavkovský
Music by Egon Thuile and others
A dance piece for children by Dominik White Slavkovský
Music by Egon Thuile and others
A dance piece for children by Dominik White Slavkovský
Music by Egon Thuile and others
A dance piece for children by Dominik White Slavkovský
Music by Egon Thuile and others
A dance piece for children by Dominik White Slavkovský
Music by Egon Thuile and others
A dance piece for children by Dominik White Slavkovský
Music by Egon Thuile and others
A dance piece for children by Dominik White Slavkovský
Music by Egon Thuile and others

Company member Dominik White Slavkovský creates Chicxulub or The Devil’s Flea, a dance piece for children aged 6 and up – and for grown-ups who aren’t afraid of eccentric encounters with dinosaurs, off-the-wall characters, and a wildly imaginative world.

At the heart of the story are a young prince and his sister, who escape the monotony of everyday life by diving into a digital parallel universe. There, they come across a gang of modern-day superheroes, a mysterious devil, and an ancient dinosaur – all of whom bring a fair bit of chaos to the mix. But this video game world isn’t the safe haven it first appears to be. Before long, unwelcome news from the real world breaks through, and the siblings must face up to what they’re running from.

The narrative travels from classic fairy-tale motifs into outer space, blending elements of comic books, video games, and adventure films into a fast-paced choreography. In the end, it’s not about escaping, but about growing together, meeting life’s challenges head-on, and carving out your place in a complicated world – with imagination and courage.

A co-production with the Deutsche Oper Berlin. Performed in German.

Ages 6+

Videos / Trailer

Dates

2025
2025




 
Info

Deutsche Oper Berlin | Tischlerei
4:00 pm
12 – 22
Deutsche Oper Berlin | Tischlerei
11:00 am
Deutsche Oper Berlin | Tischlerei
11:00 am
12 – 22
Deutsche Oper Berlin | Tischlerei
11:00 am
Deutsche Oper Berlin | Tischlerei
11:00 am
12 – 22
Deutsche Oper Berlin | Tischlerei
3:00 pm
12 – 22
Deutsche Oper Berlin | Tischlerei
11:00 am
12 – 22
Workshop and Performance Package

We offer a special package for nursery groups and school classes that includes both a workshop and a visit to a performance.
Workshops take place on weekdays from 9:30 to 11:30 am and should ideally be scheduled before attending the performance.
 

Workshop fees

Nursery groups: €25 (up to 15 children)
Years 1–6: €3 per pupil
 


To book a workshop

Through Tanz ist KLASSE!
education@staatsballett-berlin.de
+49 (0)30 34 384-167

for children aged six and up
Workshop and Performance Package

We offer a special package for nursery groups and school classes that includes both a workshop and a visit to a performance.
Workshops take place on weekdays from 9:30 to 11:30 am and should ideally be scheduled before attending the performance.
 

Workshop fees

Nursery groups: €25 (up to 15 children)
Years 1–6: €3 per pupil
 


To book a workshop

Through Tanz ist KLASSE!
education@staatsballett-berlin.de
+49 (0)30 34 384-167

for children aged six and up
Workshop and Performance Package

We offer a special package for nursery groups and school classes that includes both a workshop and a visit to a performance.
Workshops take place on weekdays from 9:30 to 11:30 am and should ideally be scheduled before attending the performance.
 

Workshop fees

Nursery groups: €25 (up to 15 children)
Years 1–6: €3 per pupil
 


To book a workshop

Through Tanz ist KLASSE!
education@staatsballett-berlin.de
+49 (0)30 34 384-167

for children aged six and up
Workshop and Performance Package

We offer a special package for nursery groups and school classes that includes both a workshop and a visit to a performance.
Workshops take place on weekdays from 9:30 to 11:30 am and should ideally be scheduled before attending the performance.
 

Workshop fees

Nursery groups: €25 (up to 15 children)
Years 1–6: €3 per pupil
 


To book a workshop

Through Tanz ist KLASSE!
education@staatsballett-berlin.de
+49 (0)30 34 384-167

for children aged six and up
Family performance & workshop

9.30

5

Children and young people under 18 years old pay €10 for family performances in all seats.

In advance, children and young people can prepare for the ballet visit with their parents by participating in workshops, which include an age-appropriate introduction to the performance, learning about the storyline, getting to know the characters, and dancing short scenes from the piece. The workshops take place 90 minutes before curtain.

 
Registration required

Tel: 030 34 384-166
E-mail: contact@tanz-ist-klasse.de

Workshop and Performance Package

We offer a special package for nursery groups and school classes that includes both a workshop and a visit to a performance.
Workshops take place on weekdays from 9:30 to 11:30 am and should ideally be scheduled before attending the performance.
 

Workshop fees

Nursery groups: €25 (up to 15 children)
Years 1–6: €3 per pupil
 


To book a workshop

Through Tanz ist KLASSE!
education@staatsballett-berlin.de
+49 (0)30 34 384-167

for children aged six and up
Family performance & workshop

13.30

5

Children and young people under 18 years old pay €10 for family performances in all seats.

In advance, children and young people can prepare for the ballet visit with their parents by participating in workshops, which include an age-appropriate introduction to the performance, learning about the storyline, getting to know the characters, and dancing short scenes from the piece. The workshops take place 90 minutes before curtain.

 
Registration required

Tel: 030 34 384-166
E-mail: contact@tanz-ist-klasse.de

Workshop and Performance Package

We offer a special package for nursery groups and school classes that includes both a workshop and a visit to a performance.
Workshops take place on weekdays from 9:30 to 11:30 am and should ideally be scheduled before attending the performance.
 

Workshop fees

Nursery groups: €25 (up to 15 children)
Years 1–6: €3 per pupil
 


To book a workshop

Through Tanz ist KLASSE!
education@staatsballett-berlin.de
+49 (0)30 34 384-167

for children aged six and up
Workshop and Performance Package

We offer a special package for nursery groups and school classes that includes both a workshop and a visit to a performance.
Workshops take place on weekdays from 9:30 to 11:30 am and should ideally be scheduled before attending the performance.
 

Workshop fees

Nursery groups: €25 (up to 15 children)
Years 1–6: €3 per pupil
 


To book a workshop

Through Tanz ist KLASSE!
education@staatsballett-berlin.de
+49 (0)30 34 384-167

for children aged six and up

«You can only overcome something bigger if you work together»

Choreographer Dominik White Slavkovský in conversation

Company member Dominik White Slavkovský is creating a dance piece for our youngest dance fans – and for anyone who isn’t afraid of quirky encounters with dinosaurs, eccentric characters, and a colourful imaginary world.

Katja Wiegand (KW) How did you come up with the idea for the piece?

Dominik White Slavkovský (DWS) The idea came to me when I heard a story about a real king. He was a very young prince in Spain who became king, but he was actually too young to rule. To help him understand what was going wrong in the country, they would perform little theatre plays for him. That way, he learned what was important through theatre. I found that fascinating — that theatre can help simplify big topics. Then I asked myself: what would such a play look like today? And what if it wasn’t just serious, but also exciting and imaginative?


KW And how did that become the story you’re now bringing to the stage?

DWS It was important to me that the story wasn’t just about the prince, but also about a princess — his sister. Both of them play an important role, and I didn’t want to tell a love story. In my version, the prince and princess learn to deal with difficult things through video games. Just like in games, they choose avatars — in our case, they’re superheroes. I hope that when children see this, they recognise themselves in the characters and understand that you can only win a fight if you fight fairly, and that you can only overcome something bigger if you work together.

KW Did video games play an important part in your own childhood?

DWS When I was a child, we only had one television at home. If I was playing video games and the news came on, I had to turn the game off, even though I really wanted to keep playing. That often led to arguments with my parents: should I see what’s going on in the real world, or could I stay a bit longer in my fantasy world? And I think that’s actually a great image for the world we live in today. Back then, the fight was over the TV — today, something similar is happening on social media. That’s something I reflect on in the piece: the princess and the prince move between reality and the digital world. Sometimes the two blend together, and reality can feel like a bad fantasy. The prince and princess have to deal with that. So it’s also about finding your way when reality and fantasy are no longer clearly separated — and still choosing your own path.

KW Do you personally like to escape into video games?

DWS I love the aesthetics, the colours, and especially the music from video games. That’s why we’ve deliberately used music from games in the piece. I think video games are an artistic genre in their own right, just like film or theatre. And the fact that this music is now not just heard while gaming, but also on a ballet stage — I think that’s fantastic!

KW The title of your piece is Chicxulub or The Devil’s Flea. Where does that unusual title come from?

DWS Chicxulub is the name of a real place on the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. Millions of years ago, a massive meteor is said to have struck there, and its impact wiped out the dinosaurs. I found that very exciting, because it was an event that changed the entire world. The name Chicxulub comes from the Mayan language and means something like “the devil’s flea”. That immediately fascinated me! Our piece is set in a kingdom called Chicxulub — and yes, there is a devil in the story. The character is a kind of superstar, never quite tangible, but it sets many things in motion. And of course, a dinosaur had to be part of the story. It not only echoes the title, but also drives the plot forward and serves as a symbol of a world that has vanished, yet continues to live on in children’s imaginations.

KW What’s exciting about making a piece for children? And what do you find particularly challenging?

DWS Honestly, I see myself as a child, and that’s why I create pieces I’d like to see myself — but that don’t yet exist. In Chicxulub or The Devil’s Flea, I wanted to tell a really big story. It takes us from dinosaurs and classic fairytale figures to a TV news show and even into outer space. It’s a bit like a mix of video game, comic book, and adventure film. It’s an amazing experience getting the whole team on board and sharing my imagination in a way that brings it to life on stage. Almost every few minutes, something new happens: a different scene, a surprising twist, a new character, or a change in music. It should stay exciting, so that not a single second feels boring.