'Play With Fire' Lights Up Boston Ballet

Altan Dugaraa, Sarah Wroth, and Yury Yanowsky in Play with Fire. (Photo by Gene Schiavone.)

Rolling Stones’ fans: get your seats … at the Boston Ballet.

Today through March 11, Play with Fire, composed of three contemporary ballets each created by European choreographers, will have the company twirling and jumping to the sound of Bach, Baroque music and the Stones. And yes, there actually will be fire.

Opening with Sharp Side of Dark, by Finnish-born resident choreographer and costume designer Jorma Elo, four couples will enchant the audience with their fluid moves and acrobatics. Lighting is as quintessential as the dancers in this minimalist performance.

The supernatural journey will continue through Bella Figura, choreographed by award winning Ji?i Kylián. “It’s a journey in time-light and space, addressing the ambiguity of aesthetics-performances and dreams. Finding beauty in a grimace — in a knot of the mind — or in a physical contortion. It is like standing on the edge of a dream,” said the Czech choreographer.

Wearing tulip-esque blood red skirts, dancers alternate between fast and slow paced movements giving a sense of detachment between body and mind in a surrealist set.

Last but not least, artistic director of the largest contemporary dance company in the United Kingdom, Christopher Bruce, will flashback to the 60’s disco moves with Rooster.

Rockin’ to the tunes of “Paint it Black,” “Ruby Tuesday,” “Lady Jane,” and other hits; gelled hair dancers in velvet blazers give a whole new meaning to ballet.

“It’s so different to what people associate ballet with, said Rachel Cossar who will perform in all three dances. “It has nothing to do with pink tutus.”

The Boston Opera House, 539 Washington St., Boston. Info, show times, and tickets: 617-695-6955, bostonballet.org.