Figures in Extinction [1.0] is an evocative, conceptual collaboration by Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT), Complicité, Simon McBurney, and Crystal Pite. This world premiere performance in 2022 digs into the mark that humanity has made upon nature and poignantly expresses the losses, disconnections, and urgent appeal toward environmental awareness.
The show opens with a powerful tableau: a dancer costumed with horns of the Pyrenean ibex, the first of many species gone into extinction, thus setting a series of vignettes showing different species and environmental phenomena. Their dancing physicality is impressively expressive and evocative in representing the nature of such creatures and their various dwellings.
Another great segment is where the dancers mime fish, and their movements become fluid and simultaneous, carrying out an underwater scenario. This portion of the show not only epitomizes technical skill but also reminds one of the sensitivity of marine life.
The multimedia elements of the production are seamlessly integrated, with projections of scrolling species lists and environmental statistics that remind us of the gravity of the climate crisis. The use of sound, including recorded voices and ambient noises, further immerses the audience in the narrative, adding to the emotional depth of the performance.
Figures in Extinction [1.0] has been hailed by critics for its intellectual depths and emotional resonance alike. The Guardian called it “a powerful portrait of nature under threat,” with “sublimely danced” sequences and “hallucinatory and wry spectacle.” 
This production has gained much acclaim, including the prestigious “Zwaan” (Swan) for the most impressive dance production in 2022. 
Figures in Extinction [1.0]” is an engagingly crafted blend of dance, theater, and multimedia that effectively reveals the environmental calamities of the present century. Its innovative narration and powerful performance make it a big plus for contemporary art, urging audiences to reflect on the urge of ecological preservation.