Caroline Cavallo retires

The fact that Caroline Cavallo ended up saving the premiere of the Royal Danish Ballet's production of "Sleeping Beauty" as her last performance with the company is a fitting metaphor for her 21 years at the RDB. She has been the most reliable and constant force of the company, the one scores of ballet masters could depend on and probably the hardest and most dedicated worker in the company.

When Caroline Cavallo, originally from Atlanta, joined the RDB as a mere twenty year old, stuck on Bournonville, she was part of the first wave of imported dancers brought in to fill the gaps when the combination of lowering the pension age and a dip in the birthrates in Denmark made a great hole in the otherwise self-suppling company. And with no less than three brilliant local principal female dancers one year ahead of her, Copenhagen looked a difficult bastion to conquer.

It was in "Serenade" that I and several others first saw that Cavallo had a great gift. Her waltz girl showed her musicality and softness and it was clear that not only could she handle more than the odd solo but that she could go far. And in a few seasons she took over more and more parts, because she was more Bournonville than Silja Schandorff, more classical than Rose Gad and more romantic than Christina Olsson.   

Cavallo has danced a perhaps broader repertoire than her fellow principals, but the cost has been that she has never been allowed to specialise in an employ. On the plus side this has given her greater variety, but she has seldom owned a part. She talked about it in a television programme focusing on three RDB swans 5 - 6 years ago, realising that she came to the part of Odette/Odile with less natural claim than Silja Schandorff, but stating that although her neck ideally should have been longer, she had to use the one she had.

Cavallo brought all her discipline and dedication to every opportunity, and has through her career always made time for extra curricular work like appearing in choreographic workshops, small scale tours and was one of the principals who freely gave their time and talent to the major task of making a video of the whole Bournonville schools.         

Her relationship with Bournonville has been one of highlights of her career. She has danced a number of leads and divertissements from the juvenile "Flower Festival" through "La Sylphide" and concluding with Bournonville's most mature ballerina, Louise in "The Life Guards at Amager", a unprecedented run for a non-Danish dancer. 

Cavallo has been faithful to her adopted company and country, and as such should be considered a role model for the large group of foreign dancers at the RDB. Following retirement she will continue to live in Denmark with her family and is considering a future in teaching either children for one of the RDB's talent centers or company class.   

 

Comments

[Devremülk]

i like to read your posts. thanks for this one.

[Laura Alonso]

Is that true that Cavallo married and had a child and her health was not good and had to retire?

No quite Caroline Cavallo is married to a musician and had her child approx. two years ago. Following maternity leave Cavallo returned to the company and as she was reaching the retirement age at 40 a farewell performance was planned last season. Unfortunately she got injured and therefore the farewell performance was pushid 6 months, which allowed her to bow out as Aurora. As the planned first cast Aurora got injured shortly before the first night, Cavallo got first night and a handfull of performances before her farewell performance mid- december, so a real trooper to the end. Cavallo may prolong her association with the RDB as a teacher

[Anita]

I had the privilege of knowing Caroline in Elementary school and Girl Scouts. We always marveled at how she would glide like a gazelle when jumping over a puddle or creek, while the rest of us clumped and jumped along. It was always clear she had a gift. She was always very sweet and charming, whimsical and humble as well - a great attitude. I wish to her every happiness.

[Debra Bricker]

I remember her as a young girl at Atlanta Ballet school. Everyone who saw her dance knew she was special. Natural epaulement, style, taste and beautiful technique coupled with an unmatched work ethic. What a talent, and charming person.