Eva Kistrup

Yours or Mine?

"Scottish Symphony" by George Balanchine
"La Sylphide" by August Bournonville
The Old Stage on September 2nd and 5th, 2023

One always looks forward to the new season. The first program this year features George Balanchine's "Scottish Symphony" and August Bournonville's "La Sylphide." Balanchine was inspired to create his ballet in 1952, set to the third symphony of Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy. The Royal Danish Ballet has never performed this ballet before.

Scottish Symphony

The ballet features a solo sylph and a solo Scotchman as the leading characters. At the premiere, principals Holly Dorger and Jonathan Chmelensky danced their parts in their usual international style. The second cast included Danish principal Emma Riis-Kofoed and Danish soloist Sebastian Pico Haynes, who danced their roles with a more harmonious style. In fact, it was the best performance we have seen from Emma Riis-Kofoed.

Similar to "La Sylphide," the couple must not touch each other, but it is the Scotchmen who protect her from the solo Scotchman, not the Sylphs, until the end when the Solo Sylph, Solo Scotchman, Scotchmen, and Sylphs all dance together. "Scottish Symphony" is not an action ballet; it aims to create the feeling of old Scotland.

La Sylphide

"La Sylphide" is the only Bournonville ballet in this season. Nikolaj Hübbe's third attempt at "La Sylphide" had its premiere on October 24th, 2020, under Corona restrictions, receiving excellent reviews.

This time, Nikolaj Hübbe chose two of his principal dancers, Stephanie Chen Gundorph and Alexander Bozinoff, to make their debuts as The Sylph and James. Gundorph is a tall and very expressive dancer, while Bozinoff danced his James rather mechanically.

Stephanie Chen Gundorph performed quite well. However, she will need more experience to build an outstanding performance. It might take some time to develop the role. Luckily, she proved that she can get there soon.

In the second performance, the leading roles were given to principal Wilma Giglio as the Sylph and principal Jon Axel Fransson as James. Especially Jon Axel Fransson delivered an outstanding performance. He had previously danced the premiere in 2020 with Ida Praetorius. Both Praetorius and Andreas Kaas, who partnered with Wilma Giglio, are currently on leave from The Royal Danish Ballet.

Christina Hammari and Esther Lee Wilkinson shared the roles as the witch Madge in this production.

The evening also demonstrated that Nikolaj Hübbe and his team can and will continue to perform the Bournonville ballets.

We are hopeful for many more years of the company performing. Bournonville's legacy can remain strong for the Royal Danish Ballet.

The question is whether Nikolaj Hübbe can secure significant ballets for the company. This will require establishing relationships with professional ballet creators. Currently, the RDB has too few in-house creators.

I can't wait to see better ballets at RDB, but I won't wait much longer.

Giant Steps: Something old, something new, and they start with something blue

Giant Steps

“Serenade” by George Balanchine  
”Sibelius 4” by Jorma Elo  
”Etudes” by Harald Lander  
Royal Theater, Old Stage  
Copenhagen  
March 2, 2024  

"Giant Steps" was one of the performances that was canceled during Covid-19. I was glad to see it Saturday night. "Serenade" was first performed in New York in 1934. The Royal Danish Ballet first performed the ballet in 1957. The first time I saw it at The Royal Theater was at a matinée on November 18, 1978. I liked the ballet very much then, and I have seen it several times since.  

This time, principal Stephanie Chen Gundorph, soloist Tara Schaufuss, principal Wilma Giglio, principal Gregory Dean, and soloist Sebastian Pico Haynes together with the corps de ballet danced a very moving performance.

Sibelius Fourth Symphony

Jorma Elo has used Jean Sibelius' Fourth Symphony. He had choreographed this ballet specifically for The Royal Danish Ballet. He uses eleven dancers, ten male dancers, and one female.  

Jorma Elo was inspired by the Finnish author Alexis Kivi, who wrote stories about seven brothers that run wild. The female role was inspired by the brothers' neighbor's daughter called Venta.  

Wilma Giglio was the only female dancer in the production. The male dancers were Jonathan Chmelensky, Liam Redhead, Guilherme de Menezes, Meirambek Nazargozhayev, Tobias Praetorius, Emerson Moose, Joseph Aumer, Vitor de Menezes, Oscar Ainscough, and Mathieu Rouaux.  

Jorma Elo has created a collective ballet with a lot of steps that embrace the music well. The costumes were smart and modern. The ballet functions well between the two classical ballets, but I doubt that it will be in the repertoire in ninety years!

Etudes

Harald Lander choreographed "Etudes" to the music of Knudåge Riisager for The Royal Danish Ballet in 1948. I first saw it at The Royal Theatre on April 1, 1975. Mette Hønningen danced the Ballerina, and Niels Kehlet and Ib Andersen danced the male soloists.  

This staging by Thomas Lund and Lise Lander had its premiere in April 2011, and they are still taking care of this performance.  

This time, the trio was danced by Emma Riis-Kofoed, Jón Axel Fransson, and Alban Lendorf, who all have danced in "Etudes" before. Emma Riis-Kofoed and Jón Axel Fransson danced in the latest production, her in the second cast and him in the first cast. Alban Lendorf has danced in "Etudes" in 2014-2015, this time as a guest.  

Artistic Director Nikolaj Hübbe took a chance with this program. It is a demanding program that needs a lot of dancers. "Serenade" has five leading roles, and "Etudes" has three. The two ballets both use a large corps de ballet. "Sibelius Fourth Symphony" uses eleven dancers.  

The program is a good opportunity for the whole company.

In the Season 2023-2024, there have been a lot of revivals. The next two programs are "Koreorama 1" and "Under Dybet," which are new ballets choreographed by seven dancers from the Royal Danish Ballet. The last revival is "Raymonda" staged by Nikolaj Hübbe.

Blixen - Another Treat

The second major production this year offered a revival of “Karen Blixen”, created by British choreographer and principal in “Royal Danish Ballet”, Gregory Dean, who previously has created a significant number of productions for the RDB.

This time, Gregory Dean and Nikolaj Hübbe decided to recreate “Blixen” on the largest scene, “The Opera House”.

The Lady on Stage

In Denmark, the late writer Karen Blixen was and has stayed a well-known celebrity, however not known that well abroad. Karen Blixen spent a large part of her life in Africa 1918-1931 until she had to return to Denmark owing to financial issues. She mostly lived here in Denmark until she died in 1962.

The need to keep finances going at home, Karen Blixen started her career as a writer. Being educated, it was easy for Karen Blixen to write in both languages, primarily Danish and English.

The double knowledge of languages therefore helped Karen Blixen and her books to became successful -both at home and abroad.

When Karen Blixen´s life much later became filmed in “Out of Africa” with Meryl Streep as Karen Blixen, it also made Karen Blixen into an international star - even though she had been death for many years.

Leaving Kenya

The middle part of the ballet describes Karen Blixen´s life in Kenya. Gregory Dean has chosen to change his own choreography. The scene showed the local people has gone. That scene showed in my opinion the mystery of Africa.

It is now Farah who must show Africa to Karen Blixen, and this is not an easy thing to do all by himself with only steps and gesticulations. It also disturbs the balance of the ballet especially for the roles of the British

Denys Finch Hatton who would become a friend –or maybe even more for Karen Blixen in Africa.  In the recent performances the leading role as Karen Blixen was performed very well by principal Caroline Baldwin and Soloist Astrid Elbo.

The male leading role as the Devil was shared by principals Jon Axel Fransson and Andreas Kaas.

The role as Bror Blixen were given to principal Jonathan Chmelensky and dancer Mathieu Rouaux, while  the role as Denys Finch Hatton was shared by soloist Sebastian Pico Haynes and the new principal Ryan Tomash.

Sebastian Pico Haynes also performed the role of Farah. This role was also shared with soloist Alexander Stæger and dancer Maclean Hopper.

Going as big as possible

Most of the roles are giving to the groups of families like “The Dinesen” hereby presenting Karen Blixen´s parents on the floor. Karen Blixen herself danced with Benjamin Buzza and Ji Ming Hong.

Likewise, Karen Blixens brother Thomas, played by Tobias Praetorius took the floor with his grandmother and aunt, performed by Anne Marie Vessel Schlüter and Christina Michanek.

The Blixen Family also includes James Clark, Emma Mckenzie and Jonathan Chmelensky in the larger roles. For instance, the Frijs Family included Peter Bo Bendixen as count Mogens Frijs, while Mette Bødtcher played his wife and Holly Dorger took the role as their daughter Daisy Frijs.

Meet Karen Blixen and Friends

The real Karen Blixen spent a lot of her life in Africa as part of the significant group including leading man Denys Finch Hatton, here performed by Sebastian Pico Haynes. Other roles were taking on by Marcin Kupinski, Alexander Staeger, Tobias Praetorius, James Clark, Carling Talcott-Steenstra and Eliabe D´Abadia.

Other significant teams include Carling Tallcott-Stenstra, Mclean Hopper, Marina Minolu, Vitor de Menezes,

Emma McKenzie, James Clark, Tomoka Kawazoe, Matteo di Loreta and Mayo Arli.

You are certainly meeting a significant team and a significant story.

The strengths of the production of “Blixen” gives the dancers and corps the best posibilities to perform and grow. It also gives the dancers and audiences the knowledge of Karen Blixen and her skills.

As written above, “Blixen” both needs a big cast and stars. Luckily the RDB can deliver this and more. Like many other Ballet Companies, RDB had to cancel most of last season to be certain that dancers and publics was not getting the ongoing virus around.

Seeing the RDB in their bests and in new performances is the real treat. May it continue.  

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The Opera Stage

The ballet “Blixen” choreographed by Gregory Dean

Saturday, September 24^th and Friday September 30^th 2022

 

 

Jewels in the Crown - Royal Danish Ballet

 

Jewels in the Crown

By Eva Kistrup

20-04-2022

Many ballet fans may not know that The Royal Danish Ballet have a longer relationship with George Balanchine than most other ballet companies. Actually, George Balanchine spend a season as guest ballet director from 1930-31 where “Barabau” and “Apollon Musagetes” were part of the program.  In 1933, George Balanchine left the Copenhagen scene and moved on to Paris. It was here that Balanchine met Lincoln Kirstein and created what later would be “New York City Ballet”. A year later “School of American Ballet” became a factor.

In the coming years, NYCB and Royal Danish Ballet benefitted from each other stars and skills. Peter Martins, Adam Lüders, Ib Andersen, Nikolaj Hübbe and others RDB dancers moved to NYCB - permanent or for a shorter term.

 

Back in Stage

 

The Children´s Hour

Royal Danish Ballet

 

By Eva Kistrup,

Danceview times

 

The Old Stage:

April 7^th 2022

“Alfred Dance Ballet”

A dance movie directed and filmed by Director Christian Sønderby Jepsen.

 

“Brunch & Ballet”

April 9^th 2022

The Old Stage

By Eva Kistrup

 

Royal Danish Ballet is known for creating their own stars since the August Bournonville´s time. This has made not only outstanding dancers, of which several have become international stars, It has also made a unique style for the company as well as creating dancers who is as-well dramatic characters. Royal Danish Ballet has its own school, where children and aspirants learns the trade.

This week the Royal Danish Ballet invited the audience to see how the school works and developing the young dancers.

Like many other ballet houses, RDB have been hit by Covid, which had led to closing the scenes and limited the dancer´s developments. Luckily, RDB is now back on stage and have open the doors for it audience once again.   

The first open house was a presentation of “Alfred Dances Ballet”, a film made by Christian Sønderby Jepsen, following how his son Alfred, a newcomer learning to be a dancer and how to mixe the life of a boy and a student at a very young age.

Alfred´s parents decided to make a film on Alfred´s first year at the school. It became a wonderful and outstanding film.

Probably without knowledge, the family Sønderby Jepsen, also gave the RDB School, an outstanding tool to communicate with parents and children, considering trying to consider ballet as an education. The film could probably bring more young children to the ballet school and give the RDB a broader lake to fish in.

 

Dance on Stage

No more than two days later, the RDB´s traditional “Brunch & Ballet” took the stage, put out the muffins and invited its audience to see what the RDB was up too.

This segment was 100 % run by Linda Hindberg, the former outstanding ballerina, now coach and teacher in ballet technique, and also working with Bournonville style. It was mentioned that the RDB company next year will add a significant intake from the Ballet School. The team showing their skill on stage was very young. Still, Linda Hindberg managed to present some very young, but also very fine young male dancers. Linda Hindberg also demonstrated how the upcoming dancers could strengthen their power and techniques. In all, it made one feel that the young company was on the right paths.

So in all one left the Royal Danish Ballet with confidence in the upcoming season.

A Folk´s Tale Revisited

By Eva Kistrup

August Bournonville:

”A Folks Tale”

Re-choreographed by Nikolaj Hübbe & Sorella Englund

 

 

Royal Danish Ballet

On the Opera, the Big Stage

January 22, 2022 

 

 

August Bournonville, the key founder of the Royal Danish Ballet have put his mark of his craft since the 1820th on ballet like “La Sylphide”, “Napoli”, and many other ballets in Denmark and abroad. One of his most important gifts is the development of the male dancer´s arts and skills. He had been the creator of the strong development of outstanding Danish male dancers.

Our Artistic Director, Nikolaj Hübbe, who returned from a career abroad to be the leader of the Royal Danish Ballet  and has been involved in several Bournonville creations based either on the pure Bournonville works or his own interpretations. This year Nikolaj Hübbe and Sorella Englund has taken on a newer version of Bournonville´s “A Folk´s Tale”.

 

The Best Intentions

George Balanchine:

”The Nutcracker”

Royal Danish Ballet

“The Old Stage”

Friday, November 26, 2021

 

When Artistic Director of the Royal Danish Ballet, Nikolaj Hübbe planned the 10^th Christmas run of George Balanchine´s “The Nutcracker”, nobody could say that the he was not prepared.

For the 2011 version, he even decided that a significant number of female principals and soloists all got the chance to dance some of the leading roles. However, the plan failed. Dancers who was casted as the leads and character roles booked out at a late stage. Luckily, there was dancers who could take over some of the roles.

Principal Jonathan Chmelensky found himself taken over as both Drosselmeyer and the Sugar Plum´s cavalier. A job that also needed several changes of different colors of headwear.  Recent appointed principal, Wilma Giglio was supposed to be the Sugar Plum at the first night but found herself in the smaller role as the Coffee fairy.

The changes also made winners, most importantly Soloist Stephanie Chen Gundorph, who performed an outstanding “Sugar Plum Fairy”. Chen Gundorph has been in the line to greater roles in some years. It was a treat to see her on the highest level.

 

Giant Steps

 

Royal Danish Ballet 

“Pierre”

By Bobbi Jene Smith: 1995

Created for the Royal Danish Ballet in 2021

 

"Bedroom Folks'

By Sharon Eyal

Created April 16, 2015 by NerherlandsDance Theatre

 

“Verklärte Nacht”

By Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker

Created November 6 1995 by Rosasin DeMunt/La Monnai, Bruxelles

 

 

Last night Nikolaj Hübbe took a new way on how to learn and entertain the RDB audience. Instead of giving the stage to small local ensembles or company dancers who wants to have a shot of choreographing, he has invited establish international choreographers to show their craft on his ensemble.

Of the guesting choreographers, only Bobby Jene Smith was invited to create a new work for 18 RDB Dancers.  It was definitely the best part of the evening.

Bobby Jene Smith uses the dramatic skills of the RDB ensemble to form or break the group into smaller or bigger teams. Alexander Bozinoff plays the leading role as a very confused person. Gregory Dean appears to be the host, continually checking that the silver stays intact.  

The brothers Guilherme and Vitor de Menezes breaks into the party and remains a comical pair. Everything can happen. Several of the dancers takes on new characters as the ballets go on. Astrid Elbo seems to be the leading lady, while normally leading ballerina Ida Praetorius is left with very little to do etc.

“Pierre” leaves it up to the audiences to make their own choices. You remain entertained during the ballet. However, you can also make your own story.

A Lesson Learned - But not to Late

Romeo & Juliet

By John Neumeier

Royal Danish Ballet

The Old Stage

October 23, 2001

 

Having seen and followed John Neumeier´s “Romeo & Juliet” since the first run in 1974, I have considered myself an expert on this ballet.

Today, I realized that the Neumeier “Romeo & Juliet” is very dependent, not only on John Neumeiers choreography, but also equally as much as the leading dancers skills, not only in steps but also in acting skills. These components fills the basic of the success of “Romeo & Juliet”.

Looking back to 1974 the casting was limited to no more than two dancers for each role, and often down to one dancer. This is not a strategy that suits our Artistic Director Nikolaj Hübbe. He is keen to give as many dancers opportunities to be more on stage and getting bigger roles.

Back on Stage

Back on Stage

October 2021

Royal Danish Ballet:

Tobias Praetorius:

“Dance Fever”

Performed by the Ballet School´s students

 

It is not unusual that the Royal Danish Ballet stage a small ballet for the younger pupils at the school. However “Dance Fewer” choreographed by Soloist Tobias Praetorius proved to be an extra bonus shared by the quality of the choreography, the number of pupils on stage and the quality of stage designs  and costumes.

Probably, the high professional stage work is partly due to the Danish Television DR, who is a co-partner with The Royal Ballet School and who created the tv-series, “Dance Fewer” is build on.

The story line of the ballet is based on a story of a young boy who would rather dance than play football. Luckily, he reaches his target and the successful conclusion.  The cast include 89 ballet students, which in its self tells us that the Royal Danish Ballet may have a strong future ahead.

Tobias Praetorius and his staffs has created a children´s ballet that is fresh and appealing and help the young dancers to find their ways on the stage and hopefully a great future.

 

“Come Fly Away – Again”

October 12, 2021

Royal Danish Ballet

Twyla Tharp:

“Come Fly Away”

 

In 2013, Nikolaj Hübbe took the chance to book Twyla Tharp´s “Come Fly Away” based on Frank Sinatra´s voice and music. It became a big hit, although Nikolaj Hübbe learned the lesson, that while “Come Fly Away” filled the seats with a big audience of newcomers, they did not return to the Royal Danish Ballet as a staying audience. However, another turn this year certainly brought them back and “Come Fly Away” could muster a number of full houses.

At the first runs in 2013, the cast was then filled with mainly leading dancers in two sets. This time around there are an even broader cast in action.

The Copenhagen run proved that the Royal Danish Ballet could attract a broader audience, whom had previous little interest for ballet. Since then, “Come Fly Away” has been performed several times at the Copenhagen Scene.

“Come Fly Away” had a run last year, however with limited seats due to the Cowid crises. Now the production is back – and so is the audience.

Sitting in the audience a few months back, I realized that the performances seams less than previous other performances, may also be found in the fact that this run was now based on three different casts, a rather unusual practice at Royal Danish Ballet, whom hardly uses tree casts or sometimes even two. In this case, the talents was spread too thin.

 Luckily, there were outstanding performance by my second round. Mostly when upcoming soloist Emma Riis-Kofoed took on the leading female road as Kate, and showed us new sides of her skills. She is definitely going forward. Alexander Bozinoff also made a fine performance as Chanos, the person who is left by his girlfriend.

The good side of performing “Come Fly Away” is to give more dancers more chances. However, as the past shows us that the new audiences may not be the consistent crowd.

 

Nikolaj Hübbe have brought a high number of dancers from abroad to participate in “Come Fly Away”. I hope that this group has talent enough to join the RDB. As it is Principal Ida Praetorius will spend a year abroad. As several good female dancers has retired, RDB needs to develop more female dancers. Luckily, there are soloists like Emma Riis-Kofoed and Stephanie Chen Gundorph. Use their skills more and the RDB will continue as a premier company with special and important skills.  

Nikolaj Hübbe continue as Artistic Director at Royal Danish Ballet.

By Eva Kistrup   20.10.2021   The Royal Danish Ballet announced yesterday that Artistic Director Nikolaj Hübbe will continue for at least four years as the leader of one of the longest existing ballet companies. His term will last for the next four years. Nicolaj Hübbe got his ballet schooling as a young child at the Royal Danish Ballet School. He had his debut very young and raised to the group of leading male dancers in 1988. He later joined New York City Ballet in 2002, combining the Balanchine and Bournonville repertoires. Nikolaj Hübbe has been Artistic Director for 13 years of RDB ensemble. He has now signed up for four years more. “We are pleased that Nikolaj will continue as the leader of Royal Danish Ballet up till 2026. He has lead the ballet company to a higher artistic level. As Artistic Director he has managed  to attract even more audience with higher records.  We are very impressed” says Kasper Holten, The Director of the Royal Danish Theatre.    "I feel we are on a fantastic journey with The Royal Danish Ballet. I look forward to continue the journey for a significant time yet. To develop a ballet company at the highest level and still bring on performances for both great and small is truly a Fairy Tale” says Nikolaj Hübbe.  Facts on Nikolaj Hübbe Educated at the Royal Danish Theatre School in Copenhagen. Debut as dancer with the Royal Danish Ballet in 1984 and at New York City Ballet in 1992. Nikolaj Hübbe has danced leading roles among creations by Bournonville og Balanchine.  Created Artistic Director at The Royal Danish Ballet from 2008. Nicolaj Hübbe has been behind new ideas for classics like Napoli, Giselle, Svan Lake, A Folks Tale and ”La Sylphide”. He has also created new formats like Dans2go, The Hübbery and Giant Steps. Nikolaj Hübbe´s new contract will run from 2022-2026.