Eva Kistrup

Killed by Overkill

Twyla Tharp:

"Come Fly Away"

The Royal Danish Ballet

September 28, 2013

 

The Royal Danish Ballet was saved by the bell yesterday when a foundation awarded the company 50 milllion DKK (approx. 8 million USD) to fund five big scale production over the coming years and help the company to expand their repertoire of quality productions. The same foundation has also sponsored the RDB production of "Come Fly Away", Twyla Tharp's Broadway to Vegas Sinatra extravaganza.

It look like the production was chosen as a part of the credit crunch strategy of bringing in new audience. In theory and also in practice as proved by the same Ms. Tharp in many works, it is possible to create contemporary, artistically sound works based on popular music, but in this last oeuvre Ms. Tharp and her crew has gone overboard in a bigger is better approach, killing all the nuances in a full steam ahead strategy and exploiting some of the best Danish talents in an attempt to capitalise on the Sinatra ticket. Sinatra was never corny. But this production manage to trivialise him. 

Breaking News: 50 million DKK to the Royal Danish Ballet

The Royal Danish Ballet have received a donation from the Danish Foundation  Annie & Otto Johs. Detlef’s Fonde, of 50 millions DKK (Approx 8 million USD) over four year. The money will go to new productions including a new version of "La Sylphide",  and a new work by John Neumeier as well as giving the company their own sets and costumes for "The Lady of The Camille".  The gift will also buy "jewells" and a new modern ballet.

The foundation have sponsored several productions over several seasons already including last seasons productions of "la Bayadere" and " The Golden Cockerel".

With the gift Nikolaj Hübbe will be able to infuse the company with a suite of new productions that can help the company to grow artistically as well and given the Copenhagen audience the big productions, that is so becoming on the company.

RDB has suffered through budget cuts and the present season is an examble of the limitations forced by the cuts. The donation can help develop the talented company to reach its full potential.

Their own Devices

"Interregnum" by Corpus    

Royal Danish Ballet

September 18, 2013

 

The Corpus project, now in its second season is aimed to develop choreographic talent in the company. Following last seasons big scale production number:"We are not Waving..We are Drowning," the ambition level is downsized and instead a smaller group of dancers are testing to make a ballet without a designated choreographer.