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August Bournonville/Nikolaj Hübbe:
”La Sylphide”
Harald Lander:
”Etudes”
Royal Danish Ballet
Alternate casts
The two alternate casts brought new interpretations, an outstanding new James, a starry couple and an strong performance delivered by a young upcoming star.
Revisiting Nikolaj Hübbe’s “La Sylphide” proved that although his rather controversial take on the classic still leaves the “La Sylphide” in non- perfect condition, it did not prevent rich and original interpretations.
August Bournonville/Nikolaj Hübbe:
”La Sylphide”
Harald Lander:
”Etudes”
Royal Danish Ballet
Old Stage
October 25, 2014
Nikolaj Hübbe had made his second production of”La Sylphide” the antidote of his first traditional setting. Changing important details in the story comes over less intrusive than expected, while radical changes in the second act décor become the straw that broke the camel’s back.
Thomas Lund:
”Teddy Goes Ballet”
Royal Danish Ballet School
Tim Rushton:
“The Red Balloon”
Danish Dance Theatre/TIVOLI Ballet School
October 2014
The family market is a significant and lucrative part of Danish Art and Entertainment market. Royal Danish Ballet has for many years put on a children’s ballet in the midterm break as well as a family oriented Christmas program. But over the last few years’ competition from other vendors have bought more variety.
This year Danish Dance Theatre put on a new version of “The Red Balloon” originally made by choreographer /company director Tim Rushton for the RDB School. The new production is danced by pupils from the TIVOLI Ballet School, a fairly new initiative by TIVOLI Gardens, where former RDB stars Peter Bo Bendixen, Ballet Master in TIVOLI and Niels Balle, formerly leader of RDB Schools offers ballet training for children.
When Nikolaj Hübbe directed”La Sylphide” in 2003, it was a revelation and the primary example on how to present Bournonville in a clear and classical manner. Now eleven years later, Hübbe will present a new radical version that questions everything and changes the traditional look of Bournonville’s master piece.
21 year old Andreas Kaas of Royal Danish Ballet could be the luckiest boy in ballet. His resume includes several leading roles, a Straight Flush at the Erik Bruhn Awards and recently the male lead in John Neumeier’s “Lady of the Camellias”.
Soloist Caroline Baldwin is one of the most used dancers at the Royal Danish Ballet. She is one of the foreign intakes who have been most successful in adapting to the Danish ballet style and company culture. With meaty roles like Aurora in “The Sleeping Beauty” and Terpsichore in “Apollo” and a good grip on Bournonville, her future look very bright. No mean feat for a girl, for whom ballet was an extra curriculum activity.