Eva Kistrup

Holly Jean Dorger New Principal at Royal Danish Ballet

 

February 28 2016

 

Following last night’s performance of “Theme and Variations,” American Soloist Holly Jean Dorger, 27 were promoted to principal dancer at the Royal Danish Ballet.

The promotion of the technically strong dancer follows two seasons, where she had taken on some of the largest challenges in the Danish and international repertoire like “Etudes”, “Swan Lake “ and Gamzetti in “La Bayadere”.

Dorger, an alumni of American School of Ballet, was one of the first foreign dancers hired by Nikolaj Hübbe, when he took on the RDB in 2008. He had known her from the school and included her in the group of American dancers he brought with him to Copenhagen.

Holly Jean Dorger is a dancer who is defined more by her technical skills than her dramatic range, and it has been primarily by a route of small divertissements like Marzipan shepardess, to bigger divertissement roles like “Blue Bird Pas de Deux” that she had - gradually - conquered the repertoire. It was in “Grand Pas Classique” that she really showed her ballerina potential, which opened the door for the leading roles.

Variations and Theme

 ”The Hübbery”

John Neumeier:

”Romeo & Juliet”

The Balcony Scene

Bella Speranza

Alessandro Sousa Pereira:

”Bravado”

Christian Lollike, Esther Lee Wilkinson, Tim Matiakis and the cast:

”Uropa”

Excerpts

Oliver Starpov:

“Beginnings and Endings”

Excerpts

George Balanchine:

“Theme and Variations”

“Pas de Deux and Finale”

Royal Danish Ballet

The Old Stage

February 20, 2016

 

This season’s second instalment of Nikolaj Hübbe’s dance and talk show displayed the company strength’s in many different styles as well as strong new choreography by a budding choreographer. As always, there was a theme, this time freedom. However, the theme has little logical connections to the works included. That did not matter much as the company showed there strength in a number of different styles and works and their commitment to strong human courses.

A Day at the Office

August Bournonville/Nikolaj Hübbe:

”La Sylphide”

George Balanchine:

”Theme and Variations”

February 13, 2006

Nobody can accuse the Royal Danish Ballet for being lazy. The last month’s activities have included an extensive tour to the Danish provinces, creating a new ballet on a current issue, including re-choreographing this specific ballet, hosting a number of forums about the same ballet and started rehearsals on a new ballet by Kim Brandstrup and the John Neumeier “Romeo and Juliet” as well as preparing for a new version of “The Hübbery”

Unfortunately last night’s performance of “La Sylphide” and “Theme and Variations” showed some strains in the productions: The ensemble was less precise in the choreography, there was several new dancers in new places. The symmetry of the variations was compromised. For example, the four semisolists in “Theme and Variations” were three tallish girls and one small. In all.it was not as neat and precise as usual. In “La Sylphide” the principals Susanne Grinder and Marcin Kupinski could not reach the high level they produced last time. She had no confidence in her jumps and while he managed a high technical level, their report with each other and the audience faltered. In the divertissement, the décor looked even more claustrophobial than usual.

The Company we Keep

Eva Hammershøy:

“Ballettens kommende superstjerner”

(The upcoming superstars of ballet)

Historia 2016

Eva Hammershøy portrays Kompagni B, the in-house company for RDB Ballet students, in a book. The book is very detailed and written with the best intentions. However, some of the editorial choices misses the real – and even greater story.