Breaking News - Ida Praetorius made Principal Dancer

April 6, 2016

After a outstanding performance of "Romeo and Juliet", tramsmitted to fifty cinemas all over Denmark, Nikolaj Hübbe entered the stage to declare in verse that the evening's Juliet, Ida Praetorius  was now appointed to principal dancer.

The appointment has been expected and wished for by reviewers and audience alike for a longer period, as Ida Praetorius has shown amazing qualities in a wide number of leading roles including Odette/Odile in "Swan Lake", "Lady of the Camilias" "Romeo & Juliet", "La Bayadére", "The Nutcracker" "The Lesson", "Kermesse in Brüges" "Theme & Variations" and created several modern role at RDB and as Lolita in a outside production of Nobakov´s novel.

She has won the international Erik Bruhn Prize and has performed in gallas and tours in Moskva, London, New York and with John Neumeier in Hamburg. The later spotted her talent early and have casted her for the leading roles at Juliet at age 19 and as the so far youngest Marguerite in "Lady as the Camellias".

Ida Praetorius entered Royal Danish Ballet School as an eight year old, and was soon cast in several children´s role. She danced the children´s dance from "Elverhøj" at the opening of the new opera in 2005. She had her debut in a leading role as a first year apprentice in Flemming Flindt´s "The Lesson". Since then she has shown constant development and has long time been considered as the leading female star of the Royal Danish Ballet.    

Less than a month ago I wrote the following after the premiere of "Romeo & Juliet" :

"This performance explains why Ida Praetorius probably is the most important dancer in the company. She encompass all the key elements of the RDB style and repertoire. She has an enormous range from Bournonviille’s to Petipa and Neumeier and the dramatic gift, so essential for the company. The maturity of this performance shows that she now is way beyond being the upcoming talent. She is the ballerina."

I am pleased that it is now official policy.

 

Photo

Ida Praetorius as Odette/Odile in Swan Lake ( Copyright (c) Royal Danish Ballet