Astrid Elbo entered the ballet school on the same day as Ida Praetorius and Andreas Kaas. While her two friends seems to get their pick of the fruity roles, Astrid Elbo must build her resume on what is available. That has given Astrid Elbo a broad experience in character roles, modern dance and luckily an array of classical divertissements that confirms that she is destined for the bigger roles. However, this year has opened a new door to fame for her.
Former RDB prima ballerina Silja Schandorff shared this destiny. However, Schandorff, after spending her first years in solo roles was saved when the RDB signed Kenneth Greve, a former student of the RDB School, who was dropped as a 15 year old, but managed to build an international career. With Greve back in the company, Schandorff could move from Myrtha to Giselle, from Dryad Queen to Kitri etc. Schandorff and Greve became the leading duo in the company for more than a decade.
Taking Charge
However, Astrid Elbo is not waiting patiently for a prince to show up. She takes the management of her own career. That included competing in the Varna competition:
“It was an enjoyable experience preparing for Varna, choosing my own repertoire, getting instructors to help me. It taught me a lot and helped me define the kind of dancer I want to be. The competition itself was a mixed blessing. I did not particularly like how many competitors sacrificed the character and style of the solos to focus on the highest kicks. It was however that style that was awarded. What I take from Varna is the knowledge I gained of myself and what kind of dancer, I want to be.”
Astrid Elbo is known in the company as a dancer who takes an active part in all the projects she is involved in and as hard and responsive worker. She is also known for her strong acting gene. This is both a blessing and a curse. The dramatic gifts should not cover for her likewise impressive talent for dancing, but it do happen to a certain degree:
I enjoy playing a character, which I have also gotten the opportunity to try in a movie project I am involved in. I am definitely not opposed to try that again, but I am first and foremost a dancer, and that is how I want to prosper. ”
Astrid Elbo has also taken on several modern roles, including creating roles in Idan Sharabis´ “Know” and Kim Brandstrup’s “Shaken Mirrors”.
“I am happy to do a modern role, but I do not want being labelled as a primary modern dancer. The classical repertoire is where I want to be.”
The Support Team
Astrid Elbo says that she gets a lot of support from company teachers and stars like Nikolaj Hübbe, Silja Schandorff and Adam Lüders.
Former NYCB star Coleen Neary has also been a strong support and helped Astrid Elbo define her position.
“Colleen told me: “You are not a Princess – You are a Queen”, and I trying to keep this motto and use my height and stature positively.”
Having grown up with Silja Schandorff as the leading ballerina, Elbo could conclude that yes, it is possible to make it to the top as a tall girl. She is also surrounded by tallness in her own RDB School class, whom Kevin Haigen, the stager of many RDB productions of John Neumeier ballets, named “The Super Models.”
Astrid Elbo’s first role was the role as Marguerite’s maid in “Lady of the Camellias”, a role normally done by a senior dancer. It was the first time Astrid Elbo showed her dramatic skills on stage.
However, company policies changes, and where Nikolaj Hübbe in his first seasons gave several leading roles to very young dancers, even in aspirant class, the strategy has changed to a more hierarchal approach.
The young dancers must wait their turn.
“I am the under study for some very interesting roles, Yet I cannot be certain that I will do them on stage. Nevertheless, I enjoy learning them. I do want to do them on stage; however I must be pleased by getting the chance to learn them.”
Movie Star
However, there are different ways to show your skills. Astrid Elbo has spent the summer as the second female lead in a new Danish movie called “Darling”. The plot is a senior ballerina who will have to face a younger dancer taking over her place. Astrid is casted as the young usurper. When the film is released next year, it will undoubtedly make her a household name.
“It has been an interesting process to participate in. But as of now, I cannot see myself leave ballet for acting.”
These are not the only skills in Astrid Elbo’s repertoire. The daughter of professionals musicians, she has also musicals skills and has even been a member of the “ National Danish Girls’ Choir”.
“I had ballet lessons from the age of three. When my ballet class took part in Great Ballet Schools Day, I realized that the team from RDB easily could outdance the rest of us. I then told my parents that I wanted to join the RDB School. As my father had played in the TIVOLI Boys Guard, he knew what it would take, but as I was steadfast in my plan, my parents agreed, and I was accepted as a pupil. A few years in, I started getting some of the best children’s roles like “Klara” in “The Nutcracker”. We were also the first class in Company B, the children’s company”.
A few years later Thomas Lund choreograph the children’s ballet “Teddy goes Ballet” on the class, with Astride in the leading role The Sylfhfie, a take on “La Sylphide”.
Esther Le Wilkinson choreograph “Neglected Spring” based on a Danish classic novel on Astrid Elbo’s apprentice class. Elbo had the female lead, as the girl, who was bullied, a role where she could use the dramatic talent. A few years later Astrid Elbo, then an appointed dancer, got the diva role of Olivia in Nikolaj Hübbe’s take on “Twelfth Night” for the next group of apprentices. It was a role where Elbo could bring out the Diva.
Getting There
Two of Astrid Elbo’s classs mates Andreas Kaas and particularly Ida Praetorius has had a meteoric rise in the company. They have had many leading roles and will be the premiere cast of the upcoming production of “Giselle”.
Astrid Elbo’s own journey have had a more normal pace. She is focusing on getting the most out of any chance. She has dream roles - one is Lady Capulet – and is trying to get the most out of every chance she get.
However, when she do get the chance, like the lead in the Hungarian divertissement in “Swan Lake”, she is the real stand out. The combination of her dancing and acting skills and deep musicality creates magic. One cannot help wonder what she could do with a big role.
May it come soon.
Photo Credit:
- Astrid Elbo dancing "Raymonda Variations" (Copyright(c) Astrid Elbo)
- Astrid Elbo and Sebastian Haynes in "Shaken Mirror" by Per Morten Abrahamsen (Copyright (c) Royal Danish Ballet)
- Astrid Elbo in "Lady of the Camellias" by Costin Radu (Copyright(c) Royal Danish Ballet)
- Astid Elbo by Natascha Rydva (Copyright (c) Royalt Danish Ballet)
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