Eva Kistrup

The Age of Concepts

 

“The Hübbery”

March 25, 2017

 

“Ballet de Luxe”

First Act

Pas de deux from August Bournonville’s The Flower Festival in Genzano

Pas de deux from August Bournonville’s William Tell

Ballabile from August Bournonville’s Napoli

Second Act

Pas de deux from Arthur Saint-Léon’s Coppélia

Pas de deux from Marius Petipa’s Swan Lake

George Balanchine’s Tchaikovsky pas de deux

Pas de deux from John Neumeier’s Romeo and Juliet

 

Third Act

George Balanchine: Theme and Variations

 

March 28, 2017

 

In a recent interview in Berlingske Tidende, The Director of the Royal Theatre, Morten Hesseldal stated that regarding the theatre´s audience:

“Earlier, attendance was considered as a marker showing that you were a well-educated person on a certain level. That kind of marker is no longer a part of the social interaction. We therefore need to sell the theatre on other parameters.”

He is probably right and at presently the Royal Theatre is trying its hardest to attract new and existing audience with a high number of new concepts.

Looking at Nikolaj Hübbe´s tenure so far, he has created several new concepts to market ballet for different target audiences:

Two for the Road

 

 

 

Ballet de Luxe

First Act

Pas de deux from August Bournonville’s The Flower Festival in Genzano

Pas de deux from August Bournonville’s William Tell

Ballabile from August Bournonville’s Napoli

Second Act

Pas de deux from Arthur Saint-Léon’s Coppélia

Pas de deux from Marius Petipa’s Swan Lake

George Balanchine’s Tchaikovsky pas de deux

Pas de deux from John Neumeier’s Romeo and Juliet

Third Act

George Balanchine: Theme and Variations

Royal Danish Ballet

The Old Stage

March 22, 2017

 

With “Ballet de Luxe” Royal Danish Ballet introduce a new format, never used before in the standard repertoire. A sort of gala, playing 6 times starring the local Principals and Soloists. I cannot quite make out the reason for this initiative. Is it to present a cost-effective production in a season full of expensive high lights like “Alice”, “Giselle” and “Jewels” or to create more opportunities for dancers.

It the aim to take care of a least a little bit of Bournonville in an almost Bournonville-free season, or are Nikolaj Hübbe creating an opportunity to get some Balanchine experience into the dancers before taking on the big challenge of “Jewels”? If is the last listed reason, then the programme must be granted a great success. It was a joy to watch the RDB corps excel in “Theme and Variations”. They are definitely ready for “Jewels”.

A Strong Beginning with a Happy Ending

 

Interview with Oliver Starpov

March 20, 2017

 

Seeing your own ballet receive 10 standing ovations on 11 performances, would build confidence in any choreographer and 21 year old RDB dancer and choreographer Oliver Starpov is no exception. Except how many 21 year old choreographers, who have created works for a leading international ballet, do we actually know? And it was not even his first ballet for the company.

How could such a young choreographer make such an outstanding and mature work as “Beginning and Ending?”. I interviewed Oliver Starpov when he made his first ballet for the company a few years ago, and have followed his career since as a choreographer and dancer. It has been an astonishing ride. He has choreographed in very different genres from modern to classical, and not one work resembles another.

Safe Choises

 

Giant Steps:

Wayne McGregor:

”Infra”

 

Jiri Kylian:

“Falling Angels”

 

Akram Kahn:

“Vertical Road”

 

Royal Danish Ballet

The Old Stage

March 10. 2017

 

Last Season Nikolaj Hübbe took the risk and used the autumn season to present modern ballets, created on the company. Unfortunately, none of the three works created were very good, so it is understandable that this year’s major modern-themed night consists of ballets created elsewhere by top notch choreographers Wayne McGregor, Jiri Kylian and Akram Khan. The Royal Danish Ballet has a long record of Kylian ballets including “Silk & Knife”, a whole evening of primarily never Kylian works. They have also danced McGregor’s “Chroma”. Akram Khan has not worked with the company before, but he has performed his solo work “Desh” at The Royal Theatre in 2013.