August 26, 2017
The Royal Danish Ballet is currently the subject of a documentary series following six dancers in the company through their highs and lows in the last season. It is possible to view episodes on Danish Television webpage (www.dr.dk). The series gives an insight in the dancers’ daily struggles and triumphs.
I have decided to interview some of the dancers involved in the series. First out is Emma Riis-Kofoed, who is the first from the new apprentice program to join the company.
Going on the Telly
Being invited to be part of a tv-series, which will document whether you will be accepted into the company or have to go elsewhere, is a difficult decision to make. Emma Riis-Kofoed dared to say yes and to let a big tv-audience follow her through the final exams and follow her decision whether to wait to see if the RDB will offer her a contract or whether she should accept offers received from other international companies.
“We were told earlier this year that we should also try to audition for other companies, and that we should take care of the whole process ourselves. I went to three auditions at leading European companies and were offered a place of two of them. It was an interesting process and I was pleased that they could use me.
Unfortunately, they needed answers before we knew if we were accepted at the RDB. It was a difficult situation. Could I feel certain that RDB would sign me? I could easily have ended up with no company, if I refused the offer from Germany and RDB passed me over. What then? In the end, I decided to follow my heart, and politely said no to the other offers. Luckily, I was invited to join RDB. But as the tv-program shows, it was a difficult situation”, says Emma Riis-Kofoed.
Emma Riis-Kofoed was the only one of the six third year apprentencies who was offered the full RDB contract. Two other girls received six-month contracts.
“I am pleased we can be together for the first half year and support each other, but I am also aware that I must find my own way into the company and the repertoire,” says Emma Riis-Kofoed.
The apprentices program was changed dramatically three years ago, when it was decided to include a secondary academic education in the program. The program was changed from two years to three years, where the apprentices should use half their time at a second level school. They had separate class and was no longer part of company class. In the old program, the apprentices had significant corps duties, and some even danced featured roles. In many ways the RDB apprentices reached a professional level earlier than what was the norm in other companies.
The inclusion of a second level education is very popular with parents. In all the RDB students have done very well in school. Emma Riis-Kofoed and other apprentencies has scored high marks. However, it had come with a prize:
“Especially the second year was very demanding, because we had many exams. It was actually difficult to get a good balance between the school and the dancing”, says Emma Riis-Kofoed.
Touring the World
Still there were highlights. The apprentencies had their own performances. Some of the apprentencies performed at shows and galas in Paris, Canada and other places.
“We were lucky to have Linda Hindberg as our primary teacher and coach,” says Emma Riis-Kofoed.
Linda Hindberg was a leading RDB ballerina in the 1970-80ties, known for her strong technique and stage appeal. Because the apprentices had very little contact with the company, her experience and knowledge of what it take was important to the young dancers.
Historically RDB stars come in bundles, Linda Hindberg herself was part of a very strong generation, At present RDB has a very strong group in the mid and early 20ties including Alban Lendorf, Jon Axel Fransson, Andreas Kaas, Ida Praetorius, Sebastian Haynes and several others. However, the last four years have produced very few dancers.
“Our class and the following class were all girl classes. That meant that we had to rely on the company to supply boys for Pas de Deux classes. It was a logistic challenge,” says Emma Riis-Kofoed.
System Error
The new program has one very large fault. The apprentices spend very little time with the company. In earlier days, they could learn from and interact with the dancers. The older dancers supported the newcomers and passed on tips and information. The apprentices learned from watching what it took, when to economize the energy and when to burn it.
Emma Riis-Kofoed has to build her way in a company that has not produced a female dancer in three years, a company that has had to rely on a large intake of international dancers, not familiar with the Danish repertoire and struggling with a new country, language and culture. Can she find her place and develop?
In her case, I have every confidence. As RDB in the last ten years have produced a number of activities with the ballet children, including their own ballet company “Company B”. Therefore, I have seen Emma Riis-Kofoed from the early years. There was no doubt that she was the strongest dancer in the group and that she has developed a personal style as well as a strong technique. In addition, she has proved to the audience, her teachers and herself that she has what it takes:
“Last season I danced in the corps for several performances, including “Swan Lake”. In one performance, a dancer was injured, and I was asked to take over her place in a segment I had not danced before. With the help of an experienced member of the corps, I got ready to do the place with only few minutes rehearsal on the back stage. I was pleased that I could step in and manage it. It was a little confidence builder”.
Emma Riis-Kofoed will also do some semi-soloist roles in the upcoming season: “I am on the list as “two classical couples” in Nikolaj Hübbe’s upcoming Raymonda. I do not know exactly what it will be, but I am looking forward to it and hopefully, there will be more chances.”
As the RDB School is doing some PR to celebrate the first batch of RDB academic students, Emma Riis-Kofoed also participated in Morning TV, where the journalist was quick to point out, that she would not be using her fine academic exam results, as she was joining the company. It was a remark that really made the point that the RDB School in fact is doing more for the pupils they reject, than they do for the ones staying.
Knowing her Stuff
I hope that the company understands that they need to give more focus to the new dancers, and that they cannot use their old criteria anymore. The dancers coming out of the new programme will join the company with significantly less practical experience of the job and the repertoire. I am worried for the company. However, I am not one bit worried for Emma Riis-Kofoed. She has what it takes. Yes, there is a lot she will have to learn, but she has the security of a strong technique, and she knows the repertoire very well.
“I know most of the female solos in Napoli Act 3, as we did them in ‘Company B’ ”, Emma Riis-Kofoed says.
Not many RDB dancer can boost of that. She also has the willingness to work hard and she is a fast learner. Being part of the current tv-series will build her public profile and a fan base. However, it is her analytic skills, her ability to work intelligent and her commitment that will bring her forward. She really is a smart girl.
Photos by Jan Christensen Copyright(c)
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