Eva Kistrup

Playing his Hand

 

 

 

Interview with Tobias Praetorius

Maj 17, 2018

 

A few months ago, Tobias Praetorius took the step from being a young dancer, known for technical skills, character dance and modern ballet to succeed in a leading male as Hermann in Liam Scarlett´s creation “Queen of Spades”.

I met with him to learn how he managed to create such a full-fledged character.

“For a young dancer like me, it was a gift from above to find myself on the list for not one but two leading roles in Liam Scarlett´s creation for Royal Danish Ballet. With a comparatively short time for building a ballet from scratz, the odds for me and the other dancers in third cast to actually get a performance were not that great. As I also was cast as Tomskij in second cast and also as part of the corps, it meant that I could be so busy with these assignments that I would have very little time to work on the big treat, Herman,” says Tobias Praetorius.

Luckily, as it turned out, Liam Scarlett is a choreographer who works efficiently and who knows what he want to achieve.

“He decided to pull me from the corps, so I could concentrate on the two bigger roles. That made it possible for me to really work with the two characters, the easy going and loyal friend Tomskij and the deeply complicated Hermann”, says Tobias Praetorius.

A Weekend at the Ballet

 

 

Silja Schandorff & Nikolaj Hübbe:

”Swan Lake”

May 18, 2018

The Opera Stage

 

Liam Scarlett:

“Queen of Spades”

May 19, 2018

The Old Stage

 

“The Hübbery”

May 19, 2018

The Old Stage

 

It has been a very busy weekend for the Royal Danish Ballet. In addition to two big blockbusters, this year’s second instalment of the “The Hübbery” had its run. There are lot of PR activities for the upcoming festival. Newly minted Principal Andreas Kaas has been on Breakfast Television, and while the company performs the last performance of the smash hit “Queen of Spades”, Nikolaj Hübbe was busy at the department store “Magasin de Nord” judging amateur dancers, who might be part of one of the many outreach projects tied to the upcoming ballet festival.

No Bobbles & Very Little Ballet

 

 

Ballet & Bobbles:

Akram Khan: Vertical Road

Readings with Karen Lise Mynster

Music with Emma Steele & Angelika Wagner

 

The Drama House

May 15, 2018

 

For the last seasons, it has become a tradition that Royal Danish Ballet finishes the season with a production at the Drama House, the newest part of the Royal Theatre. However, there is one serious complain. The drama house is not build for neither traditional ballet nor modern. The stage is too small and there is no orchestra pit. That limits what RDB can present and over the last years Nikolaj Hübbe  has decided to present a new original production. However, in return these productions have been too small for the Old Stage or Opera House.  If leave him with the dilemma. If created for the Drama House it will have to stay in the Drama House. He cannot capitalize on a hit.

The Family Jewels

 

 

Ballet de Luxe:

August Bournonville:

The Reel from "La Sylphide"

Pas de Deux from "Kermesse in Bruges"

Pas de Sept from "A Folk´s Tale"

 

George Balanchine:

"Rubies"

 

Harald Lander:

"Etudes"

May 12, 2018

Royal Danish Ballet

 

Seeing the second cast of “Ballet de Luxe” finally delivered a top luxury experience. The first pairing of Ida Praetorius and Jon Axel Fransson as the lead couple of George Balanchine´s ”Rubies” showed quality of the highest level. They delivered everything you could wish. On top of the pyrotechnics, there was humor, high energy and most importantly a partnership. It was the best and strongest partnership seen so far in the production.

The Bournonville, we will get

 

 

Ballet de Luxe :

August Bournonville:

The Reel from "La Sylphide"

Pas de Deux from "Kermesse in Bruges"

Pas de Sept from "A Folk´s Tale"

 

George Balanchine:

"Rubies"

 

Harald Lander:

"Etudes"

May 5, 2018

Royal Danish Ballet

 

,       

When Nikolaj Hübbe decided to break the pattern of a Bournonville Festival every 13th year and instead launched a sort of celebrating dance in general concept, I found it hard to get his point. Now after seeing the Bournonville outtakes last night, I understand him better. Instead, I am struggling with another issue. How come that the RDB almost seamless can integrate approximately 20 female foreign dancers, but fails miserable when trying the same concept with 11 new male dancers from abroad?

Breaking News! Andreas Kaas made principal dancer

May 3,2018

 

Following his performance as Hermann in Liam Scarlett´s "Queen of Spades", Andreas Kaas was made Principal Dancer at RDB tonight. 

Looking at Andreas Kaas’ career so far, he is really blessed. Identified early by John Neumeier, he and frequent partner, Principal Ida Praetorius not only won the Erik Bruhn Prize, they were also cast by Neumeier as the leading couple in his “Lady of the Camellias”  and “Romeo & Juliet.”

His resume also includes Siegfried and Benno in “Swan Lake”, Albrecht in Giselle, Jack in “Alice”, “Emeralds”, Jean de Brienne (Otto) in Raymonda, The Poet in “Beginning & Ending” and “Tchaikovsky pas de deux” and several other roles in modern ballets. Not a bad feat for the 25-year-old dancer.

He has recently danced his first James in "La Sylphide" as a guest at Mariinsky Ballet.

The promotion of Andreas Kaas, does not just bring yet another principal to the company. Actually, Andreas Kaas will now be filling the post of the leading male dancer.

Safe Choices

 

 

Presentation of Royal Danish Ballet’s season 2018/2019

The Opera

May 1^st, 2018

 

The Royal Theatre presented the repertoire for all three art forms at a joined press briefing.

Nikolaj Hübbe presented the ballets repertoire from the upcoming season. He is continuing his standard concept, so next season will include the usual suspects: “The Hübbery”,”Dance2go”, The Christmas family production, an annual children’s ballet plus a new concept, “Bobbles & Ballet”. Actually, “Bobbles & Ballet” will have its first outing this month where the audience can enjoy a glass of champagne, a pep talk and Akram Khan´s “Vertical Road”. It is not yet planned which ballet will do the honor next season.

Next Season’s “Dance2Go” includes a repeat of Jiri Kylian’s “Psalm Symphonie”, Harald Lander’s “”Dworak pas De Deux and a new ballet by Oliver Starpov, who’s “Beginnings & Endings” was a big success in last years D2G. This time he will present a new work “My Daddy loves Sugar”.

It should be considered if all of some standards formats should be kept alive and instead let Nikolaj Hübbe and the company more artistic freedom.