Eva Kistrup

Brothers in Arms

 
Interview with Guilherme & Vitor De Menezes

December 18, 2018

 

There is a limit to how much “Nutcracker” a guy can take. While Brazilian twin brothers Guilherme & Vitor De Menezes enjoyed being part of English National Ballet, the touring and +80 performances including the Christmas run was very demanding.

“After working at ENB for so many years we realized the time in our career had arrived where seeking new productions (including a new Nutcracker) and finding new inspiration was important,” says Vitor.

 His brother Guilherme De Menezes was then selected for an exchange with Royal Danish Ballet:

“We had spent almost all our career at ENB, so it was great to get a chance to be part of another company for a period. I certainly enjoyed my stay in Copenhagen. The Royal Danish Ballet represent a very old tradition, especially for male dancing. I was very well received by everyone and enjoyed my stay.”

The brothers had joined ENB following their participation in Prix de Lausanne where both made it to the final.

“Brazil is not a country where guys dances ballet. We started very young, as we had caught the bug as mere kids. Our ballet teacher had never taught boys before”, says Vitor De Menezes.

Well, somehow she must have found the magic wand. There was plenty of interest in the twins at the competition.

Royal versus Royal

 

 

 

Christopher Wheeldon:

“Alice”

Royal Danish Ballet

“The Old Stage”

December 2, 2018

Alastair Marriott:

“The Unknown Soldier”

Wayne McGregor:

“Infra”

George Balanchine:

“Symphony in C”

 

Royal Ballet

“Royal Opera House”

November 26, 2018

 

The large established national companies of today shares more and more repertoire. This week I have seen the Royal Danish Ballet starting another Christmas round of Christopher Wheeldon´s “Alice”, created for Royal Ballet  who in return is now taking on Balanchine´s “Symphony in C” in tandem with Alistair Marriott´s “The Unknown Soldier” and Wayne McGregor´s “Infra”, which has also had a run in Copenhagen. Actually, RDB will present McGregor’s recent “AFTERITE” later this season.

It is an international trend, partly made necessary by the fact that there are only that much choreographic talent in the world, which then must be shared. There is also economic demands on the big ballet companies, which makes them go for the sure hits instead of taking the chance on presenting a newly created work, which might not sell well.