Interview with Jonathan Chmelensky
January 23, 2019
Can a leopard change it spots? Can a ballet dancer absorb another traditions style?
In a period where ballet companies finds it difficult to build an ensemble on their own schools and is forced to hire on a global market, they face the challenge of harmonizing a wide intake and keep their house style and history complete.
Principal Jonathan Chmelensky, who joined Royal Danish Ballet, directly following his education in France and Cuba, is probably one of the best integration stories on the subject. I meet with him last week to learn more of his integration and development in probably one of the most conservative and nationalistic companies the world, the Royal Danish Ballet.