Eva Kistrup

The Society of Royal Danish Ballet

 

 

Royal Danish Ballet:

 

Jo Strømberg:

”Society of Lost Souls”

The Drama House

May 25, 2019

 

John Neumeier:

“Lady of the Camellias”

May 28, 2019

The Old Stage

 

 

In the Drama House, 10 dancers are reviving a small-scale hit that is more acting than dance. At the Old Stage + 60 dancers are reviving a big scale hit that combines dancing and acting. In both productions retired stars are bought back to shine once more. Same strategy – same results.

Each of the two performances make a strong statement for the Royal Danish Ballet prioritizing their tradition as a leading, and maybe the leading international dramatic ballet company. This is what the company does best.

The Lady Returns

 

John Neumeier:

”Lady of the Camellias”

Royal Danish Ballet

May 24, 2019

 

The relationship between John Neumeier and the Royal Danish Ballet have been a special force for the company since the premiere of “Romeo & Juliet” in 1973. “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, “Ulysses”.Des Knaben Wunderhorn and “Mahler´s Fifth Symphony” and “Lady of the Camellias” followed this outstanding production. Neumeier has also created two ballets for RDB, “Amleth” and “The Little Mermaid” as well as “1963 Yesterday”, a pas de deux inspired by his stay in Denmark as a very young dancer taking classes with the great dance teacher Vera Volkova.    

 

A Love Story

While the Neumeier ballets created on the RDB company did not have a long stage life, “Romeo & Juliet”, “A Midsummer Night´s Dream” and “Lady of the Camellias” have had several returns and is loved by dancers and audience alike. However, I do believe the “The Little Mermaid” could and should be back on the repertoire. Next season we will get Neumeier´s “Mahler´s Third Symphony” for the first time.

Now in its third run, “Lady of the Camellias” again display its strengths and qualities, but as importantly, it makes the ensemble come together as no other work has done for the past years.

As many other companies, the RDB is now depending on imported dancers to fill the range. It is a challenge to turn dancers, who have not been trained for dramatic ballets and Bournonville to adjust to the RDB demands.

Somehow, last night, it all clicked.   

The Last Drink

          

 

 

”Ballet & Bubbles”

May 18,2019

 

” Dance2Go”

May 2, 2019

Royal Danish Ballet

The Old Stage

 

One of the major news from the presentation of next year´s repertoire at the Royal Danish Ballet is that the company would no longer continue the reach out program “Dance2Go” and “Ballet& Bubbles”. 

Nikolaj Hübbe launched “Dance2Go” several years as an affordable offer for primarily a younger audience. In short a program covering a classical ballet, a modern ballet and a smashing Pas de Deux. The aim was to turn the young audience into ballet fans and there were many fine performances during the years. However, budget cuts and other commitments resulted in less attractive programs and dwindling audiences.

Two years ago, Nikolaj Hübbe added “Ballet & Bubbles” to the reach out activities. The concept was a short ballet, a reading from one of the actors from the drama company and a short live music sequence. The audience would receive a complementary drink.

This became a low point in the company history. Although last year´s performance included the brilliant Akram Khan ballet “Vertical Road” , moving this production to the drama house came with a very a high price. The stage was too small for the ballet, and in reverence to the company actors, the sand, which is an important part of the ballet, was omitted and thereby minimizing the impact of the ballet.

One too many

This year, Nicolaj Hübbe chose an even easier option for “Ballet & Bubbles” by reusing Jiri Kylian´s “Symphony of Psalms” which also was performed in the “Dance2Go” program, in “Ballet and Bobles” as well.

For the last performances of “Dance2Go”, Wilma Giglio and Guilherme de Menezes, who both have been promoted to soloists, got the chance to dance one of the few remaining ballets by Harald Lander: “Dvorak Pas de Deux”. It is not an easy task, and somehow it looked like neither of the two South American born dancers had been told that the ballet needed grounding as well as lightness to get the folklore connection.

Wilma Giglio was light as air and oozed elegance. For Guilherme de Menezes it was the second time this spring, he was cast to match brilliant company star Jon Axel Fransson in a double dose of Lander. He did the best he could, but he cannot yet deliver the skills, elegance and power, presented by Fransson.

The final Dance2Go programme also included “Symphony of Psalms” and Oliver Starpov´s “My Daddy loves Sugar”. The male ensemble danced the later very well, while getting “Symphony of Psalms” twice in two different programs in a short period was one to many for the road.

 

Photo "Symphony of Psalms" by Camilla Winther. Copyright(c) Royal Danish Ballet