The World Ballet
Sølyst, Greater Copenhagen
July 10, 2019
Watching “The World Ballet” now in its 12th season is somehow like watching a big outdoor concert with the European conductor André Rieu and his orchestra, dancers and singers. This is meant as a compliment. Like André Riou, the Danish opera singer Jens-Christian Wandt, the leader of “The World Ballet” is dedicated to bring music and dance to a greater audience.
With an orchestra of two musicians, the brilliant Niklas Walentin and Alexander McKenzie, the opera singer Dénise Beck and Wandt himself bring as much joy to the audience as the big scale Rieu concerts.
However, as the title of the programme shows, the major aim is to present excellent ballet in beautiful outdoor surroundings. Sølyst, a gem reaching back to 1727 with a beautiful park on the edge of Oresund certainly delivers a perfect frame. There is but one catch. Ballet is an art form totally depending of a defined space.
As Wandt will bring his tour to eight beautiful venues, compromise becomes an issue. While Sølyst could have had a bigger stage, is probably not possible for several of the other venues, thereby the fine cast of dancers had to do their best on a rather small stage, which limits what they can do.
A Proven Success
Jens-Christian Wandt started The World Ballet tours in a partnership with the Danish dancer, Johan Kobborg, who had a great career as a Principal of the British Royal Ballet. When Kobborg retired, RB star Steven McRay took over as Artistic Director. As Steven McRay and his wife is expecting a baby anytime, he is not part of this season’s lineup, but have worked with the small company up to the premiere.
Although, The World Ballet tour is a Danish tour, British choreographers from Sir Frederick Ashton to the contemporary choreographers, Liam Scarlett and Wayne McGregor, mainly create the repertoire.
This year’s lineup includes Royal Ballet stars, Principals Yasmine Naghdi, Federico Bonelli, Nehemiah Kish and 1st soloist Yohui Choe, Xander Parish, the British Dancer, who is now a Mariinskij Principal, and Iana Selenko and Marian Walther from Staatsballett Berlin.
Limitations
Steven McRay had made a programme presenting British choreographers from Ashton to Liam Scarlett and Wayne McGregor plus standard Petipa, the "Dying Swan" and "Ballet 101" by Eric Gauthier. Unfortunately, the Petipa works became boxed in on the small stage.
When Royal Danish Ballet included the "Raymonda 3act" divertissement on their summer tour, they scaled down to three couples. "The World Ballet" are putting seven dancers on a much smaller space. It does no service to the dancers or the choreography.
“The World Ballet” brings outstanding dancers like Yasmine Naghdi, who really managed to get the Fonteyn qualities to the Rhapsody Pas de Deux. The evening also gave the Danish audience the chance to see Nehemiah Kish, who spend a few seasons at RDB as a principal, one last time before he retires.
A Light Moment
The program did also include a work "The Three", specially created by Tobias Praetorius, the brilliant Royal Danish Ballet dancer and character artist, who is currently in New York, participating in a Bournonville Tour, managed by Ulrik Birkkjær, the Danish Principal, now dancing with San Francisco Ballet.
Tobias Praetorius´creation is a humorous trio for Marian Walter and the two-man orchestra to Jacob Gade´s famous Tango Jalousie with the Berlin dancer performing the role as a happy drunk.
The World Ballet have established itself as a fixed feature on the Danish summer circuit. The audience enjoys the picnics at beautiful places and settings. Jens-Christian Wandt and the artists are providing charming entertainment. The only difficulty is to make good and well-chosen ballets shine within the limitations of the number of dancers, musicians and stage space.
That is the only challenge.
Photos Copyright(c) "Verdensballetten"
- Yuhui Choe and Nehemiah Kish in '"Asphodel Meadows"
- Xander Parish in "Ballet 101"
- The cast in "Raymonda/Finale"
- Niklas Walentin and Marian Walter in "The Three"
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