Royal Danish Ballet
August 15, 2020
Just before the lock down following the Corona challenge, Royal Danish Ballet announced that Principal dancers Amy Watson and Kizzy Matiakis would retire during the upcoming season. Each ballerina will retire after a final performance of respectively Teresina in “Napoli” and Karen Blixen in Gregory Dean´s creation “Blixen”.
Both ballerinas are outstanding proof that it is indeed possible for foreign educated dancers to master the Danish style and dramatic skills. Amy Watson and Kizzy Matiakis will be remembered, not only for their dedication to Royal Danish Ballet but also for their results and contribution.
Young Leavers
However, looking at the upcoming season´s rooster, it certainly look like that the dedication from dancers are dwindling. A significant numbers of younger dancers have decided to go elsewhere, or as in many cases retire or taking leave from dancing and instead join a university.
It was Nikolaj Hubbe himself, who introduced putting a high school education into the dance pupils program. Nikolaj Hübbe´s idea was if the Ballet School also included a secondary academic level, it would calm and secure the parents that pupils who might not be offered employment, still would have a high school education to rely on.
What Nikolaj Hübbe had not realized was that apprentices and young dancers might find their academic studies more interesting than a place on the back line in the corps de ballet.
Slimming Down
Another factor in this situation might well be attached to the fact the Royal Danish Ballet have lost some funding over the last years . In order to keep the numbers of seats covered, RDB has during the last seasons cut productions to five or six performances.
This trick may help keeping audience attention on a respectable level. However, this model is also severely damaging the development of the younger dancers.
With few performances of each ballet, it is difficult to put on more than two casts for each ballet, thereby leaving the young dancers and appretencies with very little opportunity to develop.
The slimming down strategy is also poison for the international dancers joining RDB in a period where the company is low on homemade male talents. Two good ensembles are Ryan Tomash and Emerson Moose who joined the RDB in respectably 2018 and 2016.
Ryan Tomash got the golden chance to take over the leading role as Armand in John Neumeier´s “Lady of the Camellias” when Principal Andreas Kaas was injured. Ryan Tomash made a fine performance in the lead; however, he not yet has the chance of another leading role.
Emerson Moose, who joined RDB in 2016, spends a lot of his time in the back line. However, when Nikolaj Hübbe and Dinna Bjørn made “August 2.0” this last season, we finally realized what an outstanding Dancer Noble he is. (The production can be seen on the RDB website).
The question for both dancers are whether they will get the right opportunities to develop and show their skills regular on the big stage. They have certainly shown their value.
Hiding the Gold
It would be wrong to assume that it is the home-born male dancers, who gets the biggest prices. For Instance it took Nikolaj Hübbe significant time to promote company star Jón Axel Fransson to principal status.
Likewise, the versatile and brilliant Tobias Praetorius, who has made such mind-blowing performances as the male lead in Liam Scarlett´s “Queen of Spades” on top of his dramatic skills and character dancing is still a member of the corps.
However, the facts is that the RDB School has not produced many male dancers in the last years. This upcoming season include merely seven dancers educated at the school (Andreas Kaas, Jon Axel Fransson, Nikolaj Hansen, Benjamin Buza, Tobias Praetorius, Oliver Starpov and Ludwig of Rosenborg.)
Morten Eggert and Poul-Erik Hesselkilde are doing mime and character roles. The company has also signed former RDB stars Mads Blangstrup and Sebastian Kloborg for specific programs.
We will need every man available. Another related problem is that the school produces very few new dancers these years. However, Nikolaj Hübbe decided three years ago not to sign two boys from the school. I am glad to say that they are doing fine elsewhere.
It is difficult to tell whether the male dancers brought in from other companies will raise to the top of the company. Amy Watson and Kizzy Matiakis certainly showed how it could be done.
However, if RDB do not have a significant higher number of productions and performances, it will continue to lose some of their bests cards, whether they are homegrown or come from abroad.
This last season has shown us is that the dancers might be losing their patience and it would be our loss rather than theirs.
Luckily. there is one silver lining. The upcoming season will show more runs of each ballet, as the auditorium will use only 50% of the space. Hopefully, it could give more dancers more opportunities.
Photos:
1. Kizzy Matiakis by Henrik Stenson, Copyright(c) Royal Danish Ballet
2. Emerson Moose by Natascha Thiara Rydvald Copyright(c) Royal Danish Ballet
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