Eva Kistrup

Sharing the Goods

 

August Bournonville:

”La Sylphide”

Directed by Nikolaj Hübbe

 

August Bournonville:

”Napoli

”Directed by Nikolaj Hübbe

 

Gregory Dean:

”Cinderella”

Available on the RDB web side.

 

 

 

 

When the corona19 hit Copenhagen early spring 2020, the Royal Danish Ballet, RDB saw no other alternative than to close down for the near future. However, as the times moved, RDB found the ways to perform live again. The Old Stage was opened again, let in a smaller audience, and found different ways to offer a safe performance.

The RDB also made film and tv-producions available on the internet, including several big hits. Now the RDB is able to perform again on the big scene. Nevertheless, the RDB continues to share their production on the Internet. These productions includes Gregory Dean´s “Cinderella”, Nikolaj Hübbe´s version of “Napoli” and his resent production of “La Sylphide” starring principals Ida Praetorius and Jón Axel Fransson in the leading roles.

Bowing Out

November 14, 2020

 

Tonight, Principal Kizzy Matiakis will retire from Royal Danish Ballet. Her last performance will be as Madge in “La Sylphide”. Thereby ending an extraordinary career from the young British dancer, who against all odds developed to a leading dramatic ballerina at the Royal Danish Ballet.

As told in a live interview with Erik Aschengren now available on the RDB internet, Kizzy Matiakis share her story from a ballet pupil in a local dance school to joining the Royal Danish Ballet, where her sister is already dancing in the corps. Somehow, it proves to be the right company for Kizzy Matiakis and she started a development that over the years brings her to the front of the company. In a few years Kizzy Matiakis develops her skills as a dramatic dancer. Her great break through was as Odette/Odile in Nikolaj Hübbe´s “Swan Lake “ in 2016.

The Next Generation

 

Dans2Go

Royal Danish Ballet

The Old Stage

November 11^th

2020

“Already Night”
by Sebastian Kloborg

”Persistent Persuasion”
by John Neumeier

”Zakouski”
by Peter Martins
 

“Uprising”

By Hofesh Shechter

 

These last seasons have seen several talented dancers leave the Royal Danish Ballet, looking either for new opportunities or as in many cases choosing academic studies in steed of ballet. Unfortunately, the wave is taking place at a time where the RDB School do not provide as many appretencies for the company as usual.

Nikolaj Hübbe has therefore signed a larger intake from abroad to keep the ensemble intacts. It will be interesting to see how well the new intake will integrate and perform. Nikolaj Hübbe is also facing another challenge, as principal dancers Amy Watson and Kizzy Matiakis will retire this season.

The two ballerinas have been a mainstay in the company. They are both dramatically gifted, and therefore have been very well suited for the core repertoire of classical and modern dramatic productions. Looking at the current female line, they will leave only three female principals Ida Praetorius, Holly Dorger and Caroline Baldwin. There are at present nine female soloists. Looking at the current team, so far only Emma Riis-Kofoed and Wilma Giglio have been casted for highest level leading roles.  

Promising dancers Stephanie Chen Gundorph and Astrid Elbo do significant roles and have dramatic skills; However, they are seldom trusted with the bigger challenges. For the upcoming Christmas run of “The Nutcracker”, Nikolaj Hübbe is presenting no less than eight Sugar Plum Faries, not including Ida Praetorius, who will only dance two performances as Dew Drop.

It looks like Nikolaj Hübbe is very well aware that he needs to develop and trust the candidates for upcoming ballerinas.

That it is not only the front female line he is testing is proved by his current casting for “Dans2Go”.

We are still Dancing

Dans2GO

Royal Danish Ballet

The Old Stage

November 7^th

November 9th

2020

 

“Already Night”
by Sebastian Kloborg

"Persistent Persuasion" 

By John Neumeier 

”Zakouski”
by Peter Martins
 

“Uprising”

By Hofesh Shechter

“La Sylphide”

By August Bournonville

One of the first ideas, Nikolaj Hübbe put on stage when taking over, as Artistic Director of Royal Danish Ballet was the “Dans2Go” concept aiming to bring in new audiences to the art form.

The original concept combined outtakes from a classical ballet and a modern ballet. Nikolaj Hübbe also included a classical Pas de Deux from the repertoire. The ticket price was affordable even on a student’s budget.

It became a success and Dans2GO became a mainstay in the RDB repertoire. However, for this season Nikolaj Hübbe presents a significantly broader program, including a new creation “Already Night” by Sebastian Kloborg and “Uprising” by Hofesh Shecter from2006.