Dans2Go
Royal Danish Ballet
The Old Stage
November 11th
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”.
Testing - Testing
Soloists Liam Redhead and Tobias Praetorius is finding themselves as the male leads in respectively John Neumeier´s ”Persistent Persuasion” and Peter Martins ”Zakouski”.
Liam Redhead and Wilma Giglio are delivering a fine performance in the Neumeier Pas de Deux. They have a good understanding of the ballet and both really gets through to the audience.
However, the biggest challenge are placed with Soloists Emma Friis-Kofoed and Tobias Praetorius, who is charged with Peter Martins ”Zakouski” which he created for the young Nikolaj Hübbe, who had then recently joined NYCB.
The young Copenhagen team did an amazing job, as both fully understand how to handle the difficult material and how to utilize their technical skills, speed and charm. They fully managed to bring Peter Martins´ vision of youth and virtuosity to life. It is a very demanding ballet. Never the less Tobias Praetorius working day was not over, as his skills was also needed in “Uprising” by Hofesh Shechter, a dynamic all male modern work.
The Best is yet to come
The recent production of “La Sylphide” with three casts of the leading roles and strong supporting roles shows that the RDB remains very strong. Yesterday’s performance of Dans2Go likewise proves that even though RDB may have lost some talented dancers, there is strength in the company. Young dancers like Tobias Praetorius and Liam Redhead shows that they are ready to move up the line and be significant and valued leading dancers.
Photo Credits:
Malene Winther. Copyright(c) Royal Danish Ballet
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