Jewels in the Crown
By Eva Kistrup
20-04-2022
Many ballet fans may not know that The Royal Danish Ballet have a longer relationship with George Balanchine than most other ballet companies. Actually, George Balanchine spend a season as guest ballet director from 1930-31 where “Barabau” and “Apollon Musagetes” were part of the program. In 1933, George Balanchine left the Copenhagen scene and moved on to Paris. It was here that Balanchine met Lincoln Kirstein and created what later would be “New York City Ballet”. A year later “School of American Ballet” became a factor.
In the coming years, NYCB and Royal Danish Ballet benefitted from each other stars and skills. Peter Martins, Adam Lüders, Ib Andersen, Nikolaj Hübbe and others RDB dancers moved to NYCB - permanent or for a shorter term.
Coming to Copenhagen
Earlier this month, Royal Danish Ballet could present “Jewels” with the full run of “Emeralds”, “Rubies” and “Diamonds”. It has been performed earlier at RDB in the full version in 2017 some years ago and there have been some other NYCB performances in Copenhagen. However, this run is putting the RDB dancers, including a larger corps into a higher level.
As usual, the ballet “Emeralds” were the starter of the ball. First out was Soloists Astrid Elbo and Sebastian Haynes in the first Pas de Deux. The two younger dancers brought a strong interpretation that showed how much they have developed.
The other teams, Ji Ming Hung and Marcin Kupinski in Second Pas de Deux and a trio of Camilla Ruelykke Holst, Carling Talcott-Stenstra and Alexander Bozinoff in the last of the group, did not shine quite as well as the first and third team.
Viewed from the Copenhagen end, “Emeralds” is the most difficult run to sell to the Copenhagen audience. Sorry to say.
Bring In the Stars
For this evening of “Rubies” was performed by Principals Holly Dorger and Jon Axel Fransson and supported by Astrid Elbo. The trio really delivered the goods. Jon Axel Fransson is now probably the strongest male dancer in the company. His technic can fill out any character and bring out the best of anything available. It was also good the see the two leads performed so well.
Finally, Principal dancers Caroline Baldwin and Andreas Kaas proved how what they can bring to the stage in this part, where the leading dancers have limited time, before the whole cast come out in flying colors.
It seems like there will be an even broader cast, thereby getting the chance to even more dancers. It seems like a great idea, especially as the Royal Danish Ballet as well as other companies, often have had to sit-out during to the corona. At least this decision will give dancers the chance to get if not the perfect season, but at least the chance to get some significant ballets in spite of everything.
Promotions
Nikolaj Hübbe has just promoted Emma-Riis Kofoed and Alexander Bozinoff to Principal Dancers at RDB.
Emma Riis-Kofoed (born 1998) started at the Royal Theatre School in second class and was appointed 2017 as solist at the Royal Danish Ballet. Her resume includes Myrtha in Giselle, the Ballerina in ”Etudes”, ”Dvorak Pas de deux and major roles in ” Ballo della Regina “ and the Sugar Fairy in “The Nutcracker” .
Alexander Bozinoff (f. 1990) is educated from The National Ballet School of Canada and the John Cranko Schule in Germany. He joined the Royal Danish Ballet in 2011, and was promoted five years later to soloist. His leading roles includes ”La Sylphide”, ”Swan Lake”, ”Cinderella, ”Lady of the Camelia” Raymonda”, Alice in Wonderland and “The Nutcracker”.
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