The second major production this year offered a revival of “Karen Blixen”, created by British choreographer and principal in “Royal Danish Ballet”, Gregory Dean, who previously has created a significant number of productions for the RDB.
This time, Gregory Dean and Nikolaj Hübbe decided to recreate “Blixen” on the largest scene, “The Opera House”.
The Lady on Stage
In Denmark, the late writer Karen Blixen was and has stayed a well-known celebrity, however not known that well abroad. Karen Blixen spent a large part of her life in Africa 1918-1931 until she had to return to Denmark owing to financial issues. She mostly lived here in Denmark until she died in 1962.
The need to keep finances going at home, Karen Blixen started her career as a writer. Being educated, it was easy for Karen Blixen to write in both languages, primarily Danish and English.
The double knowledge of languages therefore helped Karen Blixen and her books to became successful -both at home and abroad.
When Karen Blixen´s life much later became filmed in “Out of Africa” with Meryl Streep as Karen Blixen, it also made Karen Blixen into an international star - even though she had been death for many years.
Leaving Kenya
The middle part of the ballet describes Karen Blixen´s life in Kenya. Gregory Dean has chosen to change his own choreography. The scene showed the local people has gone. That scene showed in my opinion the mystery of Africa.
It is now Farah who must show Africa to Karen Blixen, and this is not an easy thing to do all by himself with only steps and gesticulations. It also disturbs the balance of the ballet especially for the roles of the British
Denys Finch Hatton who would become a friend –or maybe even more for Karen Blixen in Africa. In the recent performances the leading role as Karen Blixen was performed very well by principal Caroline Baldwin and Soloist Astrid Elbo.
The male leading role as the Devil was shared by principals Jon Axel Fransson and Andreas Kaas.
The role as Bror Blixen were given to principal Jonathan Chmelensky and dancer Mathieu Rouaux, while the role as Denys Finch Hatton was shared by soloist Sebastian Pico Haynes and the new principal Ryan Tomash.
Sebastian Pico Haynes also performed the role of Farah. This role was also shared with soloist Alexander Stæger and dancer Maclean Hopper.
Going as big as possible
Most of the roles are giving to the groups of families like “The Dinesen” hereby presenting Karen Blixen´s parents on the floor. Karen Blixen herself danced with Benjamin Buzza and Ji Ming Hong.
Likewise, Karen Blixens brother Thomas, played by Tobias Praetorius took the floor with his grandmother and aunt, performed by Anne Marie Vessel Schlüter and Christina Michanek.
The Blixen Family also includes James Clark, Emma Mckenzie and Jonathan Chmelensky in the larger roles. For instance, the Frijs Family included Peter Bo Bendixen as count Mogens Frijs, while Mette Bødtcher played his wife and Holly Dorger took the role as their daughter Daisy Frijs.
Meet Karen Blixen and Friends
The real Karen Blixen spent a lot of her life in Africa as part of the significant group including leading man Denys Finch Hatton, here performed by Sebastian Pico Haynes. Other roles were taking on by Marcin Kupinski, Alexander Staeger, Tobias Praetorius, James Clark, Carling Talcott-Steenstra and Eliabe D´Abadia.
Other significant teams include Carling Tallcott-Stenstra, Mclean Hopper, Marina Minolu, Vitor de Menezes,
Emma McKenzie, James Clark, Tomoka Kawazoe, Matteo di Loreta and Mayo Arli.
You are certainly meeting a significant team and a significant story.
The strengths of the production of “Blixen” gives the dancers and corps the best posibilities to perform and grow. It also gives the dancers and audiences the knowledge of Karen Blixen and her skills.
As written above, “Blixen” both needs a big cast and stars. Luckily the RDB can deliver this and more. Like many other Ballet Companies, RDB had to cancel most of last season to be certain that dancers and publics was not getting the ongoing virus around.
Seeing the RDB in their bests and in new performances is the real treat. May it continue.
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The Opera Stage
The ballet “Blixen” choreographed by Gregory Dean
Saturday, September 24th and Friday September 30th 2022
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