Eva Kistrup

All the Best Intentions

"Uropa"

A coproduction by Corpus and Sort/Hvid

By Christian Lollike, Esther Lee Wilkinson, Tim Matiakis and the participants

Royal Theatre Asalen

January 29, 2016

The cooperation of dramatist/director Christian Lollike and Corpus two years ago resulted in the very successful “I Føling”, a ballet on the Danish soldiers, scarred by war. It proved that ballet could be a media for current issues.

Ii is therefore understandable that the trio tried to go down the same route again. This time focusing on asylum seekers and, as in “I Føling” bring the people involved on stage. Unfortunately, the miracle did not happen twice.

New Kid at the Barre

 

With an unprecedented intake of 13 foreign dancers in one season, Royal Danish Ballet took on  the quest of getting the group, representing nine different countries, and integrated them into company life and the Danish style.

Judging by the production of “Swan Lake” in April the synthesis has happened. The new crop are  seamlessly integrated in the company and several of the new dancers are taking on featured  roles. I met with Canadian Liam Redhead to learn how the process looked from the incoming  dancer’s point of view. Another reason for speaking with Liam Redhead is that the 19 year old  dancer has been the most prolific of the new crop and has danced several soloists’ roles in his first season.