Latest news with #StuttgartBallet
Korea Herald
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Neumeier's ‘Camellias' to bloom again in Seoul as its ‘best version yet'
Drama ballet that earned Kang Sue-jin her Benois de la Danse premieres in May Legendary choreographer John Neumeier's 'The Lady of the Camellias,' with which ballerina Kang Sue-jin became the first Asian dancer to win the Benois de la Danse award in 1999, will take the stage at the Seoul Arts Center, May 7-11. Neumeier and Kang, artistic director of The Korean National Ballet, have come together to create 'the best possible version of this ballet that we can see right now.' 'Ballet is an art of life,' said Neumeier during a press conference held Tuesday at the Seoul Arts Center. 'I have never imagined I would just revive a work. I must recreate a work for it to have value, for it to have life. Without a living (element), it becomes some kind of moving museum.' Based on Alexandre Dumas fils' 1848 novel of the same title, the ballet tells the tragic love story of Marguerite, a courtesan, and Armand Duval, a young bourgeois, set in 19th-century Paris. Premiered in 1978 for the Stuttgart Ballet, Neumeier's 'The Lady of Camellias' sought to break away from traditional narrative ballet structures. 'At that time, I was searching for a new kind of full-length ballet, one that was different from 19th-century works. (The novel) has a sense of overlapping realities, visions and points of view — similar to the technique of modern cinema.' The production by the KNB marks the first time a full-length version of the ballet will be performed by an Asian company. And its arrival in Korea holds particular significance for Kang. ''The Lady of the Camellias' is very special to me. It expresses love, sacrifice and the deep emotions of human nature through the language of ballet,' she said. 'I have truly loved this work, and as artistic director, I have poured my heart into bringing it to the (Korean) stage. I am happy to pass on this ballet, which I have cherished, to the next generation of dancers.' A former principal dancer with the Stuttgart Ballet, Kang has long been immersed in Neumeier's world. During a rehearsal, she stepped in to demonstrate scenes alongside her longtime stage partner Marijn Rademaker. 'During this process, I was surprised to find that the movements and emotions of this piece are still alive in my body, my mind and my heart,' she said. 'It felt as if the moments I once danced on stage were returning to life.' Neumeier praised the commitment of Kang and her company. 'The Korean National Ballet has given complete cooperation, complete understanding and complete desire to realize this work as the best it can be,' he said. His collaboration with the company began last year with 'The Little Mermaid.' That earlier experience, he said, was essential groundwork, because this ballet not only depends on the two main characters but rather on a balance between all of the 10 characters of the piece — all of whom must be technically and emotionally on the same level. 'It was important for me, in working with the Korean National Ballet, to have an experience before 'The Lady of the Camellias.' So that I would be able to know this company better, be able to judge a balance within a cast.' Each rehearsal, for him, is a process of discovery. 'I always find something new — some detail, some truth — which I try to give to the dancers,' he said. 'I am alive, which means every hour, every minute I work with dancers, I discover new truths. I couldn't possibly explain them all to you. There's nothing extraordinary about it, but for me, dance is the living shape of emotion. There is a constant sense of learning and discovering.'
Khaleej Times
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Watch: International stars bring mesmerising ballet show to Abu Dhabi stage
Abu Dhabi will witness a rare blend of classical tradition and contemporary expression as the All-Star Ballet Gala takes the stage at New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD). Organised by the Abu Dhabi Festival, the performance brings together principal dancers from the world's top companies in a curated programme that traces ballet's evolution from the 19th century to today. The gala's artistic director, Tomas Jaksic-Begdorf, said the performance aims to showcase the depth and breadth of ballet's history while making it resonate with modern audiences. This was the first gala they have organised for the Abu Dhabi Festival, following previous concerts they had put together. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. 'The programme represents different styles and traditions in ballet - from iconic classical works like Swan Lake and Giselle, to contemporary pieces by choreographers like Christopher Wheeldon and Marco Goecke,' said Jaksic-Begdorf, who is also managing director of London-based TYB Arts. While Jaksic-Begdorf has previously brought classical music performances to the Middle East, this marks his first dance production in the region. He described Abu Dhabi as an ideal location to host such a cultural exchange as it hosts a diverse audience, hoping to eventually collaborate with dancers from the region for future performances. Meet the stars Among the headlining performers on Tuesday night is Paris Opera Ballet étoile Leonore Baulac, who will perform extracts from 'Giselle' and Balanchine's 'Who Cares?' alongside her partner Mathieu Ganio. 'For me, ballet is part of French identity,' she said. 'It's deeply rooted in our history — King Louis XIV founded the first ballet academy, and our opera house, Palais Garnier, is a cultural monument.' Baulac, who has danced professionally for 16 years, said performing in Abu Dhabi is a new experience: 'We usually perform in countries where ballet is already very well established. Here, we're speaking to new audiences and that's exciting.' She expects the performance to transport viewers into another world; 'like when you read a really good book. I want them to be absorbed by the story, especially in Giselle, which is such a beautiful and emotional ballet.' Spanish dancer Martí Paixá, a principal with Stuttgart Ballet, is also part of the gala. He will perform three works, including 'Onegin' – a ballet he says holds special meaning for him. 'It was created by John Cranko, the founder of of Stuttgart Ballet, and it was created in the studios we work at. So for us, it's always very special to dance it somewhere else in the world because we feel we bring the history of our theatre abroad.' Watch part of their performance, below: He described it as 'a precious ballet' because it's very well understood despite not containing any words. 'It's very well understood everywhere in the world,' he added. 'It challenges you technically but also artistically every time you perform it because it's very dramatic. And I love to perform ballets that have a historical background. Paixá, 30, began dancing since he was a child, eventually training professionally in Germany. He said he fell in love with movement through music and was accepted into the Hamburg Ballet School as a teenager, setting him on the path to an international career. 'I started when I was four as a hobby, I went to see a performance and I really liked it, so I asked my parents if I could do it, and they were always very supportive,' he explained. 'At ten I decided to do it more professionally. I started going to a professional school and after that I joined the John Cranko School in Stuttgart through a scholarship from a competition. I graduated in 2014 there and they offered me right away a contract in Stuttgart.' Baulac also began dancing at a young age, drawn to ballet not only for its physical discipline but also for its emotional depth and quickly advanced through France's prestigious national conservatories. 'I started ballet classes when I was four mostly because my mom signed me up and I don't really know if I expressed the will to dance at that age,' recalled the 34-year-old. 'I just know that I was full of energy which had to be expressed somehow. But I do remember putting on some classical music in my living room when I was around seven or eight and dancing to it; I think I was attracted to classical music and to expressing to that music.' Challenges and aspirations Jaksic-Begdorf noted the complexities of coordinating such a global lineup. 'You're working with top dancers from Paris, London, Stuttgart, Munich —all very busy, all performing weekly,' he said. 'Injuries, scheduling — it's a challenge. But when it all comes together on stage, it's magic.' Despite the logistical hurdles, he said the dancers are thrilled to be in Abu Dhabi. 'The welcome has been incredible. The weather, the theatre, the hospitality — it's all perfect. Everyone's excited to perform. As for what audiences can expect, he said: 'You'll feel joy, sorrow, excitement. And you'll see the world's finest techniques — French, Russian, British — all on one stage.'
Al Etihad
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Al Etihad
Dance the night away at All-Star Ballet Gala
22 Apr 2025 09:00 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)Ballet fans, pirouette your way to the All-Star Ballet Gala, being staged at the Red Theater, The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi, on Tuesday, April 22, at 7.30pmThe dazzling production featuring some of the world's most celebrated dancers, is being presented by the Abu Dhabi Festival. Representing prestigious ballet companies from around the world, including the Royal Ballet, Bayerisches Staatsballett, and Stuttgart Ballet, these accomplished artists will captivate audiences with their artistry and technical mastery. The programme covers a stunning mix of iconic classical repertoire and contemporary masterpieces, including: Spring Waters; Diamonds (from Jewels); Cinderella Act Two pas de deux; Nachtmerrie (Nightmare); Giselle Act Two pas de deux; Onegin Act One Mirror pas de deux; Swan Lake Black Swan pas de deux; The Man I Love from Who Cares?; and Don Quixote Act Three, Grand pas de deux. Highlights include performances by Jinhao Zhang and Madison Young of Bayerisches Staatsballett (both Prix de Lausanne winners), Stuttgart Ballet's Principal Dancers Martí Paixà and Elisa Badenes (Youth America Grand Prix), and, from the Royal Ballet, Principal Dancer Ryoichi Hirano (Prix de Lausanne) and First Soloist Melissa Hamilton (Youth America Grand Prix).
Korea Herald
18-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Neumeier's 'Lady of the Camellias' to make Seoul premiere with Korean National Ballet
Drama ballet that earned Kang Sue-jin's Benois de la Danse arrives in May The Korean National Ballet will present the Korean premiere of John Neumeier's dramatic ballet "Lady of the Camellias" at the Seoul Arts Center's Opera House from May 7 to 11. "Lady of the Camellias" is Neumeier's adaptation of Alexandre Dumas fils' 1848 novel of the same title. The ballet, which follows the tragic love story of Marguerite Gautier, a Parisian courtesan stricken with tuberculosis, and Armand Duval, a young bourgeois, was first performed by the Stuttgart Ballet in 1978. Known for its poignant portrayal of love and fate, this masterpiece holds special significance for KNB's artistic director Kang Sue-jin. During her career as a dancer with the Stuttgart Ballet, Kang's performance in "Lady of the Camellias" earned her the prestigious Benois de la Danse award in 1999, making her the first Asian recipient of the honor. A distinctive feature of the ballet is its live piano accompaniment on stage, with a score centered around Frederic Chopin's music. The production includes an array of Chopin's evocative and romantic compositions, such as nocturnes, ballads, mazurkas and polonaises, with his piano concertos heightening key emotional moments. One of the ballet's most iconic elements is the three pas de deux between Marguerite and Armand, each symbolizing a different stage of their relationship. The color of Marguerite's dress in each duet reflects the development of their love story. The purple pas de deux, set to Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2, captures the moment Marguerite and Armand first fall in love. The white pas de deux, performed to Piano Sonata No. 3 (Largo), portrays their passionate and joyous love. The black pas de deux, set to Ballade No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 23, conveys the intensity of their reunion after separation, portraying emotions of love, betrayal and misunderstanding through dramatic choreography. "Lady of the Camellias" marks KNB's second collaboration with Neumeier, following last year's production of "The Little Mermaid." The company credits Kang's deep understanding of Neumeier's choreographic style — gained from her time at the Stuttgart Ballet — as instrumental in preparing for this production. Neumeier himself will visit Korea twice to oversee casting and personally guide the dancers. The Korean National Ballet will also bring back Neumeier's "The Little Mermaid" for a second run in August.
