Eva Kistrup

In Danish terms redundancy means leaving your job either as being layoff or making an agreement to leave. Layoff is being fired without any degree of voluntarity. The way the dancer are employeed direct that if a dancer accept to leave the post by their own action they will not get the full pension. They have to be in the position of saying I did not agree to leave. That is why the management must fire them whereas the opera singers can negosiate a retirement package

In Denmark labour cost are one of the highest costs in any enterprise. As we have to pay very high taxes the basic wages are higher than in most other countries. Comparing the ballet company with peer companies, the Danish dancers are paid a higher basic wage and is paid 365 days a year. The theatre also covers some of their pension pays. As the budget cuts have gone on for years, most other area have already been hit. The credit crunch had made more difficult to sell tickets and the theathre is hard hit by the costs of running the new opera and drama house. When the opera was given by a big sponsor to the theathre management did not really wanted the gift as it came with no money to run it. The state tthen provided some money, but not enough to cover the cost and what money was given has since been cut. As it is the company has two larges stages but only one orchestra. If a ballet and opera should play the same night, they have to hire a second orchestra for one of the two performances. It makes it difficult and expensive to for instance do more performances of a popular programme and it makes it difficult to really use the artistic assets. As the theatre like any opera house loose money everytime they perform, the cure so far has been to cut number of performance, but that makes each performance more costly as most of the employes are contracted for almost life. A statistic was publish last week that showed that the ten most expensive productions was 7 operas, 1 musical and 2 ballets. The Opera beeing much more expensive than ballet. The two ballets were Romeo & Juliet and The Ballerina program. WHy were they so expensive. R+J was a rerun, but it include many extras, has a complicated decor and I suspect that the cost of hiring an extra orchestra hits hard. The Ballerina programme is a fairly cheap programme, but as it only had six performances the cost for each performance is high. What can be done? Looking at Sweden and Norway, their national theatres are cheaper to run but has more performance. They have split into independent drama and Opera/ballet houses. I cannot see how that split can make it cheaper, but as it works in the other countries that could be a solution. Another solution could be to merge the orchestra and choir with the othe national orchestra and choir. That is the model in Austria where Wienna Philhamonics has more members than an ordinary orchestra but do the concert scheduke and cater for the operas needs. As long as the orchestra is not pplaying Mahler and the Opera Wagner on the same night that would work and save money.

Hübbe is part of the tradition and the school, which has produced most of the Ballet Master of the company. He is placed as the keeper of the tradition (and a the developer of it) a post also occupied by Balanchine for one season long ago

and here http://www.niuzer.com/Culture-Arts/Dance-review-Royal-Danish-Ballet-performs-a-revamped-updated-Napoli-at-Segerstrom-Center-for-the-Arts-5015710.html In both review I recogniced the production and I also find that the reviewers have a good understanding of why Hübbe wanted to update Napoli. As Lewis Seagal writes the new production does not eclipse the traditional staging (which we will likely see again in a few seasons) but it has helped the younger company to claim Bournonville as a "new" choreographer

There are two rather positive reviews: First http://www.ocregister.com/entertainment/hübbe-302412-gennaro-teresina.html

one more review: http://www.seedance.com/article/royal-danish-ballet.html

From the description I am certain it was Thomas Lund as the stand out in "Earth". Sorry about the tame "Variations" It is normally a marvel. My key worry about the tour is that there is so many great performances left at home for various reasons. Cannot bring Balanchine to New York. Neumeier has no appeal to US audience and the biggest obstacle. For all the good H¨bbe has done as Ballet Master, there has not been many outstanding pieces of new choreography made on the company the last 20 years.

And from LA Times by Lewis Seagal a more positive review http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2011/05/dance-review-royal-danish-ballet-opens-at-segerstrom-center-for-the-arts.html

Another review here http://www.ocregister.com/entertainment/-301911--.html No metion of Lendorf (Le Lutins was danced by Bojesen, Kupinsky and Matiakis), why not firsts cast Lendorf?

Well there is also the argument that they are the better cast!

The RDB has a strong Balanchine tradition in their own right and these works are parts of it. We have had Apollon since 1930. The 2010-11 season only include Serenade as part of an outreach programme. The season before had Symphony in C and Serenade. This is certainly not overfeeding, as if one could get too much Balanchine. Re. the Nutcracker, If you have seen the last two RDB versions you would not critisise Hübbe for bringing on the best Nutcracker available. Hübbe like every other ballet master is struggling to find good new choreography. Until more good choreographers emerges I certainly prefare to see good choreography rather than the low quality works avaliable. Re. the NYCB link I applaud Hübbe for bringing more Robbins to RDB, as Robbins style rally suits the company.

Visit David Amzallags Blueballet page on facebook and see some outstanding photoes from 2 act. Unfortunately the costumes dos not register as well from the auditorium

On Saturday television channel DK4 will air a programme on Alban Lendorf. The programme will include an interview with Adam Lüders and a segment with Albans violinist brother

It is actually a very correct account!!

What a pair of 80ties boys!