April 2006
Give Dance a Chance
Munich's annual ballet festival has something for everyone
Take one world-renowned ballet company, eight evenings of dazzling dance performances and a range of creations from over ten choreographers and you have one succulent recipe for the Bayerisches Staatsballett Ballettwoche 2006. What began in the 1960s as a showcase of the Munich-based company’s colorful repertoire has blossomed into the week-long festival, which is celebrated this year from April 17 to 24.
Under the direction of Ivan Liska, the Bayerisches Staatsballett is distinguished by their versatility in performing classical ballet and contemporary choreography. They describe themselves as “not just a place for avant-garde, daring experiments but also a company with the most complete presentation of classics from the 19th and 20th centuries.” Ballettwoche 2006 displays such multifaceted brilliance with six diverse programs and the international Terpsichore VI Gala for added luster. Whether you are a self-professed balletomane or a first-time attendee, Ballettwoche 2006 has something for you.
The festival opens on April 17 with a program of three premieres, by contemporary choreographers Michael Simon, Jacopo Godani and Davide Bombana. Michael Simon doubles as choreographer and the mastermind behind an overall visual concept that connects the three shows. With experience in directing, set design and lighting, Simon integrates multimedia experimentation into choreography with his premiere,
In the County of Lost Things. Italian Jacopo Godani also wears multiple hats, taking on the roles of choreographer, composer, costume designer and light designer for his work,
EleMental. Now a household name among European choreographers, Godani has also choreographed for Ballet Monte Carlo and Netherlands Dance Theater II. Returning to the Staatsballett after his previous roles as dancer in the company, Davide Bombana then invites dancers to enjoy a special blend in his new work,
Century Rolls. New Zealander and principal ballerina Lisa-Maree Cullum describes his choreography as neoclassical with an individual flair. Says Cullum, “His style is abstract, energetic and demanding. He uses classical lines but with a Bombana twist.”
On April 19, American William Forsythe, one of the most prominent choreographers of our time, revives
Limb’s Theorem. Oozing with futuristic virtuosity,
Limb’s Theorem uses arithmetic and geometry to explore fascinating extremes and subtleties of the human body. Michael Simon also contributes to the performance as the set designer of a looming, on-stage construction that visually addresses issues of audience perspective, shape and space. Accompanied by Thom Willem’s electronic score, performers reveal and contribute their own voice through movement. Having worked with Forsythe previously, Cullum admits that
Limb’s Theorem required a distinctly different rehearsal process. She had to “dig a little bit deeper” to achieve the physical expression and specific style of the piece. The feeling is one with which soloist Ryan Ocampo can well identify. “I put so much of myself into that role,” he says. “It’s one piece in which I really feel at home on stage.”
With no shortage of gloss, glamour and romance, Ballettwoche also includes performances of
Romeo and Juliet,
Raymonda and
La Bayadere. On April 20, John Cranko’s
Romeo and Juliet brings passionate dancing and Prokofiev’s celestial orchestration to Shakespeare’s celebrated tragedy. Indeed, the company’s original production of
Romeo and Juliet has remained beloved and unchanged since 1969, when Cranko was artistic director of the Staatsballett. Special guest and former Staatsballett ballerina Maria Eichwald returns in the role of Juliet, alongside Alan Bottaini, who portrays Romeo.
Experience the romantic and classical eras of ballet with
Raymonda on April 22 and
La Bayadere on April 24. Both ballet evenings continue to please audiences with their lavish colors and refined elegance.
A newer addition to the company’s repertoire,
Die silberne Rose, will be performed on April 23. Based on Austrian poet, playwright and essayist Hugo von Hofmannsthal’s
Rosenkavalier, this entertaining production chronicles the scandalous antics of upper-class society. The core production team is made up exclusively of Australians: composer Carl Vine, choreographer and Sydney Dance Company director Graeme Murphy and set designer Roger Kirk.
On April 21, the red carpet will be rolled out for the star-studded Terpsichore Gala VI, featuring ballet royalty from St. Petersburg’s Mariinsky Theater, London’s Royal Ballet, the Stuttgart Ballet and Munich’s very own Bayerisches Staatsballett. Virtuosos such as Igor Zelensky and Uljana Lopatkina provide a taste of talent from around the world and a sampling of choreography from such greats as George Balanchine, Frederick Ashton and Roland Petit.
In discussing the audience diversity of Ballettwoche, Ryan Ocampo reveals his desire to bring fine arts to the masses: “It would be nice for the general public to enjoy going to the ballet like they enjoy going to the movies.” Ballettwoche 2006 is the perfect opportunity to do just that. Ranging from the traditional to the groundbreaking, from international to homegrown, the festival promises brilliant performances sure to outshine any cinema program.
