A Gala of Bournonville Heritage and Premieres
Star dancers from the Royal Danish Ballet are returning to Shanghai after 10 years, presenting three gala performances at the Oriental Art Center in July.
Founded in 1748, the Royal Danish Ballet is one of the world's oldest ballet companies. The 19th-century ballet master August Bournonville established the Danish School when leading the company, which is known for its exquisite pointe technique and rigorous training standards.
The Danish School places the most demanding emphasis on the training of the dancers' lower legs. With its delicate, light footwork and jumps, combined with swift, compact beats of the legs in the air, dancers of this school are often praised as "truly dancing on pointe."
The Royal Danish Ballet has also drawn on the literary traits of Nordic culture and the dramatic elements of mime performance to forge its own distinctive style.
In 2016, the Royal Danish Ballet performed two classics, "Napoli" and "La Sylphide," at the Shanghai Oriental Art Center. Returning to Shanghai after a decade, its three gala performances will bring together excerpts from Danish School classics and contemporary avant-garde works, spanning the Romantic, Classical, Neo-Classical, and Modern ballet eras.
The cast includes ten star dancers like Ida Praetorius, Jonathan Chmelensky, Alban Lendorf, Wilma Giglio, and Silvia Selvini.
The program features highlights from renowned works such as "La Sylphide," "Napoli," "A Folk Tale" and "Flower Festival in Genzano," as well as excerpts from the company's recent critically acclaimed new productions "Blixen" and "The Great Gatsby" – both of which will have their Chinese premieres.
Also making its first appearance before Chinese audiences will be the pas de trois from "Le Conservatoire," a dramatic piece created by Bournonville for the Royal Danish Ballet in 1849.
Performance info
Date: July 17-18, 7:15pm; July 19, 2pm
Tickets: 180-880 yuan
Venue: Shanghai Oriental Art Center 上海东方艺术中心
Address: 425 Dingxiang Rd 丁香路425号
