Autor: ballettlovers

I danced ballet as child, albeit with little success. Despite this, my passion for ballet and dance has carried into adulthood. I still love to watch ballet performances and would love to share my passion with you.

My mind is buzzing with ideas

How Dancers motivate themselves

I’m creating a small series for my blog to give my favourite dancers the opportunity to talk about their experiences, motivation and daily routines nowadays. As you all know, it must be so tough for dancers to train hard every single day in isolation and stay in top shape, not knowing when the next performance is going to be.

Daniel Mulligan

When thinking about Daniel Mulligan, it’s plain to see what makes him so brilliant on stage. A good dancer excels technically and executes the choreography perfectly. But Daniel goes way further, fully emotionally investing in his roles to bring his characters alive. A soloist with the Ballet Zurich since 2009, Daniel has transfixed audiences with an array of characters – including his witty “Mercutio’ and his evil ‘Mephisto’.

Daniel Mulligan at home

STATEMENT OF DANIEL MULLIGAN

„The global pandemic has really affected the arts and dance world in an extreme way. Here in Switzerland we were locked down from mid March until the beginning of June and then the company had to go into quarantine for 12 days in October because we had some cases that unfortunately hit my colleagues and friends in Ballett Zürich. Now, once again, the performances have been postponed or reshuffled which has a huge impact on everyone involved in the theatre, not least the dancers who are missing out on important new experiences and learning opportunities. Staying motivated during this period is challenging, personally I’ve only done 5 performances in the whole of 2020 because I was also injured before the pandemic began! But I’ve managed to find a rhythm of fitness and workouts in the gym which help keep my mind and body in shape. I’ve also taken the opportunity to enjoy my free time and indulge in some of the things that I often don’t find time for, like browsing the 2nd hand furniture stores known as “Brockenhäuser”, checking out the flea markets and playing some guitar at home. My mind is buzzing with ideas now I have more time and I’d like to try some “Popping” classes and I’ve also been involved in a couple of projects outside of the theatre which I’ve found liberating. Life goes on and I’ve managed to stay positive because I love living here and I feel privileged to earn an almost fully protected salary although we can only work at 50% capacity. My heart goes out to all the freelance artists out there who have been hit very hard by the pandemic.„

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DANCING OUR KITCHENS WAS FUN – UNTIL IT BECAME THE NEW NORMAL.

How Dancers Motivate Themselves

I’m creating a small series for my blog to give my favourite dancers the opportunity to talk about their experiences, motivation and daily routines nowadays. As you all know, it must be so tough for dancers to train hard every single day in isolation and stay in top shape, not knowing when the next performance is going to be.
When you consider the short life span of the typical career of a professional dancer, it has been a waste of time. A typical career spans just 15 years within the dancer’s prime, usually from age 19-34, and that’s assuming there are no serious injuries or other health problems along the way.

Statement of Lou Spichtig

Let’s start with Lou Spichtig, a Swiss dancer being a member of the Queensland Ballet company in Brisbane since 2016.

„Dancing our kitchens was fun – until it became the new normal. 
In my case, my balcony became my ballet studio, my living room my gym & class taught through Zoom, a daily routine. From day 1 of isolation, Queensland Ballet made sure we were well taken care of – from portable ballet barres delivered to our door, squares of marley flooring cut to fit our living space, workout programmes and check-ins provided by our health teams and most importantly, ensuring all dancers remained connected, despite being apart. I’ve never felt more fortunate to live so far removed from the rest of the world, in Queensland, where we were able to return to both the studio and the stage far sooner than the rest of the world, in these unusual times.“

Weiterlesen „DANCING OUR KITCHENS WAS FUN – UNTIL IT BECAME THE NEW NORMAL.“

Stunning Ballet Paintings

by South African Artist Claire Linder

Based in Switzerland, I’ve known Claire for more than 10 years. I always admired her paintings and even own one myself. Take a look and be inspired by glimpse in time which captures the dynamic movement typical of ballet. If you enjoy them, they are currently available for sale.

Prices

If you are interested to buy them, please let me know.

  Image size                          Frame size             Price  CHF

Movement 1           46 x 60 cm                     62 x 75 cm  (white metal and  white passepartout)                                                           450.00                                                    
Movement 2          46 x 60 cm                    62 x 75 cm 450.00
Movement 3          44 x 30 cm                     45 x 60 cm  200.00
Movement 4          54. x 40.5 cm                56 x 70 cm    300.00
Movement 5          54. x 40.5 cm                 56 x 70 cm    300.00
Movement 6          46 x 60 cm                     62 x 75 cm    500.00
Movement 7           46 x 60 cm                     62 x 75 cm    500.00
Movement 8           60 x 100 cm 60 x 100 cm  (white wood)  600.00 

More about Claire Linder

http://clairelinder.ch/

BIOGRAPHY

Born in 1954, South Africa.

EDUCATION
  • Bachelor of Arts, University Natal, Pietermaritzburg.
  • Classes for botanical illustration from Katie Lee (USA) and Jenny Philipps (Aus)
PROFESSION
  • 1977 – 1979 Freelance illustrator
  • 1980 – 1981 Artist at the national Botanic Gardens, Pretoria, South Africa.
  • 1982 – 1985 Freelance artist at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London, England.
  • 1986 – 2004 Freelance illustrator in South Africa and Zürich.
  • 2019 Member of SGBK – Schweizerische Gesellschaft Bildender Künstlerinnen
AWARDS
  • Winner of the Royal Horticultural Society gold medallion 1985
  • Winner of the Botanical Artists Association silver medallion 1995
  • Founding member of BAASA (Botanical Artists’ Association of South Africa)
PUBLICATIONS
  • Curtis’s Botanical Magazine (UK)
  • Flowering Plants of Africa (SA)
  • Veld and Flora (SA)
  • P Linder and H Kurzweil, Orchids of Southern Africa
  • Du Puy and Cribb, The Genus Cymbidium (UK)
  • Various scientific journals

Wieder alles abgesagt!

Wie das Staatsballett Berlin Corona trotzte

Das Staatsballett Berlin blieb dank eines effektiven Sicherheits- und Hygienekonzeptes spielfähig bis der 2. Lookdown in Deutschland kam. Die 91 Tänzer*innen arbeiteten davor in separierten Trainingsgruppen, eingeteilt nach den Produktionen, in denen sie auftreten. Sobald ein Ensemblemitglied positiv auf Covid 19 getestet wird, kann diese Trainingsgruppe sofort isoliert und untersucht werden. Für November mussten alle Vorstellungen abgesagt werden.

Alle hoffen, dass ab 5. Dezember der Betrieb mit dem Ballettklassiker GISELLE wieder aufgenommen werden kann.

https://www.staatsballett-berlin.de/en/spielplan/5-11-2020/kalender

Mehr über das Staatsballett in der Corona-Krise im Video. Hingabe, Disziplin und Weitertrainieren – das ist und bleibt die Devise des Staatsballetts!

Beitragsfoto Iana Salenko und Daniil Simkin in GISELLE ©Yan Revazov

#WorldBalletDay on 29 Oct 2020

A Must For all Ballet- and Dancelovers!!!

What a great program and variety!

Visit worldballetday.com or join the Facebook event to stay up to date with news and announcements, and to join us LIVE.

Add Your Own Touch and Live That Story

Interview with Michelle Willems on her career at Ballet Zurich 

You danced the main roles in Nutcracker and the Mouseking, the little Match girl and Sleeping beauty. The characters are totally different. Could you tell us about the challenges of each ballet?

Nutcracker was my fist big role at the Ballet Zurich. I was lucky to get this opportunity and didn’t want to disappoint. I enjoyed it very much to play a little girl. 

Ballett Zürich – Nussknacker und Mausekönig – 2017/18 © Gregory Batardon
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HOMMAGE AN DEN LEGENDÄREN CHOREOGRAFEN UND TÄNZER – 3D Dokumentarfilm „CUNNINGHAM“

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Van Gogh ALIVE

Multimedia Spektakel Back in Zürich

Absolut sehenswert ist diese einzigartige Multimedia-Ausstellung, in der die Bilder von Van Gogh zum Leben erweckt werden. Durch Projektionen und Musik wird den Besuchern die Entwicklung des Malers und seiner Maltechnik während der Jahre 18980 bis 1890 entlang seiner Stationen in den Niederlanden, in Paris, Arles und Saint-Rémy bis zu seinem tragischen Ende in geistiger Verwirrung in Auvers-sur-Oise näher gebracht. Nach dem grossen Erfolg im Frühjahr 2020 kommt die Ausstellung ab 16. Oktober bis zum 30. Dezember 2020 zurück in die MAAG Halle in Zürich.

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Wer hat Dornröschen wach geküsst?

BALLETT ZÜRICH STARTET DIE SAISON LIVE MIT DEM GANZEN ENSEMBLE

Premiere Dornröschen Opernhaus Zürich vom 10.10.2020

Ballettdirektor Christian Spuck eröffnet die Saison mit einer eigenen Version vom Ballettklassiker DORNRÖSCHEN. Der Charakter der Carabosse rückt mehr in den Mittelpunkt – ursprünglich die böse Fee, die aus Rache Dornröschen verflucht, weil sie nicht zur Tauffeier einladen wurde. Spuck fügt einen Prolog im Feenreich hinzu. Jeder Säugling ist einer Fee anvertraut, bevor er den Menschen übergeben wird. Das kinderlose Königspaar kidnappt ausgerechnet das Mädchen der Fee Carabosse (William Moore). Und somit nimmt die Geschichte seinen Lauf….

Weiterlesen „Wer hat Dornröschen wach geküsst?“

Faszination Tutanchamun

SEIN GRAB UND DIE SCHÄTZE: AUSSTELLUNG IN DER HALLE 622 IN ZÜRICH-OERLIKON NOCH BIS 8. NOVEMBER

Diese Ausstellung zeigt das Grab des Pharaos so, wie Howard Carter es 1922 entdeckt hat – eine der spektakulärsten Ausgrabungen der ägyptischen Geschichte. 3300 Jahren blieb die Grabkammer unentdeckt. Als Tutanchamun 1323 v. Chr. als 19 Jähriger starb, wurde seine letzte Grabstätte mit allem ausgestattet, was er für das Leben im Jenseits brauchen würde. Die jahrtausendalten Schätze wurden für die internationale Wanderausstellung original als Nachbauten rekonstruiert. 6.5 Millionen Besucher weltweit bestätigen den grosser Erfolg.

Absolut sehenswert ist die weltberühmte goldene Totenmaske, die den Kopf, Hals und Schultern der Mumie bedeckt und schützt. Darüber liegen ineinander verschachtelt wie bei einer Babuschka-Puppe die einzelnen Schichten des Sarges – zuerst ein 110 kg schwerer goldener Sarkophag, drei wunderbar verzierte Särge und als weiterer Schutz 4 vergoldete Holzschreine. Auch zu bestaunen sind ein kompletter Streitwagen, 2 lebensgrosse Wächterstatuen sowie viele kostbare Grabbeilagen wie Möbelstücke, Waffen, Goldschmuck, Musikinstrumente und sogar Kosmetik.

Weiterlesen „Faszination Tutanchamun“