How dancers motivate themselves in the time of covid-19.
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.
Statement of Ksenia Ovsyanick, principal BALLERINA with StaatsballetT Berlin
„I found that the biggest shock for me was that suddenly for us as artists the ground was taken out of under our feet. Without being able to perform we can not share our work, we can not inspire with our work the way we normally do anymore. And that desire to stay creative and relevant was my main motivation to look for all the new ways I could still be an artist. I jumped into every project I could think of.
Long winter nights and lockdown are the perfect excuses to binge on some addictive TV. And for all dance lovers, Netflix’s new drama ‚Tiny Pretty Things‘ is just the treat we’ve all been waiting for! This new 10 episode drama depicts the daily life of ballet students at an elite ballet academy in Chicago and is based on the book series of the same name, by Sona Charaipotra and Dhonielle Clayton.
Thanks to all these amazing people I’ve met in the ballet world. It’s such a pleasure to get insights of this hidden world. I want to show you how grateful I really am for all love and support.
I want to thank all ballet lovers who shared my passion of ballet and dance. I have always loved to hear from you. You inspire me!
32 premier ballerinas from 22 dance companies in 14 countries perform Le Cygne (The Swan) variation sequentially with music by Camille Saint-Saëns, performed by cellist Wade Davis, in support of Swans for Relief. Organized by Misty Copeland and Joseph Phillips, 100% of the funds raised will be distributed to each dancer’s company’s COVID-19 relief fund, or other arts/dance-based relief fund in the event that a company is not set up to receive donations.
Watching the Nutcracker on Christmas Day is my holiday tradition since years. Numerous ballet companies around the world offer this famous Christmas ballet now online or on Demand. In times of Covid I can’t see The NUTCRACKER live on stage. There are so many beautiful choreographies available, next to the original by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, done in 1892. My favourite interpretations are by George Balanchine, Peter Wright and Christian Spuck.
In Form von videogestützten Interviews berichtet die Tanzkritikerin und Balletthistorikerin Ursula Pellaton über ihre Berufserfahrungen sowie über die Entwicklung des Tanzes im 20. Jahrhundert in der Schweiz. Die Tanzwissenschaftlerin und Spezialistin für Oral History Julia Wehren fasste die persönlichen Erzählungen und Erinnerungen der Zeitzeugin in vier Kapiteln zusammen. Dieses Buch beschreibt einzigartig, den Schweizer Weg zwischen Tradition und Vielfalt in der Tanzgeschichte.
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.
Rainer Krenstetter, principal with the Miami City Ballet since 2014
I will never forget Rainer’s character in THE RING in 2007, where he interpreted uniquely and impressingly the LOGE, the storyteller in Maurice Béjart’s outstanding choreography. And there are so many gorgeous performances I’ve seen from Rainer that still stick with me today.
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.„
