As we all know a lot of rehearsals are needed before the ballet dancers are ready to perform on stage. Usually it takes weeks before the opening night.
Applying corrections and giving feedback is the task of the ballet master. He is a guide for the dancers to develop technically and artistically. Some critiques can be fixed immediately, but most take time, concentration, and hard work to improve and achieve perfection.
Ballet Zurich shows us at the opening party „everybody dances“ last weekend how all ballet dancers start with exercises in the morning. That is their workout every single day – 6 days a week -to warm up to get ready for a day of rehearsals.
The morning class starts at 10 am and takes 75 minutes. It has 2 parts:
1.Warm up at the barre, exercise and stretch, doing plies, tendus, etc strengthening all parts of the body, getting the flexibility and coordination.
This session is led by ballet master Jean-François Boisnon, the live piano accompaniment is by Christophe Barwinek. Dramarurge Michael Küster and Ballet Master Daniel Otevrel are talking about what is going on.
Weiterlesen „Insights: How do Ballet Dancers start the Day?“4 beautiful Masterpieces of Jiří Kylián
Jiří Kylián is to one of the world’s most influential choreographer. In 2019 Ballet Zurich pays tribute to him presenting 4 masterpieces of his works from the 80s and 90s.
Weiterlesen „Bella Figura at Ballet Zurich“
are without question Li Cunxin and Dominik Slavkovský.
Magic happened when Ballet Star Li Cunxin, was lured out of 18 years retirement for a special performance of the NUTCRACKER with the Queensland Ballet. Taking to the stage in Brisbane for one night only, the 56 year old dancer delivered a mesmerizing performance. While Drosselmeyer is predominately a character role, Li incorporated his own choreography – adding pirouettes and jumps to the performance. His twists and turns hinted at his past brilliance.
First of all, congratulations on your nomination as a brilliant Mephisto by Dance Europe!
You have been with the Ballett Zurich for 11 years. What were the most important steps of your career?
The first job which was offered to me after ballet school was a contract with the Junior Ballet in Zurich in 2007. Heinz Spoerli, the ballet director at that time, pushed me quite a lot and gave me some good opportunities and small roles. After 2 years I was offered a position as „Gruppe mit Solo“ in the main company which means being a dancer in the Corps de Ballet of Ballet Zurich with some solo roles. I was very surprised that Heinz Spoerli appreciated me that much.
Weiterlesen „I try to be distinctive and true to myself on stage“
Das erste Ballett von Ballettdirektor Christian Spuck in dieser Saison ist die WINTERREISE – ein Zyklus von 24 schauerlichen Liedern, wie sie Franz Schubert selbst nannte. Es geht um die verlorene Liebe eines jungen Mannes, der durch die düstere Winterlandschaft wandert, um seinen Liebeskummer zu überwinden. Gefühle wie Trauer, Leere, Todessehnsucht, Verzweiflung und Verletztheit sind das Thema der Lieder. „Mein Herz ist wie erfroren, Kalt starrt ihr Bild darin: Schmilzt je das Herz mir wieder, fliesse auch ihr Bild dahin.“
Why do we need Movement Notation?
Similar to music, dance needs to be written down, but unlike music, dance is a fleeting art. It has taken until the 20th century to find a tool to record dance notations and preserve these choreographies. It was Rudolf Benesh who created a tool for human movement notations in 1955 and defined choreology as „The aesthetic and scientific study of all forms of human movement by movement notation“.
