The Dresden SemperOper Ballett programme for next season was announced on March 6, 2007 at a press conference held in the round foyer of the Dresden Semperoper. It will be director Aaron S. Watkin's second season and the programming reflects his artistic vision that he is building for the future of the company.

In order of appearance, with dates for the opening night of each programme given:


7 - 29 September 2007
WIEDERGEBURT UND AUFERSTEHUNG - REBIRTH AND RENAISSANCE
(A repeat of the triple bill which had its premiere on 12 November 2006)

Theme and Variations
Choreography: George Balanchine
Music: Peter I. Tchaikovsky
Staged by: Patricia Neary
Set design: Aaron S. Watkin, Arne Walther
Lighting design: Jan Seeger
Costume design: Frauke Schernau

Enemy in the Figure
Choreography, set, costume and lighting design: William Forsythe
Music: Thom Willems
Staged by: Ana Catalina-Roman, Alan Barnes, Ayman Harper, Timothy Couchman

Das Verschwundene | The Disappeared
(World premiered on 12 November 2006)
Choreography: David Dawson
Music: Arvo Pärt
Set design: John Otto
Lighting design: Bert Dalhuysen
Costume design: Yumiko Takeshima
Assistant to the Choreographer: Laura Graham


4 - 13 October 2007
LES BALLETS RUSSES

Chopiniana
Choreography: Mikhail Fokine
Production: Yelena Evteeva, Aaron S. Watkin
Music: Frederic Chopin orchestrated by Alexander Glasunov and others
Staged by: Yelena Evteeva
Set design: Arne Walther
Costume design: Frauke Schernau
Lighting design: Jan Seeger

Petrushka
Choreography: Mikhail Fokine
Music: Igor Stravinsky
Choreographic reconstruction: Andris Liepa
Staged by: Andris Leipa, Nina Bortschenko, Igor Pivorovich
Set and costume design: Anna and Anatoly Nezhny based on original drawing by Alexander Benois
Lighting design: Jannis Valle

The Firebird
Choreography: Mikhail Fokine
Music: Igor Stravinsky
Choreographic reconstruction: Andris Liepa
Staged by: Andris Leipa, Nina Bortschenko, Igor Pivorovich
Set and costume design: Anna and Anatoly Nezhny based on original drawing by Alexander Golovin and Leon Bakst
Lighting design: Jannis Valle


11 - 14 November 2007
Premiere Programme
DREAMLANDS

The Second Detail
Choreography, set and lighting design: William Forsythe
Music: Thom Willems
Staged by: Aaron S. Watkin, Laura Graham, Timothy Couchman
Costume design: Yumiko Takeshima
White Dress: Issey Miyake

The Grey Area - German Premiere by Resident Choreographer
Choreography and set design: David Dawson
Music: Niels Lanz
Staged by: Timothy Couchman
Lighting design: Bert Dalhuysen
Costume design: Yumiko Takeshima

No Thumb
(New creation)
Choreography, set, costume and lighting design: Pascal Touzeau
Music: Alfred Schnittke

Empty House
Choreography and set design: Johan Inger
Music: Felix Lajko
Staged by: Carolina Armenta
Lighting design: Erik Berglund
Costume design: Mylla Ek


3 - 30 December 2007
DER NUSSKNACKER - THE NUTCRACKER
A ballet in two acts (three tableau)

Choreography: John Neumeier
Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Staged by: Giselle Roberge
Set and costume design: Jürgen Rose


3 - 19 February, 4 - 14 May 2008
DORNRÖSCHEN - THE SLEEPING BEAUTY
A ballet in three acts, with prologue

Choreography: Aaron S. Watkin after Marius Petipa
Production: Aaron S. Watkin and Francine Watson-Coleman
Music: Peter I. Tchaikovsky
Musical arrangement: David Coleman
Narrative and Action: Francine Watson-Coleman
Set design: Arne Walther
Costume design: Erik Västhed
Lighting design: Jan Seeger


9 March - 3 April 2008
Premiere Programme
GISELLE

A Million Kisses to my Skin - German Premiere by Resident Choreographer
Choreography and set design: David Dawson
Music: J. S. Bach
Staged by: Timothy Couchman
Lighting design: Bert Dalhuysen
Costume design: Yumiko Takeshima

Giselle - World Premiere by Resident Choreographer
A ballet in two acts
Choreography: David Dawson
Music: Adolph Adam
Musical arrangement: David Coleman
Set design: Arne Walther
Lighting design: Bert Dalhuysen
Costume design: Yumiko Takeshima


19 - 25 April, 29 May - 7 June 2008
ZWISCHENLICHT - AFTERLIGHT

Steptext
Choreography, set, costume and lighting design: William Forsythe
Music: J. S. Bach
Staged by: Aaron S. Watkin

Morning Ground - German Premiere by Resident Choreographer
Choreography: David Dawson
Music: Frederic Chopin
Staged by: Alan Barnes
Set design: Georg Reischl
Lighting design: Bert Dalhuysen
Costume design: Yumiko Takeshima

Sinfonietta
Choreography: Jiri Kylian
Music: Leos Janacek
Staged by: Roslyn Anderson
Set and costume design: Walter Nobbe
Lighting design: Kees Tjebbes


14 June - 1 July 2008
DER WIDERSPENSTIGEN ZÄMUNG - THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
A ballet in three acts

Choreography: John Cranko
Music: Domenico Scarlatti
Musical arrangement: Kurt-Heinz Stolze
Staged by: Georgette Tsinguirides
Set and costume design: Roberta Guidi di Bagno

LOTS of interesting programmes - I am seriously tempted to come and see a number of these, especially after Dawson's impressive debut with ENB: "A Million Kisses to my Skin"

The company is without doubt worth watching. There is lots of talent and potential here.. And amazing atmosphere both in studios and everyday life..

Dresden SemperOper Ballett is pleased to announce the following promotions which take effect from the start of the 2007|2008 season.

Olga Melnikova is promoted to Principal from First Soloist
Raphaël Coumes-Marquet is promoted to Principal from First Soloist

Elena Vostrotina is promoted to First Soloist from Second Soloist

Andrea Parkyn is promoted to Second Soloist from Coryphée
Victor Mateos-Arellano is promoted to Second Soloist from Coryphée

Giselle Doepker is promoted to Coryphée from Corps de Ballet
Rebecca Gladstone is promoted to Coryphée from Corps de Ballet
Claudio Cangialosi is promoted to Coryphée from Corps de Ballet
George Hill is promoted to Coryphée from Corps de Ballet
Pavel Moskvito is promoted to Coryphée from Corps de Ballet

Joining the Company as members of the Corps de Ballet at the beginning of the 2007|2008 Season will be:

Chantelle Kerr - from The Sunshine Coast, Australia, she studied with both the Christine Walsh Dance Centre in Melbourne and the Queensland Ballet. In 2003, she joined the Queensland Ballet performing in a variety of both classical contemporary works. Chantelle joined the RNZB in 2004 and has performed a number of featured roles including the Dawn solo in Coppelia where she was praised for her pure unaffected classicism. Chantelle has danced in Kenneth Macmillan’s Concerto, Angie the Bride in The Wedding and in the title role of Giselle. Her duet with Craig Lord in A Million Kisses to My Skin was described as sublime, and her performance as the young nurse “a stunningly beautiful highlight” in The Nutcracker.

Duosi Zhu – was born and got her first dance training in Henan, China, followed later by Beijing Dance Academy (China) and Schweizerische Ballettberufsschule (Switzerland). She danced with Zurich Junior Ballet and in 2003 joined Zurich Ballet where she performed works by Heinz Spoerli together with other choreographies.

Istvan Simon - from Romania, completed his training at Hungarian Dance Art Academy (HDAA) in 1999. He is prize winner of international ballet competitions, like: first prize at III International Ballet Competition in St. Pölten (2002), first prize at I International Ballet Competition in Brno (2003), finalist of Prix de Lausanne Concours International Pour Jeunes Danseurs (2004), grand prix at VIII Internal Competition of HDAA (2005), first prize in male junior category at Helsinki International Ballet Competition (2005), as well as other awards.

Davit Vardanyan - was born in Yerevan, Armenia, and trained with Hovanes Divanyan at National Academy of Ballet. In 2002 he worked at The Armenian National Theatre, but decided to continue his training with Pioter Pestov at John Cranko School in Stuttgart (2003-2005) and with Oliver Matz at Zurich School (Switzerland). In 2005 he was invited to join Ballet Company Schleswig-Holstein Landes Theater (Germany). Performed with Stuttgart Ballet.


Dancers leaving Dresden SemperOper Ballett are:

Principal Dmitry Semionov is going to Berlin to dance with Staatsballett Berlin, continuing however for season 2007|2008 with Dresden SemperOper Ballet as Resident Guest Artist. Second Soloist Raphael Saada, who is returning to Spain to work on several projects of his own and Coryphée Randy Castillo, who will be re-joining La Compania Nacional de Danza (Artistic Director Nacho Duato) in Madrid. Members of the Corps de Ballet Sonoya Mizuno and Pattra Sarikaputra have both stopped dancing to pursue new careers and studies. Olga Shalaevskaya is joining Leipziger Ballett at the start of the season and Pietro Zambello will be working at the newly formed Ballet Company of Angel Corella.

http://www.semperoper.de/en/ballett/welcome.html

Costin Radu has produced new images for the upcoming major ballet event of the 2007|2008 season – Giselle – a full length world premiere from Resident Choreographer David Dawson, who is creating this new work especially for Dresden SemperOper Ballett.

http://www.semperoper.de/en/ballett/pre ... selle.html

Principal casting for the opening programme of the season 2007|2008

Principal Casting for Theme and Variations by George Balanchine

7, 14e September 2007: Takeshima, Bubenicek
14m, 19 September 2007: Sologub, Semionov**
21 September 2007: Heylmann*, Genow*
29 September 2007: Markowskaya, Vallejo*


Principal Casting for Enemy in the Figure by William Forsythe

7, 14e September 2007: Presta, Merkulova, Heylmann, Asami, Parkyn, Martinez, Cangialosi, Hill, Genow, Voranger, Vallejo

14m September 2007: Markowskaya, Presta, Carnicer, Vostrotina, Gladstone, Merkulova, Oratynski, Mateos-Arellano, Kimoto, Coumes-Marquet, Hildebrandt*

19 September 2007: Markowskaya, Presta, Carnicer, Vostrotina, Gladstone, Merkulova, Oratynski, Mateos-Arellano, Kimoto, Coumes-Marquet, Bubenicek

21 September 2007: Presta, Merkulova, Heylmann, Asami, Parkyn, Martinez, Cangialosi, Hill, Genow, Voranger, Bubenicek

29 September 2007: Presta, Merkulova, Heylmann, Asami, Parkyn, Martinez, Cangialosi, Hill, Genow, Voranger, Hildebrandt


Principal Casting for Das Verschwundene | The Disappeared by Resident Choreographer David Dawson

7., 19. September 2007: Takeshima, Parkyn*, Sologub, Carnicer, Juleen, Melnikova*, Coumes-Marquet, Bubenicek, Mateos-Arellano

14.m, 29 September 2007: Sologub*, Melnikova*, Zhu*, Lo Sardo, Presta*, Merkulova*, Hill*, Voranger*, Cangialosi*

14.e, 21 September 2007: Takeshima, Parkyn, Vostrotina, Carnicer, Juleen, Melnikova, Coumes-Marquet, Bubenicek, Mateos-Arellano


* Debut in this role with Dresden SemperOper Ballett in the Semperoper
**Guest Artist

http://www.semperoper.de/en/ballett/rep ... sance.html

Thanks a lot teo!

I'm specially delighted about:

Víctor Mateos-Arellano promotion to Second Soloist.

Randy Castillo, back to the CND in Spain, I assume that it will be to the CND I this time.

Pietro Zambello to join the "Ballet de España" of Ángel Corella.

Principal Casting for Chopiniana by Mikhail Fokine

4, 6 October 2007: Sologub, Coumes-Marquet, Juleen*, Heylmann
8, 12 October 2007: Melnikova, Mateos-Arellano, Carnicer, Parkyn*
10, 13 October 2007: Markowskaya*, Genow*, Kerr*, De Cussac*

Principal Casting for Petruschka by Mikhail Fokine

4, 6 October 2007: Voranger, Markowskaya, Arndt, Mateos-Arellano, Bondarenko**
8 October 2007: Voranger, De Cussac, Arndt, Mateos-Arellano, Bondarenko**
10 October 2007: Hildebrandt*, De Cussac, Klymyuk, Moskvito*, Cangialosi*
12 October 2007: Voranger, Heylmann*, Arndt, Mateos-Arellano, Bondarenko**
13 October 2007: Hildebrandt, Heylmann, Klymyuk, Moskvito, Cangialosi

Principal Casting for The Firebird by Mikhail Fokine

4, 6, 8 October 2007: Melnikova, Klymyuk*, De Cussac, Boermans
10, 12, 13 October 2007: Vostrotina*, Hill*, Parkyn*, Boermans

*Debut in role with Dresden SemperOper Ballett at the Semperoper
**Guest Artist

http://www.semperoper.de/de/ballett/rep ... usses.html

On 1st September Zurich Ballet celebrated its first première of the season in the Zurich Opera House. The mixed bill included the choreography "Le souffle de l'esprit" from Jirí Bubenícek, Principal of Dresden SemperOper Ballet.

The artist, who has been given many awards for his choreography work, introduced himself for the first time in Zurich and, with music from Johann Sebastian Bach and stage design by his brother Otto Bubenícek, he created something which received a great response from both, the public and the press.


The Neue Zürcher Zeitung in its online edition wrote:
Jirí Bubenícek, Principal of the Dresden Semperoper, is introducing himself with "Le souffle de l'esprit" as a choreographer committed to elegance and beauty. (…) Bubenícek’s "Le souffle de l'esprit" captivates with the suppleness of the movements.


The Zürcher Oberländer:
For the piece created specially for Zurich Ballet “Le souffle de l'esprit”, he (the choreographer) was on the one hand inspired by the work of Leonardo da Vinci and on the other hand he dedicated the ballet to his two grandmothers Olga and Maria – “Ballet is woman”. The music follows these wide-reaching guidelines and ranges from Bach to the composition of his twin brother Otto. Da Vinci’s universal visual language, in which the dream of flying, the beauty and charm of humankind is contained along with the destructive power of war machinery, is translated into dance in front of sepia coloured, quietly smiling pictures of the Virgin Mary with a precision beyond comparison, with wit and ironic references to the classic language of ballet. With “Le souffle de l'esprit” Bubenicek has created a ballet which captivates with its power, its soulfulness and its intensity.

Thanks for the reports, Teo, and Jirí Bubenícek seems to have a hit with "Le souffle de l'esprit" - always good to hear about successful new choreographers, especially in ballet.

How was the "Enemy in the Figure" triple received in Dresden?

Dresden SemperOper Ballett Principal was one of the five young choreographers to be chosen for the current autumn session of the annual choreographic workshop at The New York Choreographic Institute which will take place October 1-12, 2007.

During the workshop young choreographers are provided with uninterrupted time and studio space. The Institute allows dancers to experiment with different ideas, approaches, choreographic techniques, and music. They have a chance to work with dancers of New York City Ballet and advanced students from the School of American Ballet.

Yumiko Takeshima and Raphael Coumes-Marquet have just come back from Japan where they performed ‘On the Nature of Daylight’ at the 10th Anniversary of Soki Ballet School Gala.

The newest creation ‘On the Nature of Daylight’ by David Dawson to music by Max Richter will see its world premiere on 1st December - International AIDS Day - at the International Beneficiary Gala in Munich, Germany, especially for which he has choreographed this work.

Dawson made the piece for two Principal dancers of Dresden SemperOper Ballett - Yumiko Takeshima and Raphael Coumes-Marquet - who are his long term collaborators. It occurred that a private dance school where Yumiko Takeshima sometimes teaches during her rare visits to Japan was celebrating its 10th anniversary and the school management invited her to dance at the school performance which took place on 30th September.

David Dawson decided to make a gift to this school and let them first see the newest creation.

In his interview to Senior Editor of Dance Magazine in Tokyo David Dawson talks about his experience on choreographing 'On the Nature of Daylight':

'' 'On the Nature of Daylight' is a work that tries to explore the idea of love as both the ordinary and the extra-ordinary. I first thought about the many possibilities of finding pure love. A task that binds us as human beings, and a search that happens continually around the world on a daily basis. The need to find the 'Other'. I asked myself the question, 'does this happen so easily?', or 'what if I were passing my soul mate right now on my journey home and never even knew about it?’ It was this randomness that intrigued me. The idea of 'chance', or 'luck' at finding the one person in this world who would be meant for me. It seemed to be so ordinary, so simple, yet completely beyond my control. Yet I knew it did happen. I looked around my own reality, and saw evidence of this in all its many forms.

This wonderful emotion was what I had to try and capture, so I started working in the studio with Yumiko and Raphael, both dancers who I have worked with closely for many years, and began to devise a series of scenes that would show this. The first scene depicts two people, separate and alone, experiencing themselves at the same time and in the same way but still differently. Different in time, different in personality. Unaware of what is waiting around the corner for them. They pass or miss each other the first time and this act of missing and passing represents a habit of the unaware. When they meet, it is as if we have 'lost time' and missed the moment of meeting, finding them in a more private yet rapturous moment. A moment where they let go of who they are and show only their essential feelings. Their charisma becoming a kind of magic. Showing us parts or pieces from the puzzle of life. Many still miss these pieces, but theirs making a big part of the painting visible. In the end we find that it does end. One does leave the other and this mystery closes as one is left running backwards and lost in circles serving as a metaphor for the search that continues like the rising of the sun every day, but also of the love lost that remains unforgotten.''

http://www.semperoper.de/en/ballett/det ... 90/42.html

In October issue of Dance Europe (London) dance critics from around the world recall last season's outstanding performances and award their bouquets and daggers. They have their say to the recent development in European dance. In fact, the name of our Resident Choreographer, David Dawson, is one of the most frequently used in relation to its achievements.

Ali Mahbouba – Rotterdam, Dance Europe
Outstanding Male Dancer: Mikel Jauregui (Royal Ballet of Flanders) for his fluid strength and serenity in Dawson’s A Sweet Spell of Oblivion (2.6.07)
Best Classical Premiere: David Dawson’s A Sweet Spell of Oblivion for the Royal Ballet of Flanders was an absolute delight (14.4.07)

Deborah Weiss – London, Dance Europe
Best Classical Premiere: A Million Kisses to my Skin ch. David Dawson, ENB (Feb/Mar 07)

Emma Manning – London, Dance Europe
Best Classical Premiere: A Million Kisses to my Skin (company premiere ENB) ch. David Dawson at Sadler’s Wells (6.3.07)

Judith Delme – Antwerp, Dance Europe
Outstanding Male Dancer: Alain Honorez (Royal Ballet of Flanders) in David Dawson’s A Sweet Spell of Oblivion (Apr 07)
Best Classical Premiere: David Dawson’s A Sweet Spell of Oblivion – so poetic, a modern Les Sylphides

Maggie Foyer – London, Dance Europe
Best Classical Premiere: A Million Kisses to my Skin (ENB) ch. David Dawson (7.3.07)

Mike Dixon – London, Ballet International / Tanz Aktuell, The Dancer, The Stage, Dance Europe
Best performance (not a premiere): Agnes Oaks and Thomas Edur (ENB) in A Million Kisses to my Skin at Sadler’s Wells

Hans-Theodor Wohlfahrt – London, Dance for You, Germany
Best performance (not a premiere): A Million Kisses to my Skin ch David Dawson for ENB, Richmond Theatre (30.3.07)

Bouquets to:
The development, on an international level, of many first rate choreographers like Alexei Ratmansky (Moscow), Martin Schlaepfer (Mainz), David Dawson (Amsterdam/Dresden), Tomasz Kajdansko (Eisenach), Lightfoot Leon (Den Haag) or Christopher Wheeldon (New York)

Principal Ballet Mistress for Dresden SemperOper Ballett at National Ballet of China

From 26th October Laura Graham is working with Chinese dancers rehearsing William Forsythe's famous 'In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated' which she set there during her summer visit. The following two weeks she will also be coaching the company in the style of the choreographer who will be working with Dresden SemperOper Ballett during the same period. The première will take place on 11th November.

Choreographic Assistant to Johan Inger has come to Dresden to set 'Empty House'.

The ballet will see its German première with Dresden SemperOper Ballett on 11th November within Dreamlands première programme.

http://www.semperoper.de/en/ballett/det ... 36c85956e6