The Royal Danish Ballet
Lady Macbeth
Star Choreographer Akram Khan Reimagines Lady Macbeth for the Royal Danish Ballet.
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The Royal Danish Ballet celebrates a major feat as renowned choreographer Akram Khan comes to Denmark to create an entirely new work. Drawing inspiration from Shakespeare’s psychological thriller, Khan turns his focus to the formidable Lady Macbeth. British-Bangladeshi choreographer, Akram Khan is a singular force in the international dance world. His explosive, hypnotic works have left audiences breathless, as seen in Vertical Road, previously performed in Denmark in 2016. His productions are deeply resonant and emotionally stirring, often delving into themes of identity, migration, and cultural heritage. Now, as he embarks on a full-length ballet for The Royal Danish Ballet—drawing inspiration from one of William Shakespeare’s most celebrated tragedies—the result promises to be truly revelatory. Macbeth is a tale of unchecked ambition, power, and devastating downfall. It follows the Scottish couple, who, consumed by an insatiable hunger for power, commit heinous acts to secure the throne—only to be haunted by guilt and paranoia. Khan sees the play as deeply relevant to contemporary society: “Whenever I confront this powerful Shakespearean play, I always feel it relates directly to the times we live in,” Khan explains. “I have a strong desire to enter this work through the lens of Lady Macbeth. Who was she? How was she? Why did she tread on the same pathway of her husband, filled with ambition, loyalty and blood on her hands? I deeply believe this story is a sort of guide, in the form of a mirror, that reveals to us why we should never succumb to our malevolence.” Khan’s reimagining of Lady Macbeth layers classical ballet with intricate nuances of classical Indian dance, all shaped by his distinctive contemporary perspective. An unmissable production that redefines the possibilities of narrative dance.
Lady Macbeth / Interview with Akram Kahn - Video
La Ventana and The Kermesse in Bruges
The Opera The old stagePlaying until September 13th.
Two Bournonville ballets with drama, romance, and joie de vivre. La Ventana and the Kermesse in Bruges are two very different ballets by August Bournonville, but together they demonstrate his unique ability to convey drama, romance, comedy, and poetry. La Ventana (The Window) is a small, Spanish-inspired love story by August Bournonville from 1856. Spanish dance was in vogue throughout Europe at the time, and Bournonville was well informed about the trends of the time, although he never came to Spain himself. In Copenhagen he saw guest darts of dancers with smacking castagnets and rushing in their skirts, and in La Ventana he gave us his Nordic and more graceful version, among other things in the form of the famous mirror dance. The Kermesse in Bruges from 1851 is one of the best proofs that Bournonville was unique in producing pure, unadulterated dancing and joie de vivre. To be embroidered Adrian, Gert and Carelis save the alchemist Mirewelt from an assault, and in return he gives them a magical gift; respectively, a sword that can only bring victory, a ring that will make anyone fall in love with its owner, and a violin that forces Goes to dance. With these wonderful gifts, the brothers are happy to go out into the world. But behind the cheerfulness lies a serious moral that gold and vanity do not bring happiness – happiness is only achieved through faithful love and a positive mind. These two performances continue the particularly Danish Bournonville heritage and warm up for season 26/27 with brand new stagings. Recommended from 8 years.
“The Fair in Bruges” and “La Ventana.” Choreography: August Bournonville. Music: HC Lumbye, VC Holm, and HS Paulli. Scenography: Jérôme Kaplan and Christian Friedländer. The Royal Theatre, Old Stage. Playing until September 13th.
George Balanchine's masterpieces Serenade, The Four Temperaments and Symphony in C performed in one evening
The Opera The old stage05/09 - 18/09 2024 2024
George Balanchine is one of the greatest and most innovative choreographers ever to have lived. The trio of ballets featured in the performance "Giant Steps" demonstrates precisely why this is the case. Serenade is Balanchine's tribute to women in dance. This midnight-blue masterpiece is considered the first neo-classical, abstract ballet, yet it subtly conveys sentiments of longing and melancholy. Accompanied by Tchaikovsky's beautiful music, Serenade affirms Balanchine's famous adage that in his ballets one should be able to 'see the music and hear the dance'. The Four Temperaments is structured in four movements characterising the four temperaments of Antiquity: melancholic, sanguine, phlegmatic and choleric – representing earth, air, water and fire, respectively. It signifies the beginning of Balanchine's celebrated series of black-and-white ballets, where classical ballet vocabulary merges with a more angular and athletic style. Symphony in C stands as one of the most magnificent works of the 20th century. It showcases an unparalleled display of pure classical dance, while magically transporting the audience to a ball at the court of Louis XIV at Versailles. Symmetry, balance and harmony are the core elements, with each movement performed by a lead couple, soloists and corps de ballet, all culminating in the exuberant finale.
Cinderella
The Opera Big Stage 27/01 - 10/03 2024
Love at first sight - who doesn't dream of that?
A love so strong that no one and nothing can destroy it. This is what Cinderella and the prince experience when they meet at the ball at the castle. The fairy tale of Cinderella is known and loved by every child, and in Gregory Dean's ballet version, the romance has been turned up all the way. To Prokofiev's beautiful music, the story of the poor girl with the good heart is told, who despite great obstacles on her way, thank God, can finally find that justice and love come to those who deserve it. Based on Charles Perrault's 1697 tale, this version of Cinderella has everything a true fairy tale should contain: joys and sorrows, the triumph of good over evil, and the lovers who have to go through so much before all may end happily. And to that the immortal gallery of characters: a particularly evil stepmother and two unusually intriguing stepsisters, but fortunately also a magical godmother, a crowd of gentle fairies and an extremely charming prince. Gregory Dean is a solo dancer at the Royal Ballet and has, among other things, choreographed the all-night ballets Blixen and Gotta Dance!. His Cinderella is a classic story for both children and adults about how love, hope and an open mind can defeat even the blackest darkness.
Scotch Symphony and La Sylphide
OLD SCENE 02/09 - 21/09 2023
Enjoy a balletic duo when George Balanchine’s Scotch Symphony and August Bournonville’s La Sylphide take the stage
All eyes are on the Scottish Highlands when George Balanchine’s Scotch Symphony is performed for the first time in tandem with its original source of inspiration, August Bournonville’s ultra-romantic ballet, La Sylphide. Balanchine spent a couple of his youthful years in Copenhagen, and here he was fascinated by Bournonville’s choreography – the mime, the effortless grace and the quick steps. This is evident in his ballet Scotch Symphony that has never previously been performed in Denmark, and which is inspired by the sweeping Scottish hillscapes and by the ceremony of Scottish military tattoos complete with bagpipes and flying kilts. In Bournonville’s Scottish tragedy, La Sylphide, James falls asleep in his armchair the night before his wedding, only to be suddenly awakened by the most seductive winged creature. Can you forsake your bride-to-be, purely because you have suddenly fallen in love with an otherworldly being? Indeed, James does, because when the alluring Sylph gently breathes on him, he simply cannot resist. Although La Sylphide is almost 200 years old, it still shines with a freshness that fascinates us today. The story of James, the ethereal Sylph and the wicked witch is an ageless fable about unfulfilled passions where a promise to elude the bore
NAPOLI
OLD SCENE 26/05 - 04/06 2023
Join the Royal Ballet for a street party in Naples and August Bournonville's beloved ballet.
Teresina loves Gennaro, and Gennaro loves Teresina, so everything should be fine. But their love must first pass the big test before they can celebrate their wedding in idyllic Naples. There is party and colour, sparkling temperament and flirtation in the air in the southern Italian city at the foot of Mount Vesuvius. Here we meet the young, enamored couple Teresina and Gennaro, who are dramatically sent round trip from the colorful folk life in the streets of the fishing town to the fascinating and alluring blue grotto. But together they manage to defeat even the worst obstacles and temptations so that they can live happily ever after. In their version of the ballet, Nikolaj Hübbe and Sorella Englund have chosen to write further and move the action forward to 1950s Italy. Federico Fellini's film, which contains so much both humor and darkness, has been the inspiration here. Ironically, it was an affront to majesty that caused Naples to come into being. In 1841, August Bournonville had spoken directly to the majesty from the stage, and this was not done with impunity. So he had to leave Denmark in shame, and in true golden age fashion he headed for Italy. Here he created Napoli , which is still today one of the Danes' favorite ballets. Recommended from 12 years.
Gotta Dance!
THE OPERA BIG STAGE 19th of April, 2023
Swan Lake
THE OPERA BIG STAGE 28/01 - 10/03 2023
Etudes
Giselle: Caroline Baldwin - Albrecht: Jonathan Chmelensky