Music Director
Michael Schonwandt
Artistic Director
Thomas Lund
Conductor
Graham Bond
Performers
Mads Blangstrup
Gudrun Bojesen
Thomas Lund
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The Royal
Danish Ballet
Sadler's Wells
21 - 25 June 2005
August Bournonville is one of the unsung, or insufficiently sung, innovators of European romantic choreography. And the magnificent Royal Danish Ballet is also inadequately known to the ballet-going public, despite its contribution of stars like Johan Kobborg to the Royal Ballet and other international companies.
Both are on glorious display at Sadler's Wells, until Saturday. It can take a moment for contemporary, post-modern denizens to acclimatise ourselves to Bournonville's resiliently harmonious world, with its freedom from alienation and protest, and its clear delineation between the genders - a world where women are all delicacy and poise and men's worst failing is their rather harmless vanity. But Bournonville's range is wider than his slightly limited choreographic and dramatic vocabulary might suggest.
In the charming second act of Le Conservatoire, which opens the programme, students diligently practise their steps, occasionally breaking into wonderfully imaginative ensembles, such as little chains of female dancers, and bravura demonstrations by their self-satisfied teacher. This contrasts completely with the witty Jockey Dance, where two men twist and turn around the stage, flourishing their whips with panache and a touch of absurdity. Act II of La Sylphide combines verve and poetry, and Act III of Napoli evokes all the flamboyance and colour of Neapolitan life.
But what brings this delightful choreography to life is the purity and perfection of the Royal Danish dancers, and their obvious dedication to their demanding art. Though Sadler's Wells is host only to a touring troupe, rather than to the whole company, this is the dancing of a real organic ensemble. There are stars - Mads Blangstrup, Gudrun Bojesen and Thomas Lund (also Artistic Director) are eminent examples; but they speak of a great and deeply honed tradition. Long may it live.
Simon May
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