Christopher Evans © Stuttgarter Ballett
Die Ballettschule des HAMBURG BALLETT zu Gast in Stuttgart: Ein Interview.
Am 25. November feierte die John Cranko Schule ihr vierzigstes Jubiläum mit einer prächtigen Gala im Stuttgarter Opernhaus mit vielen internationalen Gästen. Auch die Ballettschule des HAMBURG BALLETT überbrachte ihre getanzten Glückwünsche. Eine Schülerin und drei Schüler aus der achten Klasse zeigten Ausschnitte aus John Neumeiers Ballett »Spring and Fall«. Wieder zurück im Hamburger Alltag, sprachen Aurore Aleman-Lissitzky (16, Französin), Christopher Evans (17, Amerikaner), Dale Rhodes (20, Brite) und Eliot Warrell (19, Brite) über ihre Eindrücke.
Die Fragen stellte Daniela Rothensee.
On November 25 the John Cranko School in Stuttgart celebrated its 40th anniversary with a big gala-night. You were invited to represent the School of THE HAMBURG BALLET. Looking back at the event – what are your emotions?
Christopher: It was just amazing. The people were so friendly over there, it was an honour to go and dance with all these people from around the world and meet new people. It was a great experience. Many things happened, it was really good.
You performed pieces of John Neumeier’s ballet “Spring and fall”. Aurore, who made the choice and why were you the lucky four to dance it?
Aurore: I don’t know. We just rehearsed “Spring and Fall” and then we simply got asked to dance it. Chris did it already last year but with a different cast.
Christopher: Yes, that’s right. It was in Stade. We had a performance there and then did it also in one of John Neumeier’s workshops last year.
Eliot: At the end of this year we are doing the whole ballet “Spring and Fall” for a summer show …
Chris: …the school performance…
Eliot: … and I guess that was a big reason why our ballet masters wanted us to do this piece also in Stuttgart.
Chris: And it is such a nice piece.
And how did it go? How did the Stuttgart audience react?
Eliot: Our performance was different to all the others. The other schools danced mainly classically and so “Spring and Fall” was different.
Chris: And the audience really liked it.
Dale: Yes, they really liked it. I think the people in Stuttgart like John Neumeier’s work anyways because he was a member of the Stuttgart Company. And they enjoyed the more modern dance.
I am happy to hear that you received such positive feedback. Was the atmosphere among the students that friendly as well?
All (chorus): Yes!
Dale: They really made our time there special.
Eliot: Especially the Stuttgart School guys were so friendly and welcoming. They just seemed happy that we were there and I think they got the same experience as we did: the pleasure of seeing other students dance.
Chris: And it was also great to make friends from all over, so in the future we have all these connections in the dance world which is great.
Dale: It was very inspiring to watch the way the other dance schools dance because you realize what your strong points are and what their stronger points are … You can come back and work harder than before to get better.
That’s very interesting. What differences did you notice, Dale?
Dale: Stuttgart seems more classical than Hamburg. So I think they push the classical, whereas we push classical AND modern.
Eliot: … We saw a couple of them in some other styles, but the majority we saw only in classical. Some have a very secure technique.
Chris: Coming back from seeing all these great young dancers I’ve been trying to work harder than before … to reach the best level I can have in dance …
So you got to see your future competitors…
Dale (laughs): Yes, it inspired me to get up a little bit earlier in the morning … stretch my legs a little bit more in ballet class (the others laugh).
Except from the show, what else happened? When did you arrive and what did you do? I know that Uschi Ziegler, responsible for the organization at the School of THE HAMBURG BALLET went with you…
Dale: We arrived on Wednesday and then we had dinner on Thursday with just the guest students and on Friday there was the performance and then dinner and after party before we left again on Saturday
Eliot: The after party was really nice. And the rehearsal night was Thanksgiving, so for Chris being American it was very special …
Chris: … it was also Uschi Zieglers birthday …
Aurore, how was it for you being the only girl?
Aurore: Actually I did have a really good time with them, we are good friends … I don’t think I could see that experience happen again with other people. Because we were really close when we went there and it was just the four of us.
Chris: A team …
All: Yes.
Aurore Aleman-Lissitzky, Christopher Evans, Dale Rhodes und Eliot Worrell © Stuttgarter Ballett
Was it different to the experience of one week earlier when you performed the same piece already at the Charity Workshop at the Opera in Hamburg on November, 20?
Eliot: Yes it was really different. Because in the workshop it was our first time on stage with it and it was nerve-wracking … but being in our HAMBURG BALLET environment made us feel comfortable at the same time. Of course we had John Neumeier watching us and it was a sold-out performance ... but it was giving us confidence for the gala performance. I think if we hadn’t done that “Werkstatt” before the performance our nerves would not have been as strong …
Chris: It really helped!
Eliot: Nerves help a lot but especially in a piece like “Spring and Fall” you’re so into yourself, so you just need to get rid of all the troubles and nerves and …
Aurore: …and just dance.
Chris: It’s a quite difficult piece … but once you let it go and give yourself to the piece and listen to the music and dance with each other it’s great!
Let’s come back to your time in Stuttgart. Did you get the chance to visit the school building?
Eliot: Yes we took class everyday; well twice … It is a nice atmosphere…
Why, by the way, did you chose to come to the School of THE HAMBURG BALLET?
Aurore: I needed to come into a bigger institution and Neumeier is one of the biggest choreographers and such a wonderful person… I mean I don’t know him personally of course … (smiles while looking to the boys who can’t restrain laughter) … but he is so human, I think… I think it is just a great school to come …
Dale: I think one good thing about the gala was that everybody was so friendly and positive. When you get all these different schools together there is a possibility that there is a lot of competition: Who is the best dancer, who has the best piece … But in Stuttgart we were all together doing the show! It just felt that everybody wanted the other to do well...
Eliot: … and not only doing well for themselves …
Dale: That took away a lot of pressure.
Thank you very much for this interview. Is there anything else you wanted to say?
Eliot: No. Just that Chris was on the front of the newspaper… (Chris laughs).
Chris: It was a big surprise. We saw the “Stuttgarter Nachrichten” it in the hotel, it was just before leaving … I was very happy and that made the whole experience even more special.
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