Tonight marks the premiere of My Fair Lady, on Gamle Scene. I am quite excited to see it at some point during its run (April 30-June 5), if only because I love love love the Audrey Hepburn movie version. And the cast has been rehearsing in the ballet's theatre, which means that for the past couple of months I've been lucky enough to walk into work to the dulcet tones of live orchestra and professional singers belting out the excellent score of this musical. I've also caught glimpses of some of the costumes, and let me just say: They are quirky, whimsical, giant teacups-as-hats are involved, and I love them.
The production has been the subject of some controversy here in Denmark, bringing up a legal debate about whether musicals should be performed at any of the three stages, since they are not definitively classified as any one of the three art forms: opera, acting, or ballet. Either way, it will be interesting to see what this production has to offer, and how the public receives it. I, for one, am looking forward to it; and since I know the story and the music, it will be a free Danish lesson for me--bonus :) [Side note: You gotta love a country where a musical can stir up legitimate controversy in the media...]
Det Kongelige Teater offers this description (excuse the Google Translation):
"For the first time ever, bring the Royal Theatre musical classic My Fair Lady on the poster. What's in the spring of 2010 at Old Stage where national scene unites its actors, singers and musicians in a new construction of this classic tale that is full of the best musical numbers and are known from the movie with Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison.
My Fair Lady is the story of flower girl Eliza, who learns to make the bourgeoisie, as the stiff-necked and nostalgic Professor Higgins takes her on a grand tour of the old virtues. Along the way, however, they both learn about who they are and what they are, they are seeking in their lives.
The actors in the festive musical include Søren Pilmark, who returns to the Royal Theatre in the role of Professor Higgins - a role he shares with Tom Jensen. Eliza Doolittle, as Higgins takes under his wing, played by Cecilie Stenspil, who has gained great success for her key role in DR-Series Body-Guard and the role of Bess in Breaking the Waves at Odense Theatre. Among the other participants, we meet such Zlatko Buric as Alfred Doolittle and Malene Schwartz as Mrs. Higgins.
Opera Chief Kasper Holten stands for the new, colorful staging."
And two videos, from kglteater.net:
Friday, April 30, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Post-Performance Winding Down...
After a show, I like to spend time noodling about the information superhighway that is the Internet, looking for random stuff, Facebooking, Skyping with family. Sometimes, said noodling brings about fun little discoveries, like this Caricature Map of Europe in 1914:
The Raveonettes (again)
I have professed my love for this Danish duo before, and I'm doing it again today. Here's a little Heart of Stone, complete with animation and a little twang and an excuse to use the word "Raveonette."
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Danish Lessons, Chapter 8
I have been in Denmark for a pretty long time--almost 10 months now. (Hey, I could have had a baby!) I like to think I have learned much along the way, and here are more uselessly sarcastic life lessons from Vikingland...
1. If a fabulous fellow American comes to town for about a week over Easter, don't freak out that you're smiling and laughing/snorting more than usual. It's fine; nay, enjoy it. (Your face could use a break from looking sarcastic.) Take her out to experience all that Copenhagen has to offer--this means good food, nights of frivolity, and of course a gnome statue or two.
2. Visit Hamlet's Castle. Why? Well, it's Good Friday; but mostly because it's there. Discover that the Danes of yore were clearly true visionaries, since to you, it seems they must have been inspired by all sorts of futuristic things: Narnia; Pandora's Box; George Balanchine's Serenade; various dungeon-inspired video games.
3. You will find no Easter eggs this year. In fact, you won't have eggs at all (except as an ingredient in delicious cake made by your friend hosting a lovely holiday dinner). This is shockingly easier to accept than you thought. Plus, no hard-boiled egg sandwiches for the next week, and no vinegary smell when dyeing said eggs, like at home.
4. Let's say your friend calls you up on a Friday night which you fully intended to spend indoors, doing nothing except maybe watching that one Robert Downey Jr. movie you own. Be glad that you decide to go against your initial plan when he calls you up to grab a drink. Enjoy your first wienerschnitzel. Be even happier when you run into another friend, and end up at a German-Danish folk band concert at a community center in your neighborhood, which ends up involving old music, a cute unfortunately married guitarist, and lots of foolish dance moves. Spontaneous actions = excellent fun.
5. Before dinner on Saturday night, you meet up with a good friend and two new soon-to-be friends at Palæ Bar for a pre-food beer. This turns out to be where the orchestra hangs out, but that actually doesn't matter. What does matter is that you may walk in to find yourself surrounded by really intoxicated people at a fairly early hour for such levels of drunkenness. They're not dangerous, but they do provide some of the best people-watching you have ever witnessed in Denmark. Like the bleached blond, stumbling drunk young(ish) woman, tottering into the low-key bar looking like she's going to prom 20 years too late. Feel free to wonder how her night ended up, especially after seeing her cozy up to a much-older gentleman whose outfit appears to have been inspired by old Mafia movies.
6. Go to a restaurant called Khun-Juk with your friends. It. Is. Amazing. Plus, the people who run the place seem to love the Royal Danish Ballet dancers, and you get free champagne and appetizers. Ok, so while you're waiting for your table you might be directed to an oddly empty bar showing crappy music videos on the flat screen TVs. But no worries, it's worth the wait. Also plus, the place inspires conversation topics ranging from monogamy to Villa Salo to the odd couple at the next table over. These are all ingredients which lead to a super Saturday evening in Copenhagen.
7. After dinner and drinks, avoid Danish design chairs. THEY ARE NOT MEANT TO BE SAT ON BY THE AWKWARD LIKES OF YOU. You might fall. Maybe. I'm just saying. (And later, if the power suddenly goes out at a bar, it's time to go home.)
8. Take any and every opportunity to go outside in Scandinavian springtime. The sunshine does shocking things to your mood; suddenly you're not cloaked in *so* much sarcasm. Or wool, for that matter. That's right: Bust out the tights and put on a skirt, it's no longer three-pairs-of-pants weather.
9. Let's say you're a U.S. Marine in a cool interpretation of Othello. The best way to warm up is to mock breakdance in the wings, which in turn inspires laughter, which in turn inspires your abs being ready to go. You will be paranoid about your waaaay too big army pants falling down, checking the flimsy belt for security multiple times (much to the amusement of your fellow dancers) before going onstage. But your pigtails will be a minor hit, and provide for some eye-opening photo-ops. Including one where you resemble your mixed breed puppy, left in the care of family members back home.
10. If you end up at a nightclub (purpose: listen to the DJ for a forthcoming hotel event) with some of your friends, be prepared to feel completely out of place. Upon entering the place clad in mostly black and very dirty Converse sneakers, you may find yourself surrounded by extremely tall blond women who seem to be missing crucial articles of clothing, wearing dangerously high shoes; and clean cut, polo-clad, lurking-by-the-bar sorts of men. It's ok, though. You and your friends manage to have a fabulous time, and be home by a very decent hour.
11. Enjoy the feeling of removing the cream-colored unitard and matching swimcap you wear for En Skærsommernatsdrøm for the 17th (and last) time. That feeling is freedom. Until you don a nude leotard next month for The Cage.
12. After the premiere of Othello, it is totally okay to eat three pieces of drømmekage. Look, it translates to dream cake, there's nothing not to love about it, and you just busted your butt imitating war, post-war party, and war funeral activities. So go nuts.
13. At a group birthday party, if the music is good and you feel sassy in your spring-inspired outfit and you want to be a complete goofball in terms of the off-duty dance moves you produce? Go right ahead. Because you will end up having a fantastic, funny, foolishly energetic evening. (And yes, if you do it right, the MC Hammer and the tango will be included in said dance moves.)
14. You don't advocate divorce, but your neighbors could use some counseling. Their incredibly drunk fights (all in bellowing, nasal Danish) sound as though they are happening in your little apartment. Their bear/dog is no better; the worst is that said fights end only when the aforementioned beast begins howling...and its classy owners join in. If this finally becomes too much for you, it's perfectly okay to have your father internationally prank call your neighbors. Because this quiets them down, which makes you happy, and it is, in fact, all about you.
15. If your good friend knits you a purple legwarmer with the word "SLUT" running down the leg in bright red lettering, don't be offended. This means "Finished" or "Done" in Danish. You're not easy, you're cultural.
16. Finally, just a friendly reminder to keep going to the sauna. It does wonders for your mood. And the skin on your face. Also--when you catch an attractive phlegmy cold thanks to Copenhagen's schizophrenic spring weather--your lungs and nasal passages. I know, that's gross, but so is the black lung, and which would you rather have?
1. If a fabulous fellow American comes to town for about a week over Easter, don't freak out that you're smiling and laughing/snorting more than usual. It's fine; nay, enjoy it. (Your face could use a break from looking sarcastic.) Take her out to experience all that Copenhagen has to offer--this means good food, nights of frivolity, and of course a gnome statue or two.
2. Visit Hamlet's Castle. Why? Well, it's Good Friday; but mostly because it's there. Discover that the Danes of yore were clearly true visionaries, since to you, it seems they must have been inspired by all sorts of futuristic things: Narnia; Pandora's Box; George Balanchine's Serenade; various dungeon-inspired video games.
3. You will find no Easter eggs this year. In fact, you won't have eggs at all (except as an ingredient in delicious cake made by your friend hosting a lovely holiday dinner). This is shockingly easier to accept than you thought. Plus, no hard-boiled egg sandwiches for the next week, and no vinegary smell when dyeing said eggs, like at home.
4. Let's say your friend calls you up on a Friday night which you fully intended to spend indoors, doing nothing except maybe watching that one Robert Downey Jr. movie you own. Be glad that you decide to go against your initial plan when he calls you up to grab a drink. Enjoy your first wienerschnitzel. Be even happier when you run into another friend, and end up at a German-Danish folk band concert at a community center in your neighborhood, which ends up involving old music, a cute unfortunately married guitarist, and lots of foolish dance moves. Spontaneous actions = excellent fun.
5. Before dinner on Saturday night, you meet up with a good friend and two new soon-to-be friends at Palæ Bar for a pre-food beer. This turns out to be where the orchestra hangs out, but that actually doesn't matter. What does matter is that you may walk in to find yourself surrounded by really intoxicated people at a fairly early hour for such levels of drunkenness. They're not dangerous, but they do provide some of the best people-watching you have ever witnessed in Denmark. Like the bleached blond, stumbling drunk young(ish) woman, tottering into the low-key bar looking like she's going to prom 20 years too late. Feel free to wonder how her night ended up, especially after seeing her cozy up to a much-older gentleman whose outfit appears to have been inspired by old Mafia movies.
6. Go to a restaurant called Khun-Juk with your friends. It. Is. Amazing. Plus, the people who run the place seem to love the Royal Danish Ballet dancers, and you get free champagne and appetizers. Ok, so while you're waiting for your table you might be directed to an oddly empty bar showing crappy music videos on the flat screen TVs. But no worries, it's worth the wait. Also plus, the place inspires conversation topics ranging from monogamy to Villa Salo to the odd couple at the next table over. These are all ingredients which lead to a super Saturday evening in Copenhagen.
7. After dinner and drinks, avoid Danish design chairs. THEY ARE NOT MEANT TO BE SAT ON BY THE AWKWARD LIKES OF YOU. You might fall. Maybe. I'm just saying. (And later, if the power suddenly goes out at a bar, it's time to go home.)
8. Take any and every opportunity to go outside in Scandinavian springtime. The sunshine does shocking things to your mood; suddenly you're not cloaked in *so* much sarcasm. Or wool, for that matter. That's right: Bust out the tights and put on a skirt, it's no longer three-pairs-of-pants weather.
9. Let's say you're a U.S. Marine in a cool interpretation of Othello. The best way to warm up is to mock breakdance in the wings, which in turn inspires laughter, which in turn inspires your abs being ready to go. You will be paranoid about your waaaay too big army pants falling down, checking the flimsy belt for security multiple times (much to the amusement of your fellow dancers) before going onstage. But your pigtails will be a minor hit, and provide for some eye-opening photo-ops. Including one where you resemble your mixed breed puppy, left in the care of family members back home.
10. If you end up at a nightclub (purpose: listen to the DJ for a forthcoming hotel event) with some of your friends, be prepared to feel completely out of place. Upon entering the place clad in mostly black and very dirty Converse sneakers, you may find yourself surrounded by extremely tall blond women who seem to be missing crucial articles of clothing, wearing dangerously high shoes; and clean cut, polo-clad, lurking-by-the-bar sorts of men. It's ok, though. You and your friends manage to have a fabulous time, and be home by a very decent hour.
11. Enjoy the feeling of removing the cream-colored unitard and matching swimcap you wear for En Skærsommernatsdrøm for the 17th (and last) time. That feeling is freedom. Until you don a nude leotard next month for The Cage.
12. After the premiere of Othello, it is totally okay to eat three pieces of drømmekage. Look, it translates to dream cake, there's nothing not to love about it, and you just busted your butt imitating war, post-war party, and war funeral activities. So go nuts.
13. At a group birthday party, if the music is good and you feel sassy in your spring-inspired outfit and you want to be a complete goofball in terms of the off-duty dance moves you produce? Go right ahead. Because you will end up having a fantastic, funny, foolishly energetic evening. (And yes, if you do it right, the MC Hammer and the tango will be included in said dance moves.)
14. You don't advocate divorce, but your neighbors could use some counseling. Their incredibly drunk fights (all in bellowing, nasal Danish) sound as though they are happening in your little apartment. Their bear/dog is no better; the worst is that said fights end only when the aforementioned beast begins howling...and its classy owners join in. If this finally becomes too much for you, it's perfectly okay to have your father internationally prank call your neighbors. Because this quiets them down, which makes you happy, and it is, in fact, all about you.
15. If your good friend knits you a purple legwarmer with the word "SLUT" running down the leg in bright red lettering, don't be offended. This means "Finished" or "Done" in Danish. You're not easy, you're cultural.
16. Finally, just a friendly reminder to keep going to the sauna. It does wonders for your mood. And the skin on your face. Also--when you catch an attractive phlegmy cold thanks to Copenhagen's schizophrenic spring weather--your lungs and nasal passages. I know, that's gross, but so is the black lung, and which would you rather have?
Sounds of Denmark
So clearly, music is a big part of my life. Before coming to Denmark--apart from a misguided Hanson phase in 3rd grade--I knew the music I liked. I grew up on the Grateful Dead, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Velvet Underground, etc.; from my generation, I love The Strokes, Wolf Parade, The Decemberists, Arcade Fire, things like that. You get the idea. There was very little music I wouldn't listen to. But in that small category? Country; polka; anything by Miley Cyrus or an American Idol contestant; and techno/electronic/dance.
Coming to this country and going out on free nights, I was at first dismayed to discover: Danes love them some electronic tunes. I had spent many years mocking this genre of music. I had no intention of ever going out and dancing to it. Give me some Chubby Checker, or Tina Turner, or any song from a decade before my time to which I can bust an idiotic dance move, and I'm good. But senseless beats produced by a large soundsystem? I never understood the appeal.
However, I slowly learned to become open-minded. One of my first weekends out with some new ballet friends, I apparently saw The Knife at Vega, a nightclub in Vesterbro. I remember having no idea who The Knife was, but I was mildly confused as to why the DJs behind the turntables were spinning "mad beats" with creepy masks on. Slowly but surely, the more I got used to hearing this kind of music in the right fun setting, the more I accepted it.
I am now only mildly ashamed to say that I have tentatively embraced this genre for what it is, and have a tiny collection of such music on my beloved iPod Touch. The Knife, Trentemøller, Röyksopp...I am now familiar with these names and some of their music. This is NOT to say I have abandoned my beloved rock n' roll and oldies; when I go out, I much prefer to be the idiot on the dance floor belting out Elton John (or, more ideally, Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody, aka best karaoke song ever) or busting out the old classic MC Hammer.
Nonetheless, enjoy this "old" one from The Knife, called Like a Pen...it's not so bad. And hey, there's weird animation. I do love cartoons.
Then enjoy one of my personal favorites, by The Contours. Seriously, it's not a party if I can't mashed potato.
Coming to this country and going out on free nights, I was at first dismayed to discover: Danes love them some electronic tunes. I had spent many years mocking this genre of music. I had no intention of ever going out and dancing to it. Give me some Chubby Checker, or Tina Turner, or any song from a decade before my time to which I can bust an idiotic dance move, and I'm good. But senseless beats produced by a large soundsystem? I never understood the appeal.
However, I slowly learned to become open-minded. One of my first weekends out with some new ballet friends, I apparently saw The Knife at Vega, a nightclub in Vesterbro. I remember having no idea who The Knife was, but I was mildly confused as to why the DJs behind the turntables were spinning "mad beats" with creepy masks on. Slowly but surely, the more I got used to hearing this kind of music in the right fun setting, the more I accepted it.
I am now only mildly ashamed to say that I have tentatively embraced this genre for what it is, and have a tiny collection of such music on my beloved iPod Touch. The Knife, Trentemøller, Röyksopp...I am now familiar with these names and some of their music. This is NOT to say I have abandoned my beloved rock n' roll and oldies; when I go out, I much prefer to be the idiot on the dance floor belting out Elton John (or, more ideally, Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody, aka best karaoke song ever) or busting out the old classic MC Hammer.
Nonetheless, enjoy this "old" one from The Knife, called Like a Pen...it's not so bad. And hey, there's weird animation. I do love cartoons.
Then enjoy one of my personal favorites, by The Contours. Seriously, it's not a party if I can't mashed potato.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
the city so nice, they named it twice...old New York
With a free Monday because of Othello performances, I am up early in the hopes of being productive. I'm helping a friend move this morning, and having a girls' afternoon later. But I found some pictures of my home, my beloved New York, from 1942 that started off my morning in a fabulous sort of way. (Source: citynoise.org)
The Brooklyn Bridge from South St. Manhattan. (And no part of it is for sale, so never believe that ;-P)
Salvage collection on the Lower East Side.
West Canal St. (Apparently, Ex-Lax was a big seller...)
On the corner of Pearl St. I love these.
East 7th St. Love me an old ale house.
The Brooklyn Bridge from South St. Manhattan. (And no part of it is for sale, so never believe that ;-P)
Salvage collection on the Lower East Side.
West Canal St. (Apparently, Ex-Lax was a big seller...)
On the corner of Pearl St. I love these.
East 7th St. Love me an old ale house.
Lost in Translation
Sometimes, the theatre's translations from Danish to English are a source of amusement for us foreigners. Perfect example:
In Danish, it reads:
"Kære Alle!
I forbindelse med afviklingen af "Exit, Pursued by a Bear" er vi desværre nødt til at bede om fred på scenen. Forestillingen er båd meget lys- og lydfølsom, og vi beder derfor om, at der ikke er folk siderne, som ikke har noget med forestillingen at gøre."
Apparently, Google translated that to mean the following:
"Dear All!
In connection with the liquidation of "Exit, Pursued by a Bear" is, unfortunately, we have to pray for peace on stage. The performance is both very light and sound sensitivity, and we therefore ask that there are people in the pages that do not have anything with the idea to do."
I love it. It makes perfect nonsense.
In Danish, it reads:
"Kære Alle!
I forbindelse med afviklingen af "Exit, Pursued by a Bear" er vi desværre nødt til at bede om fred på scenen. Forestillingen er båd meget lys- og lydfølsom, og vi beder derfor om, at der ikke er folk siderne, som ikke har noget med forestillingen at gøre."
Apparently, Google translated that to mean the following:
"Dear All!
In connection with the liquidation of "Exit, Pursued by a Bear" is, unfortunately, we have to pray for peace on stage. The performance is both very light and sound sensitivity, and we therefore ask that there are people in the pages that do not have anything with the idea to do."
I love it. It makes perfect nonsense.
Saturday Night Fever --> SUNday :)
Last night's premiere of Othello was a total success :) I love performing this because it's something different than your average ballet--the music is loud and not exactly classical, at all; I'm wearing combat boots instead of ballerina shoes; I carry a gun and have no makeup (save for some warpaint); plus I have a chance to let my big hair down, which is a big deal because normally it's a hindrance and forced back into very tight sort of hairdos. At any rate, the audience seemed to really love our little group of Shakespeare dancers. Always nice to experience a good audience.
Afterwards, we had a premiere reception in the Kantine of the Skuespilhuset. (I felt the need to wear an especially girly outfit to compensate for my "butch" role as a Marine in the performance. So I went with a bouquet theme, complete with rose earrings, a big flower pinned to my white blazer, and a pale pink frilly little skirt. Mission accomplished.) Food, drinks, a few short speeches and flowers, and friends were involved. All very nice things, especially after a show. We spent about an hour there celebrating the premiere, and then moved on to a big Fødselsdag Fest being held by three company members at Vingården. It was a fantastic way to end a Saturday night. The place is very small, the music was excellent and played at that perfect level of loud, and I very much enjoyed myself by doing some off-duty dancing with a big group of awesome people. Det var meget hyggeligt :)
And today brings one more performance of Othello, at 3pm. Since it is beautifully sunny this morning and something nearing 'warm,' I'm going to head over to the Skuespilhuset a bit earlier than usual to soak up what appears to be a fantastic Sunday here in Scandinavia. And come to think of it, I'll treat myself to a piece of something magical and a latte at my favorite pastry mecca, Lagkagehuset. Check it out:
When my dad was here helping me move across the big pond, he went to this place quite often for his fave, a kartoffelkage. I'm not exactly sure what it is, but I do know it's a whole lot of chocolate madness in one big pillowy pastry. (My personal favorite is the direktør snegl, but I digress.)
And now for a bit of Sunday music, another glimpse into my Copenhagen playlist. This morning calls for the dulcet tones of British pop diva Dusty Springfield. Enjoy, and lykkelig søndag til alle!
Afterwards, we had a premiere reception in the Kantine of the Skuespilhuset. (I felt the need to wear an especially girly outfit to compensate for my "butch" role as a Marine in the performance. So I went with a bouquet theme, complete with rose earrings, a big flower pinned to my white blazer, and a pale pink frilly little skirt. Mission accomplished.) Food, drinks, a few short speeches and flowers, and friends were involved. All very nice things, especially after a show. We spent about an hour there celebrating the premiere, and then moved on to a big Fødselsdag Fest being held by three company members at Vingården. It was a fantastic way to end a Saturday night. The place is very small, the music was excellent and played at that perfect level of loud, and I very much enjoyed myself by doing some off-duty dancing with a big group of awesome people. Det var meget hyggeligt :)
And today brings one more performance of Othello, at 3pm. Since it is beautifully sunny this morning and something nearing 'warm,' I'm going to head over to the Skuespilhuset a bit earlier than usual to soak up what appears to be a fantastic Sunday here in Scandinavia. And come to think of it, I'll treat myself to a piece of something magical and a latte at my favorite pastry mecca, Lagkagehuset. Check it out:
When my dad was here helping me move across the big pond, he went to this place quite often for his fave, a kartoffelkage. I'm not exactly sure what it is, but I do know it's a whole lot of chocolate madness in one big pillowy pastry. (My personal favorite is the direktør snegl, but I digress.)
And now for a bit of Sunday music, another glimpse into my Copenhagen playlist. This morning calls for the dulcet tones of British pop diva Dusty Springfield. Enjoy, and lykkelig søndag til alle!
Saturday, April 24, 2010
More Danish Music
I have a Copenhagen playlist on my iPod--songs that have been introduced to me here, or songs I've heard while out, or songs that now have a memory attached. I always listen to music: before a performance, biking, walking, on breaks, at home...I'm rarely seen without my too-big headphones (which, conveniently enough, double as earmuffs in cold weather). One song that's in heavy rotation is "Dead Sound," by Danish duo The Raveonettes. Without further ado, then...
Nordic Folk (yes, it's a genre)
As I have posted a few times now, we have the premiere of Othello tonight. But instead of posting more about the ballet, I figured I'd shake things up a little and bring to light a Danish band called Afenginn.
Introduced to me by a friend, this Danish band is playing for Cross Connection Ballet Company's summer program. I'm a big fan of CCBC (and not just because I'm friends with its directors, Royal Danish dancers Constantine Baecher and Cedric Lambrette); and now, a big fan of this weird little band. According to Wikipedia, Afenginn plays "high energy Nordic folk." I don't know what Nordic folk is, but I do know that Afenginn is fun and quirky and excellent music to bike to.
Introduced to me by a friend, this Danish band is playing for Cross Connection Ballet Company's summer program. I'm a big fan of CCBC (and not just because I'm friends with its directors, Royal Danish dancers Constantine Baecher and Cedric Lambrette); and now, a big fan of this weird little band. According to Wikipedia, Afenginn plays "high energy Nordic folk." I don't know what Nordic folk is, but I do know that Afenginn is fun and quirky and excellent music to bike to.
Friday, April 23, 2010
en lille smule Othello og Talking Heads
I know I have mentioned Othello before. As in, yesterday...BUT this promo was just released via kglteater.dk, so I must share :) (Plus I'm in it for a hot second.)
And because I love all things Talking Heads, and it's Friday, and why not...
And because I love all things Talking Heads, and it's Friday, and why not...
In the Wings with Shakespeare...
As mentioned yesterday, we ended a 17 performance run of En Skærsommernatsdrøm last night. (A big tillykke to corps member Claire Ratcliffe, who ended a 22-year career with Royal Danish last night as well!) I attempted to capture some of the magic in the wings, so here is my little homage to John Neumeier's ballet:
Goofing around before the performance. People didn't believe me about the fairy world unitards. Photographic evidence.
We all love each other. I mean, look at these soldiers. Feelin' the bromance.
Curtain up, show starts. I love this moment. Here, Susanne Grinder as Hippolyta/Titania.
We have a lot of downtime between Fairy Worlds. One could easily get bored backstage, but with sassy friends like these, I'm never wanting for entertainment.
Titania and Oberon are not too happy with each other. Nehemiah Kish and Susanne Grinder.
Titania and the "bed," aka boys. Genius.
Titania falls under the rose's spell (thanks a heap, Puk) and ends up doing a...pas de deux with the Donkey. Who used to be a Håndværker.
In second act, the Håndværker guys put on a play. Thomas Lund was amazing. Most nights, I had to try really hard not to lose it onstage.
The ballet ends with Titania and Oberon...leaving the audience to decide for themselves whether it was a dream, or reality?
Goofing around before the performance. People didn't believe me about the fairy world unitards. Photographic evidence.
We all love each other. I mean, look at these soldiers. Feelin' the bromance.
Curtain up, show starts. I love this moment. Here, Susanne Grinder as Hippolyta/Titania.
We have a lot of downtime between Fairy Worlds. One could easily get bored backstage, but with sassy friends like these, I'm never wanting for entertainment.
Titania and Oberon are not too happy with each other. Nehemiah Kish and Susanne Grinder.
Titania and the "bed," aka boys. Genius.
Titania falls under the rose's spell (thanks a heap, Puk) and ends up doing a...pas de deux with the Donkey. Who used to be a Håndværker.
In second act, the Håndværker guys put on a play. Thomas Lund was amazing. Most nights, I had to try really hard not to lose it onstage.
The ballet ends with Titania and Oberon...leaving the audience to decide for themselves whether it was a dream, or reality?
Thursday, April 22, 2010
'Twas Strange, 'Twas Passing Strange...
Tonight we bid farewell to cream-colored unitards, Austen-esque wigs, empirical dresses, and trees-on-wheels--yes, the long run of En Skærsommernatsdrøm comes to a close this evening. Fear not, however, because Shakespeare luckily inspired more ballet. Which (after a rare Friday night off tomorrow) we'll bring to you in the form of Louise Midjord's Othello (coupled with Pontus Lidberg's new ballet) starting Saturday at Skuespilhuset. A sneak peek of Othello below, as well as a video clip available here:
So if you like any of the following things: camouflage; dry ice; war; strippers; backstabbing; tragedy; pigtails; excellent music; or breakdancing...then I highly suggest you come to Skuepilhuset this weekend to experience all of the above. It really is a super cool interpretation of Shakespeare, and I'm not just saying that because I'm in it ;)
(Photos from: kglteater.dk)
So if you like any of the following things: camouflage; dry ice; war; strippers; backstabbing; tragedy; pigtails; excellent music; or breakdancing...then I highly suggest you come to Skuepilhuset this weekend to experience all of the above. It really is a super cool interpretation of Shakespeare, and I'm not just saying that because I'm in it ;)
(Photos from: kglteater.dk)
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Tusind Tak to TheBalletBag.com...
...for giving me (and lovely Royal Danish Ballet photographer David Amzallag) a shout-out on their "Dance Blogs You Should Read" list :) I love their website, and it was pretty cool to see this little blog clock in at "nummer fire."
Thanks also to the fantastic audience at this evening's performance of En Skærsommernatsdrøm! It makes a huge difference when the audience is clearly loving the performance (and, like this evening, when the Queen is in attendance). I know for me, going into the show I had a stuffy nose and a nice hacking cough--thank you, weird Copenhagen weather; but hearing the audience crack up and whistle not just at the end of the show but throughout the performance definitely helped.
And so, having taken some imported Tylenol Cold medicine, this ballerina child is going to sleep. En Skærsommernatsdrøm ends its run tomorrow night, so please come if you can. Saturday begins the Shakespeare in Motion program at Skuespilhuset, and that's a pretty fab way to spend an evening also ;) Goodnight, with a little bit of Ike & Tina...a favorite among some of my friends and me. Because who doesn't love a little Proud Mary?
Thanks also to the fantastic audience at this evening's performance of En Skærsommernatsdrøm! It makes a huge difference when the audience is clearly loving the performance (and, like this evening, when the Queen is in attendance). I know for me, going into the show I had a stuffy nose and a nice hacking cough--thank you, weird Copenhagen weather; but hearing the audience crack up and whistle not just at the end of the show but throughout the performance definitely helped.
And so, having taken some imported Tylenol Cold medicine, this ballerina child is going to sleep. En Skærsommernatsdrøm ends its run tomorrow night, so please come if you can. Saturday begins the Shakespeare in Motion program at Skuespilhuset, and that's a pretty fab way to spend an evening also ;) Goodnight, with a little bit of Ike & Tina...a favorite among some of my friends and me. Because who doesn't love a little Proud Mary?
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Offstage Inspiration
Let me start by saying: I'm not the stereotypical "bunhead." I own oversized headphones and a leather jacket (which I often pair with a beloved pair of leopard print shoes or perfectly dirty Converse); I am an avid fan of professional sports; I've been told I have a unique sense of humor; I do not wear makeup offstage; and I absolutely love to talk about things unrelated to ballet--other art, books, music, unicorns, whatever. That being said, when I am at work, I absolutely love what I do. Of course I get inspired by other dancers (it would be ridiculous, not to mention a total lie, if I said otherwise), but I find I also get inspired by "non-ballet" people and things. Some examples:
Yes, like millions of other girls before me (and now), I love all things Audrey Hepburn--here, in the fantastic bar scene from Funny Face.
There is a special place in my heart (and on my bookshelf) reserved for Edward Gorey. His Gashlycrumb Tinies remains one of my (morbidly) favorite books ever.
In eighth grade, I did a report on Andy Warhol for my English final. Researching him and his work in depth, I became mildly obsessed with the Factory, Warhol, and his tragic muse, Edie Sedgwick.
Gael Monfils is an up-and-coming French tennis player. I love to watch him for several reasons: he's excellent; he makes the sport entertaining; he appears to have a healthy sense of humor (and some slick dance moves); and he's cute with fun hair. So if pigs are flying and you're reading, Gael: You've got a ballerina fan in Denmark :)
Karl Lagerfeld is a source of fascination for me. I read a biography profiling Yves Saint Laurent and Lagerfeld, and while I loved both, I was more attracted to the over-the-top, carefully calculated persona that the Chanel designer created. (Plus, if I could own everything he has ever designed, I totally would.)
I love the decades preceding my birth--in particular, the 1920s-1950s. And F. Scott Fitzgerald is one of my favorite authors. (I'm currently rereading The Great Gatsby for approximately the one bajillionth time; The Beautiful and Damned is another one of his books that I have devoured several times.) There's something about the Roaring '20s that I wish I could have experienced.
The Talking Heads rock my world. They are weird, in the best sense of the word, and Psycho Killer remains in heavy rotation on my iPod. 'Nuff said.
There is something about Jean-Michel Basquiat and his artwork that I love. It's messy, and all over the place, but I like it. Organized chaos.
First of all, I must proclaim my love for Almost Famous. The time period, the music, the fashion--I love this movie. And Kate Hudson as Penny Lane is fantastically quirky.
Grace Jones--the original Lady Gaga, only better.
Yes, like millions of other girls before me (and now), I love all things Audrey Hepburn--here, in the fantastic bar scene from Funny Face.
There is a special place in my heart (and on my bookshelf) reserved for Edward Gorey. His Gashlycrumb Tinies remains one of my (morbidly) favorite books ever.
In eighth grade, I did a report on Andy Warhol for my English final. Researching him and his work in depth, I became mildly obsessed with the Factory, Warhol, and his tragic muse, Edie Sedgwick.
Gael Monfils is an up-and-coming French tennis player. I love to watch him for several reasons: he's excellent; he makes the sport entertaining; he appears to have a healthy sense of humor (and some slick dance moves); and he's cute with fun hair. So if pigs are flying and you're reading, Gael: You've got a ballerina fan in Denmark :)
Karl Lagerfeld is a source of fascination for me. I read a biography profiling Yves Saint Laurent and Lagerfeld, and while I loved both, I was more attracted to the over-the-top, carefully calculated persona that the Chanel designer created. (Plus, if I could own everything he has ever designed, I totally would.)
I love the decades preceding my birth--in particular, the 1920s-1950s. And F. Scott Fitzgerald is one of my favorite authors. (I'm currently rereading The Great Gatsby for approximately the one bajillionth time; The Beautiful and Damned is another one of his books that I have devoured several times.) There's something about the Roaring '20s that I wish I could have experienced.
The Talking Heads rock my world. They are weird, in the best sense of the word, and Psycho Killer remains in heavy rotation on my iPod. 'Nuff said.
There is something about Jean-Michel Basquiat and his artwork that I love. It's messy, and all over the place, but I like it. Organized chaos.
First of all, I must proclaim my love for Almost Famous. The time period, the music, the fashion--I love this movie. And Kate Hudson as Penny Lane is fantastically quirky.
Grace Jones--the original Lady Gaga, only better.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Othello
After the run of En Skærsommernatsdrøm ends on Thursday, a group of us will be performing Louise Midjord's Othello at the Skuespilhuset (Playhouse). Part of the Shakespeare in Motion program at Det Kongelige Teater (running April 24-May 11), Othello was choreographed by Royal Danish Ballet corps dancer (and friend of mine) Louise Midjord, with music by Zaki and Gabriel Flies and sets by Nicolaj Spangaa. I love being a part of this piece; it's a small group of some of the younger dancers in the Company, the music is fantastic, it's a cool retelling of Shakespeare's tragedy, and hey I get to breakdance in combat boots. It premiered last season to rave reviews, and I very highly recommend coming to see this program--paired with Pontus Lidberg's new piece for Royal Danish Ballet's character dancers.
Having never been inside the Skuespilhuset before, I didn't know what sort of theatre it was. Turns out, it is the sort of theatre I fall in love with. And the sort of theatre with a particularly excellent cafeteria. I took some photos, and here is my homage to the lovely Playhouse...
The ladies' dressing room. (No, I did not take a picture of the guys'.)
The backstage area is open, and gorgeous, and I love it.
If we can't be outside to enjoy the spring weather, we may as well take advantage of the excellent view from inside the theatre.
Because who doesn't love a chandelier at work?
One can never have too many ties.
I'm pretty sure this translates to "navigating bridge," or some sort of bridge, but being American, I found it stupidly funny.
Having never been inside the Skuespilhuset before, I didn't know what sort of theatre it was. Turns out, it is the sort of theatre I fall in love with. And the sort of theatre with a particularly excellent cafeteria. I took some photos, and here is my homage to the lovely Playhouse...
The ladies' dressing room. (No, I did not take a picture of the guys'.)
The backstage area is open, and gorgeous, and I love it.
If we can't be outside to enjoy the spring weather, we may as well take advantage of the excellent view from inside the theatre.
Because who doesn't love a chandelier at work?
One can never have too many ties.
I'm pretty sure this translates to "navigating bridge," or some sort of bridge, but being American, I found it stupidly funny.
en dejlig weekend...(med jordnødder!)
After the previously recorded longest week in history, my weekend started at about 11pm on Saturday, after a performance of En Skærsommernatsdrøm. (Of which there are just two more performances; this Wednesday and Thursday night, so come see it if you can!) A group of us went to Hviids Vinstue, the oldest bar in Copenhagen, for drinks and overall merriment. Hviids is a popular post-performance place for the dancers to grab a beer--it's close to the theatre and the Metro, and the dark wood (not to mention lampshades to be drawn on!) gives a hyggeligt atmosphere to the place. We spent a wonderful hour or so with drinks, excellent conversation, and--my favorite bar snack--peanuts. (I have a thing for peanuts.) After enjoying ourselves, about half of our group went home or elsewhere; I went with four friends to a place in Nørreport called Zen. To be honest, I'm not much for nightclubs; and with my mostly-black ensemble consisting of skinny jeans, shirt, blazer, and Converse, I didn't exactly fit in with the stiletto-heeled girls and polo-clad guys in the place. That being said, I ended up having a great time thanks to the company of some excellent friends.
On Sunday, two girlfriends and I met up for coffee at a wonderful spot called The Living Room. I need to wax poetic about this cosy, organic cafe for a second--divided into two floors, the upstairs is a bar with light wood floors and some tables and chairs; but the downstairs is where I prefer to sit. Candelit, with low cushy couches and chairs, it's very bohemian and the perfect place to enjoy coffee and girl talk on a sunny Sunday afternoon.
After my coffee date, I went home and later met up with one of my best friends here to see Dansescenen's Stilhedens Symfoni af Pernille Garde at Dansehallerne. First of all, the space itself is amazing--billed as "Northern Europe's largest centre for modern dance," the place is the former site of Carlsberg's old mineral water bottling factory. And the performance was wonderful. Whether you love it or not, it was refreshing to see something different, and gave us much to discuss afterwards; I recommend going out there to see it. After the show, my friend and I grabbed some food at Cafe Straßen, on Istedgade. (Fun fact: I absolutely love Vesterbro, the neighborhood where the cafe is located.) We enjoyed very good food and fun conversation. All in all, a wonderful way to end my one-day weekend.
On Sunday, two girlfriends and I met up for coffee at a wonderful spot called The Living Room. I need to wax poetic about this cosy, organic cafe for a second--divided into two floors, the upstairs is a bar with light wood floors and some tables and chairs; but the downstairs is where I prefer to sit. Candelit, with low cushy couches and chairs, it's very bohemian and the perfect place to enjoy coffee and girl talk on a sunny Sunday afternoon.
After my coffee date, I went home and later met up with one of my best friends here to see Dansescenen's Stilhedens Symfoni af Pernille Garde at Dansehallerne. First of all, the space itself is amazing--billed as "Northern Europe's largest centre for modern dance," the place is the former site of Carlsberg's old mineral water bottling factory. And the performance was wonderful. Whether you love it or not, it was refreshing to see something different, and gave us much to discuss afterwards; I recommend going out there to see it. After the show, my friend and I grabbed some food at Cafe Straßen, on Istedgade. (Fun fact: I absolutely love Vesterbro, the neighborhood where the cafe is located.) We enjoyed very good food and fun conversation. All in all, a wonderful way to end my one-day weekend.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Love
I love love love artist David Shrigley. If I ever have a bad day, I look up his work online, and find myself some instant joy. Some examples of his quirky amazing stuff:
Classically Gaga
She doesn't know it, but Lady Gaga is quite popular within the Royal Danish Ballet. Teachers, dancers, doesn't matter. We play her music (sometimes during class), discuss her general wackiness and latest music videos, and occasionally look to her for inspiration. (I mean really--who doesn't want a hat made out of telephones?)
This fine Sunday morning, I found a classical rendition of her latest hit, "Telephone." And so for your enjoyment...Lady Gaga, classically arranged :)
This fine Sunday morning, I found a classical rendition of her latest hit, "Telephone." And so for your enjoyment...Lady Gaga, classically arranged :)
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Light at the End of the Tunnel!
The rest of the world is unaware, but this week was historic--it was the longest in history. For me (and many of my friends), at least :) [Also, I suppose the volcano eruption in Iceland was a pretty big deal too...] Tuesday through tonight, I will not have gotten home before 11:30pm any day this week. We had performances every day, as well as one late-night evening call. So needless to say, my body is loving me right now.
Today, however, promises to be different. After tonight's performance of En Skærsommernatsdrøm, several of us plan to enjoy what's left of Saturday evening by grabbing a post-performance drink and relaxing, or trying to. This is very exciting, because going out for a drink on the weekends means experiencing a tiny slice of normality for us, which is rare and foreign--in my case, literally--and mostly wonderful. No matter how physically tired we are, it's funny how we find the energy to enjoy free time, if only in small doses. I don't know about my friends, but personally I find it important to my mental health to go out and try to meet new people, and listen to music, and just be a human being for a little bit. Until tomorrow, then, enjoy this bit of Danish graffiti. Seeing it made me happy to know that "your mom" humor is international.
Today, however, promises to be different. After tonight's performance of En Skærsommernatsdrøm, several of us plan to enjoy what's left of Saturday evening by grabbing a post-performance drink and relaxing, or trying to. This is very exciting, because going out for a drink on the weekends means experiencing a tiny slice of normality for us, which is rare and foreign--in my case, literally--and mostly wonderful. No matter how physically tired we are, it's funny how we find the energy to enjoy free time, if only in small doses. I don't know about my friends, but personally I find it important to my mental health to go out and try to meet new people, and listen to music, and just be a human being for a little bit. Until tomorrow, then, enjoy this bit of Danish graffiti. Seeing it made me happy to know that "your mom" humor is international.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Rose-Colored Glasses
I know that many of my posts may make me seem like quite the happy-go-lucky ballerina child. Truth be told, I'm a true sarcastic pessimist; if you had to classify my temperament as a weather forecast, Sam Champion (or Al Roker, take your pick) would always say, "Partly cloudy." So every once in a while it's nice to remind myself that I have it pretty good--supporting myself at 21 years old, doing what I love in a fantastic little big city. And so follows photographic evidence that my work is, in fact, really really fun. A rarity in life, lemme tell ya.
Ballerina dancing outdoors = rock concert for the arts. And when we're finished tiptoeing around in tulle? Enjoying the show with a nice cold beer in hand.
Sometimes, we're in a studio very high up in Det Kongelige Teater. This is known as "Siberia" amongst some of the dancers, and I rather dislike the trek upstairs. However, it does give a lovely view of Kongens Nytorv. And occasionally, a rainbow. Who doesn't love a rainbow?
Yes, we do take fun pictures in the dressing room before performing. In this case, as a Shark in Jerome Robbins' West Side Story Suite.
Being a snowflake means taking an obligatory "I'm chilly" picture. Check it out.
I contemplated stealing this vintage Vespa from Napoli--it being my dream ride in life, due to my affinity for all things Audrey Hepburn/Cary Grant--but instead I took a picture half-sitting on it. Because that's exactly the same as owning it.
Playing with props is part of my job. No, it's not, at all, but it helps pass the time during Nutcracker.
We make ordering dance belts (basically, a jockstrap for ballerinos) sound exciting. More exciting than it already is!
We celebrate the end of a three week tour through Jylland with food and beverages and general frivolity on a train back to lovely Copenhagen.
My job is Halloween every day. I'm a snowflake, a girl in a tutu, a water nypmh...and here, a U.S. Marine goofing around onstage with friends before a performance in Budapest.
Plus? We can wear pretty much whatever we want to work. Clearly...so long as we can dance in it :)
Ballerina dancing outdoors = rock concert for the arts. And when we're finished tiptoeing around in tulle? Enjoying the show with a nice cold beer in hand.
Sometimes, we're in a studio very high up in Det Kongelige Teater. This is known as "Siberia" amongst some of the dancers, and I rather dislike the trek upstairs. However, it does give a lovely view of Kongens Nytorv. And occasionally, a rainbow. Who doesn't love a rainbow?
Yes, we do take fun pictures in the dressing room before performing. In this case, as a Shark in Jerome Robbins' West Side Story Suite.
Being a snowflake means taking an obligatory "I'm chilly" picture. Check it out.
I contemplated stealing this vintage Vespa from Napoli--it being my dream ride in life, due to my affinity for all things Audrey Hepburn/Cary Grant--but instead I took a picture half-sitting on it. Because that's exactly the same as owning it.
Playing with props is part of my job. No, it's not, at all, but it helps pass the time during Nutcracker.
We make ordering dance belts (basically, a jockstrap for ballerinos) sound exciting. More exciting than it already is!
We celebrate the end of a three week tour through Jylland with food and beverages and general frivolity on a train back to lovely Copenhagen.
My job is Halloween every day. I'm a snowflake, a girl in a tutu, a water nypmh...and here, a U.S. Marine goofing around onstage with friends before a performance in Budapest.
Plus? We can wear pretty much whatever we want to work. Clearly...so long as we can dance in it :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)