Dresden SemperOper Ballett
Creating Dance which Comes from the Heart and Speaks to the Heart
Dresden SemperOper Ballett in the new season 2009|2010
There has always been dancing in this baroque town. But it was Carl Maria von Weber who first committed himself to a ballet ensemble as a permanent fixture. In the 1920s: an early artistic heyday which later continued in great choreographies under the ballet directors Tom Schilling, Harald Wandtke and lastly Vladimir Derevianko. The twenty-first century: Aaron S. Watkin has taken over the Dresden SemperOper Ballett as of August 1st 2006.
Dresden SemperOper Ballett is housed in the Saxon State Opera Dresden, better known as the Semperoper. It is one of the most beautiful historic opera houses in the world. Although destroyed during the Second World War, it was eventually reconstructed and re-opened in 1985 with one of the largest and best equipped stages in Europe. The ballet delivers 70 performances of an impeccable standard each season at the Semperoper, accompanied by the Saxon State Orchestra Dresden, Staatskapelle, one of the world’s leading orchestras. The company today comprises some 60 dancers of diverse nationalities that lend it an international flair. Dresden SemperOper Ballett performs romantic, classical, neo-classical and modern works. The large number of dancers together with their high level of training and versatility allow the company to fulfill its responsibilities to the full-length classics, as well as to contemporary mixed programs rich in contrast.
Dresden SemperOper Ballett can look back on a long history. The Ballet first became prominent during the 1920s under the direction of Ellen Cleve - Petz. Choreographies were being created that were among the best performed on German stages at the time. When the theatre was destroyed on 13|14 February 1945, further development of the ballet appeared to have come to an end. Soon after, however, followed great full length works in the classical and romantic tradition, and there was a strong commitment to the production of new works. The long standing activities of Tom Schilling, decisively influenced ballet history in the German Democratic Republic and, in particular, promoted the work of ballet in Dresden in the 1950s and 1960s.
Between 1978 and 1985, the works of choreographer Harald Wandtke captured the interest of the public and professional circles. From 1985 onwards, the ballet ensemble of the State Opera Dresden, housed once more in the restored Semperoper, illustrated its artistic importance with many performances by various reputable choreographers before national and international audiences. Including works by Harald Wandtke, Oleg Vinogradov, Konstantine Russu, Hilda Riveros, Emöke Pöstenyi and Birgit Cullberg.
From 1993 until 2006, Vladimir Derevianko was artistic director of the then called Ballett Dresden, bringing with him many new classical and modern ballets that enhanced the company's repertoire by leading choreographers including Mauro Bigonzetti, Mats Ek, William Forsythe, Jiri Kylian, John Neumeier, Uwe Scholz, Glen Tetley, Stephan Thoss, Vladimir Vassiliev, and Petr Zuska.
As of August 1st, 2006, Aaron S. Watkin is the Artistic Director of the Dresden SemperOper Ballett along with David Dawson as Resident Choreographer from August 2006 until July 2009.
To create dance which comes from the heart and speaks to the heart and, with the art of movement, to comprehend those deep human emotions which words can sometimes not express: this is the goal and task of the new company of Dresden SemperOper Ballett.
Dresden SemperOper Ballett is a member of the European support programme D.A.N.C.E.
