Taiwan / October 2019 (Day 5)

Finally, the day of the performance has arrived! We are proud to be the first ballet company to be performing in this brand new theater which just opened last season and to bring our art form to the audiences of Kaohsiung!

Photos: Roman Novitzky

Company class in the morning starts the day: here with Alessandro Giaquinto, Friedemann Vogel, Daiana Ruiz, Priscylla Gallo and at the piano Catelijne Smit who always gets the dancers motivated with her magical music mix

A big thank you to our main sponsor Porsche AG Stuttgart for the lovely t-shirts commemorating this tour to Taiwan and China!

Notes on stage after class for the whole company

Artistic Director Tamas Detrich and Ballet Mistress Yseult Lendvai giving notes from the dress rehearsal the night before and inspiration for the evening’s performance

The dancers listen attentively

Between morning class/rehearsals and the evening performance, the dancers have a short break. Just enough to do a bit of sightseeing and gain appreciation of Taiwanese culture

Impressions of lovely Kaohsiung…

A quick snack before the performance: yummy dumplings

It‘s show time! Friedemann Vogel applies eyeliner while make-up artist Lola Khurramova styles his hair

Adhonay Soares da Silva deep in concentration while the friendly staff of the theater helps him with his costume

Matteo Miccini warms up on stage before the performance

Elisa Badenes and Matteo Miccini on stage before the performance

Elisa Badenes and Matteo Miccini stretching

Very important: Elisa Badenes‘ pointe shoes which will carry her through the evening

Just before the start of the second act

Christian Pforr und Clemens Froehlich in the tarantella

Sonia Santiago as the nurse and Alessandro Giaquinto as clown

Friedemann Vogel as Romeo dreaming of Juliet

Rocio Aleman as gypsy with Friedemann Vogel as Romeo

Dresser Johanna Doring prepares Friedemann Vogel for the third act

Friedemann on stage at the beginning of the third act

The last pas de deux of Romeo and Juliet: Elisa and Friedemann

Elisa and Friedemann

Romeo with Juliet just before he has to leave her

Martí Fernández Paixà as Count Paris with Elisa Badenes as Juliet

Elisa as Juliet: about to take the potion

Friedemann Vogel, Elisa Badenes and Martí Fernández Paixà: in the crypt, Paris sees Romeo at Juliet’s bier

Juliet prepares to take her life, unbale to live without Romeo

For never was a story of more woe, than this of Juliet and her Romeo – William Shakespeare

Elisa Badenes and Friedemann Vogel take their first bow after an intense performance of John Cranko’s masterpiece

Bangkok Tour // October 2017 (Day 9)

We are so happy…we had a fantastic first performance in Bangkok and we celebrated our Soloist Adhonay Soares da Silva’s debut as Petrucchio in The Taming of the Shrew. Instead of trying to put it in a nutshell, we let the photos of our photographer and Principal Dancer Roman Novitzky speak for themselves…

Just before the stage rehearsal: Alicia Amatriain and Hyo-Jung Kang put on their pointe shoes next to the rosin box.

A lighthearted moment in the dressing room: Noan Alves, Adrian Oldenburger and Daniele Sillingardi with their efficient and always helpful dresser Kerstin Stahl.

Wigholder for Hortensio’s wig.

After just two short days of preparation the first performance is finally here: Fabio Adorisio as Hortensio, Alessandro Giaquinto as Gremio and Martí Fernández Paixà as Lucentio in the first act.

Jessica Fyfe as Bianca. Her Australian parents are sitting in the audience. For them, Bangkok is much closer than Germany and they take advantage of the geographical proximity to see their daughter dance.

Alessandro Giaquinto also has a debut this evening as Gremio and wins the audience over with his quirky interpretation of the role. Here with Jessica Fyfe as Bianca.

Jessica Fyfe and Martí Fernández Paixà dancing a Pas de deux.

Elisa Badenes and Adhonay Soares da Silva in the first Pas de deux – also known as the “fight Pas de deux”.

Adhonay Soares da Silva and Elisa Badenes: Petrucchio tries to convince Katherina that he is in love with her.

Adhonay Soares da Silva enjoys the signature big jumps which characterise this leading role.

During the intermission: a “portrait” of Alessandro Giaquinto in make-up as Gremio.

Adhonay Soares da Silva during the intermission: deservedly happy and relieved how well the first act has gone.

Coming together there, where the wi-fi is most efficient: Hyo-Jung Kang, Louis Stiens, Angelina Zuccarini, Rocio Aleman and Ami Moriat surf the web while Alicia Amatriain sews her pointe shoes.

Elisa Badenes, Anouk van der Weijde and Katarzyna Kozielska backstage during the intermission.

The second act: Adhonay Soares da Silva and Elisa Badenes at the end of the first Pas de deux.

Rocio Aleman, Fabio Adorisio, Alessandro Giaquinto and Katarzyna Kozielska in the second act.

Adhonay Soares da Silva and Elisa Badenes in the last Pas de deux.

Elisa Badenes and Adhonay Soares da Silva.

After a sensational debut by Adhonay Soares da Silva and a very successful performance by the entire cast, the company takes a bow before a highly appreciative audience.

His excellency Mr. Peter Pruegel, German Ambassador to Thailand, gives Elisa Badenes flowers and congratulates the company.

 

 

Bangkok Tour // October 2017 (Day 8)

Rehearsing for a special moment! Soloist Adhonay Soares da Silva will have his debut in the leading role of Petrucchio in The Taming of the Shrew in Bankok. Artististic Director Reid Anderson explains the final nuances in a Pas de deux rehearsal, together with our Principal Dancer Elisa Badenes. We keep our fingers crossed…

Artistic Director Reid Anderson in rehearsal for The Taming of the Shrew with Elisa Badenes and Adhonay Soares da Silva, who will have his debut in the leading role of Petrucchio in Bangkok.

Reid Anderson rehearses Elisa Badenes and Adhonay Soares da Silva.

Reid Anderson – with Elisa Badenes – shows Adhonay Soares da Silva the correct grips.

Ballet Master Krzysztof Nowogrodzki helpfully pulls the horse for Adhonay Soares da Silva and Elisa Badenes for the first scene of the second act.

Nothing is as easy as it looks: even the “gymnastics” on the “horse” have to be rehearsed. Here with Adhonay Soares da Silva and Elisa Badenes.

Artistic Director Reid Anderson explains the humor of the scene to Adhonay Soares da Silva and Elisa Badenes.

Practicing the famous “Shrew” lift: Adhonay Soares da Silva and Elisa Badenes double check the position in the mirror, while Ballet Master Krzysztof Nowogrodzki spots Elisa to ensure she does not fall, and Reid Anderson observes the lift he himself danced so many times.

Reid Anderson explains the nuances and details of the Pas de deux to Elisa Badenes, Adhonay Soares da Silva and Krzysztof Nowogrodzki.

Bangkok Tour // October 2017 (Day 7)

After three very successful performances in Singapore, the company travels on to Bangkok, one of the most exciting cities in the world. At the moment however, the mood is somewhat subdued as the Thai people prepare for the cremation and state burial of their beloved King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The official ceremony will take place on October 26th. Many people are wearing black and all billboards are covered with images of the deceased king with messages of love and respect for this monarch who reigned for an unprecedented 70 years. Nonetheless the company is very happy to be here performing two performances of John Cranko’s The Taming of the Shrew as part of  the 19th International Festival of Dance and Music.

Joana Romaneiro, Elena Buschuyeva, Fabio Adorisio, Katarzyna Kozielska, Matteo Miccini and Ami Morita at the airport in Singapore…Waiting for the plane to Bangkok.

First day in the theater: the dancers on their way to the Thailand Cultural Center.

The load in begins: technical and lighting staff of the State Theater Stuttgart work with their Thai colleagues.

Load in and set up in the Thai Cultural Center: the bare, spares walls of the theater transform at top speed into the colorful sets of Cranko’s Taming of the Shrew.

Julliane Franzoi and Elisa Ghisalberti in the courtyard of the theater.

Sonja von Droste hangs up the signage where to find what – indispensable in a theater which most of the dancers and staff are not familiar with.

Controlled chaos: just before company class in the studio.

Alexander Mc Gowan after class.

In Bangkok Adhonay Soares da Silva will have his debut as Petrucchio – here in rehearsal with this Katherina Elisa Badenes.

Reid Anderson coaches Adhonay Soares da Silva for his big debut – here with Elisa Badenes. What luck for this young dancer to receive the many valuable tips and information which Reid Anderson has to impart.

Reid Anderson, Adhonay Soares da Silva, Elisa Badenes.

Reid Anderson checks on one of the more difficult lifts.

Reid Anderson explains one of the lifts to Adhonay Soares da Silva and Elisa Badenes.

At the same time in another studio: David Moore and Hyo-Jung Kang rehears the Pas de deux of Bianca and Lucentio.

Hyo-Jung Kang and David Moore.

Rehearsal for The Taming of the Shrew: Jason Reilly as Petrucchio makes fun of Katherina (Alicia Amatriain).

Inside the company we call the first Pas de deux from the second act the “Floppy Chicken Pas de deux”. Here you can see why. With Jason Reilly as Petrucchio and Alicia Amatriain as Katherina.

The Shrew (Alicia Amatriain) in top form. With Jason Reilly as Petrucchio.

Katherina (Alicia Amatriain) and Petrucchio (Jason Reilly) continue their psychological tug of war.

The biggest challenge in the Pas de deux: the famous lift on the hips.

Ballet Mistress Yseult Lendvai, Associate Artistic Director Tamas Detrich, and Ballet Master Thierry Michel rehearse the ensemble.

Ballet Master Rolando D’Alesio and Leading Repetitor Paul Lewis in rehearsal.

Yseult Lendvai, Tamas Detrich, Thierry Michel at rehearsal.

In the courtyard of the theater a group of girls practices a dance routine and happily pose for our photographer and Principal Dancer Roman Novitzky.

The girls practice!

Principal Dancer Alicia Amatriain joins in, Fabio Adorisio watches.

Fabio Adorisio decides to join in.

David Moore, Mert Erdin, and Christopher Kunzelmann in rehearsal.

Jason Reilly and Alicia Amatriain rehearse the last Pas de deux of Cranko’s The Taming of the Shrew.

Singapore Tour // October 2017 (Day 6)

For the last time on stage with John Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet in Singapore, before heading to Bangkok. We would like to thank The Esplanade – Theaters from the Bay for the support and comfort. We had a great time!

Matteo Miccini, Ludovico Pace, Fabio Adorisio, Jason Reilly and Adhonay Soares at the beginning of the first act: Romeo and his friends.

Hyo-Jung Kang as Juliet.

Adhonay Soares as Mercutio in the first act.

Jason Reilly with make-up artist Lola Khurramova shortly before the performance: getting serious.

Hyo-Jung Kang as Juliet and Sonia Santiago as the nurse: Juliet receives her first ball gown.

Jason Reilly becomes one with the stage: that special moment of stillness before the stage explodes with energy during the performance.

Alexander Mc Gowan and Hyo-Jung Kang: Juliet dances with her intended betrothed count Paris.

The Capulet’s ball.

Romeo is overwhelmed by his feelings for Juliet.

The most wonderful moment in the ballet: the balcony Pas de deux with Hyo-Jung Kang as Juliet and Jason Reilly as Romeo.

Totally in love: Hyo-Jung Kang as Juliet and Jason Reilly as Romeo.

Tybalt’s death: Jason Reilly as the enraged Romeo, Matteo Crockard-Villa as the villain Tybalt, in disbelief over his own mortality.

Mercutio’s death: Matteo Miccini as Benvolio, Adhonay Soares as Mercutio, Jason Reilly as Romeo.

The entire cast takes a bow – the last performance in Singapore comes to an end.

Matteo Crockard-Villa and Jason Reilly: Tybalt challenges Romeo to a duell.

Hyo-Jung Kang and Jason Reilly in the last Pas de deux.

Happy after three successful performances!

Agnes Su, María Andrés Betoret, Anouk van der Weijde, Elisa Ghisalberti, Elene Bushuyeva, Veronika Verterich, Aiara Iturrioz Rico, and Joanna Romaneiro as the bridesmaids.

Hyo-Jung Kang and Jason Reilly.

Matteo Crockard-Villa as Tybalt.

Hyo-Jung Kang and Jason Reilly.

Group photo after the performance.

The second act: Sonia Santiago as the nurse searches for Romeo in the town square of Verona in order to give him Juliet’s letter.

Head of Technical Staff Axel Schob at work on stage during the dismantle.

Sonia Santiago as the nurse, Jason Reilly as Romeo, Louis Stiens as Friar Lawrence and Hyo-Jung Kang as Juliet: the lovers’ secret nuptials.

Hyo-Jung Kang and Jason Reilly take their bow at the end of the performance.