Return of the Scrooge... and a behind-the-scenes peek at the "new" Badisches Staatsballett Karlsruhe
Selfie I took during a tour to Basel, January 2019
“Bah... humbug!!” I groaned, as I tried doing my first plié in over four months. I was excited to return to Karlsruhe ballet to perform and teach one of my favourite roles, Scrooge, in Youri Vamos´s Nutcracker – A Christmas Carol. You would think that Scrooge is just an old man, but once he goes through his famous transformation, he becomes a wacky ball of energy that does tours, entrechat sixes, and the moon walk, all in his pajamas and slippers.
At least this Scrooge has been keeping fit after retiring from ballet in July this year. I run an average of 30km per week, and have even completed my first 10km race in under 47 minutes. I love running. It’s my preferred way to suffer. It’s also the time I use to think. And it doesn’t make my hips hurt the way ballet does.
But starting to do barre again in our living room, I realized that I have been neglecting an important part: flexibility. Thankfully “Yoga with Adriene” on Youtube helped me oil the joints again. And I’m sure I’ll continue this practice, as it’s excellent for keeping both mind and body flexible.
Starting rehearsals in Karlsruhe was therefore easier on my body than expected. I worked at Karlsruhe Ballet for 12 years. So, it was weird to return there and find a completely new and different company. Luckily, there were quite a few familiar faces and I was welcomed warmly by the whole company.
Bridget Breiner, who now leads the company as Artistic Director and Head Choreographer, said that I was more than welcome to take some photographs during the rehearsals. Yay! Below you can view some photos I took during a studio run-through of their production, “Seid Umschlungen” (Be embraced). It is the first production of this new chapter in the history of ballet in Karlsruhe.
