Gilgamesch von Ralf Dörnen | Tänzer: Stefano Fossat | © Peter van Heesen
Gilgamesch von Ralf Dörnen | Tänzer: Lucas Praetorius | © Peter van Heesen
Der Nussknacker von Ralf Dörnen | Tänzerin:Juul van Helvoirt | © Peter van Heesen
Der Nussknacker von Ralf Dörnen | Tänzer*innen: Juul van Helvoirt, Vitor Oliveira Pires | © Peter van Heesen
The Ballet Vorpommern has now made a name for itself nationwide and has been very successful under the direction of Ralf Dörnen in Greifswald / Stralsund / Putbus for 25 years. The 13 dancers have a high level of both classical and contemporary technique. Ralf Dörnen's ideas for choreographies have their origins in literary material or in musical works. Examples of this are "Macbeth", "Othello", "Endstation Sehnsucht", and ballet evenings such as "Debussy / Gershwin", "Und die Seele unbewacht…“ with music by Hans Werner Henze and Richard Strauss or "The Juliet Letters" based on the Album by Elvis Costello. The choreographer draws his movements from the relationship between music and emotion, and in the narrative it is important to him to convey the inner state of the characters.
Guest choreographers also shape the artistic signature of BallettVorpommern, above all those who are invited to the contemporary format "TanZZeiT". These include Tiago Manquinho, Lesley Telford, Marco Cantalupo, Vera Sander, Maura Morales, Roberto Tedesco and Kristina Paulin, among others. Andreas Heise, Marc Jubete and Maura Morales have been invited as guest choreographers for three new productions this season.
Touring/venues: Guest performances in Copenhagen, Hanover, Bremen (North German Dance Meeting), Essen (appearance at the German Dance Prize) and Berlin. Invitations to galas in Gießen, Bremerhaven and Nordhausen.
Artistic direction: Ralf Dörnen
Founded in 1997 under the direction of Ralf Dörnen
Number of company members: 13 dancers
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Ralf Dörnen
Artistic Director and Ballet Director
Ralf Dörnen received his ballet training at the Institute for Stage Dance in Cologne and at the Hamburg State Opera. This was followed by an engagement at the Hamburg Ballet with John Neumeier, from 1986 as a soloist. Ralf Dörnen has been ballet director and chief choreographer at BallettVorpommern since 1997, for which he has created over 60 ballets. In co-production with the German Pavilion at EXPO 2000 he created „ich spinne mich in meiner Puppe ein ...“ and in 2001 for the Bavarian State Ballet "messer(s) Schneide". The ballet „Verklärte Nacht“ (A. Schönberg), created for the Semperoper Dresden in 1999, was also taken over by the aalto ballett theater in Essen (2005) and the National Theater in Brno/Czech Republic (2012). In 2005 he was awarded the Rubenow Medal of the University and Hanseatic City of Greifswald. In 2009 his choreography for "A Streetcar Named Desire" was nominated for the Theater Prize DER FAUST. In 2016 he was awarded the culture prize of the state of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania.
BallettVorpommern is a contemporary ballet company based on classical ballet technique, but equally open to modern and contemporary movement languages and styles. The company is based in the University and Hanseatic City of Greifswald within the Theater Vorpommern.
Ralf Dörnen, former soloist of Hamburg Ballet John Neumeier, has been ballet director since 1997; since his appointment as artistic director in 2021, Adonai Luna has been co-director and first ballet master.
The repertoire of BallettVorpommern includes full-length action ballets such as "Der Nussknacker", "Othello" or "Gilgamesch" choreographed by Ralf Dörnen as well as regular ballets and dance pieces of the more modern or contemporary repertoire by guest choreographers such as Andreas Heise or Maura Morales.
Productions from the 2022/2023 season
Gilgamesch
Premiere in Stralsund on October 22, 2022
Production and choreography: Ralf Dörnen
Music by Michio Woirgardt (commissioned by Theater Vorpommern)
Stage and costumes: Klaus Hellenstein
One of the oldest and most important poems of mankind, the approximately 3600 year old Gilgamesh Epic, describes the search for eternal life and man's futile attempt to understand his own destiny.
Number of dancers: 11 (Jemina Bowring, Tali Elman, Bárbara Flora, Stefano Fossat, Juul van Helvoirt, Armen Khachatryan, Vitor Oliveira Pires, Avah Painter, Lucas Praetorius, Mario Salas Maya, Cristina Dora Serrano Sánchez)
Performance duration: approx. 90 minutes, no intermission
M-o(z)art²
Premiere in Stralsund on February 4, 2023
Production & Choreography: Andreas Heise
Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Stage & Costumes: Sascha Thomsen
Despite numerous attempts by biographers, writers and filmmakers to capture Mozart's essence, we cannot really know who Mozart was. Whether he was a child prodigy, a genius, a bon vivant, or in the form of a chocolate praline, Mozart is fraught with many clichés. However, as the most important tangible and true document of his being, we have his music. The ballet evening episodically approaches Mozart's personality from his own music. A declaration of love by the choreographer to the great master of classical music.
Number of dancers: 13 (Jemina Bowring, Emanuele Costanzo, Tali Elman, Bárbara Flora, Stefano Fossat, Juul van Helvoirt, Armen Khachatryan, Vitor Oliveira Pires, Avah Painter, Lucas Praetorius, Mario Salas Maya, Cristina Dora Serrano Sánchez, Vincenzo Vitanza)
Performance duration: about 90 minutes, one intermission
Wie weiter? (en: What next?)
Premiere in Stralsund on April 6, 2023
Production: Annette Kuß
Choreography: Marc Jubete Music Ludger Nowak
Stage & Costumes: Eva Humburg
In this joint development of ballet and drama, two ensembles with different stage expertise search for a common expression of crisis-ridden contemporary phenomena and the longing for cohesion and future perspectives.
Number of dancers: 13 (Jemina Bowring, Emanuele Costanzo, Tali Elman, Bárbara Flora, Stefano Fossat, Juul van Helvoirt, Armen Khachatryan, Vitor Oliveira Pires, Avah Painter, Lucas Praetorius, Mario Salas Maya, Cristina Dora Serrano Sánchez, Vincenzo Vitanza)
Performance duration: Not yet known
María de Buenos Aires
Premiere in Stralsund on June 22, 2023
Production & Choreography: Maura Morales
Music by Astor Piazzolla
Musical direction: Florian Csizmadia
Stage & Costumes Heiko Mönnich
"María de Buenos Aires" is a unique theatrical Gesamtkunstwerk. To the surreal-lyrical texts of the Uruguayan poet Horacio Ferrer, Astor Piazzolla created a music that breathes the tango from every note, yet goes far beyond it. The result is a work that transcends in every respect. Here, mysticism and reality intermingle as well as opera and dance.
Number of dancers: 13 (Jemina Bowring, Emanuele Costanzo, Tali Elman, Bárbara Flora, Stefano Fossat, Juul van Helvoirt, Armen Khachatryan, Vitor Oliveira Pires, Avah Painter, Lucas Praetorius, Mario Salas Maya, Cristina Dora Serrano Sánchez, Vincenzo Vitanza)
Performance duration: Not yet known
The Nutcracker (revival)
Premiere in Greifswald on October 30, 1999 / Revival in Stralsund on December 14, 2022
Production & Choreography: Ralf Dörnen
Musical direction: Alexander Mayer / Philharmonic Orchestra Vorpommern
Stage: Alexander Herrmann
Costumes: Ralf Christmann
The most performed ballet worldwide tells the story of little Klara-Marie, who is given a nutcracker by her godfather Drosselmeier on Christmas Eve. In a dream, the Nutcracker appears to her as a prince and whisks her away to a fairy-tale world. The literary basis of the ballet is the fairy tale "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King" by E. T. A. Hoffmann.
Number of dancers: 13 (Jemina Bowring, Emanuele Costanzo, Tali Elman, Bárbara Flora, Stefano Fossat, Juul van Helvoirt, Armen Khachatryan, Vitor Oliveira Pires, Avah Painter, Lucas Praetorius, Mario Salas Maya, Cristina Dora Serrano Sánchez, Vincenzo Vitanza)
Performance duration: about 120 minutes, one intermission
Productions form the 2019/2020 season
„Und die Seele unbewacht …“ (2019)
Choreography: Ralf Dörnen
Stage: ca 150m²
Dancers: 13
Duration: 110 min (inkl. intermission)
Othello (2020)
Choreography: Ralf Dörnen
Music: Michio Woirgardt (commissioned composition by Theater Vorpommern)
Stage: ca 150m²
Dancers: 13
Duration: N.N.
TanZZeiT 2020 (2020)
Choreographies: Jemina Bowring, Alessio Ciaccio, Emilia Lakic, Bárbara Flora, Stefano Fossat, Andrea Truzzi
Stage: ca 150m²
Dancers: 13
Duration: N.N.
Weihnachten - Das Ballett (2018)
Choreografy: Ralf Dörnen, Musik: J. S. Bach, Seal u.a.,
Stage: ca 150m²
Dancers: 13
Duration: 120 min (inkl. intermission)
Productions from the 2018/2019 season
Weihnachten – das Ballett (2018)
Choreography: Ralf Dörnen, music: J. S. Bach, Seal u.a., stage dimensions: ca. 150m²
Dancers: 13
Duration: 120min (incl. interval)
Der Besuch (2019)
Choreography: Ralf Dörnen after „Der Besuch der alten Dame“ by Friedrich Dürrenmatt, music: Karl Amadeus Hartmann and J. S. Bach, stage dimensions: ca. 150m²
Dancers: 13
Duration: 90min
TanZZeiT 2019 (2019)
Choreography: Tiago Maquinho a.G., Kristian Lever a.G., stage dimensions: ca. 150m²
Dancers: 13
Duration: n.a.
Die Träume des sinnreichen Junkers Don Quijote de la Mancha – Ritter von der traurigen Gestalt (2018)
Choreography: Ralf Dörnen, music: Stephan Marc Schneider, Philharmonisches Orchester Vorpommern, stage dimensions: ca. 150m²
Dancers: 13
Duration: 135min (incl. interval)
Rebeccas Schatten (2017)
Choreography: Ralf Dörnenafter Daphne du Maurier and Alfred Hitchcock
music: Arnold Bax und Alan Rawsthorne, stage dimensions: ca. 150m²
Dancers: 13
Duration: 120min (incl. interval)
Productions from the 2017/2018 season
Auf verwachsenem Pfade / Le sacre du printemps (2018)
Choreography: Ralf Dörnen, music: Leoš Janáček und I. Strawinsky, stage dimensions: ca. 150m²
Dancers: 13
Duration: 120min (incl. interval)
TanZZeiT 2018. (2018)
Re – Cordis (2018)
Choreography: Daniel Morales Pérez
Dancers: 6
stage dimensions: ca. 144m²
Duration: 45min
Para no olvidar (2018)
Choreography: David Blázquez
Dancers: 6
stage dimensions: ca. 144m²
Duration: 35min
Die Träume des sinnreichen Junkers Don Quijote de la Mancha – Ritter von der traurigen Gestalt (2018)
Choreography: Ralf Dörnen after themes from Miguel de Carvantes Saavedra
music: Stephan Marc Schneider, Philharmonisches Orchester Vorpommern, stage dimensions: ca. 150m²
Anzahl der Dancers: 13
Duration: 135min (incl. interval)
Rhapsody in Gershwin (2016)
Choreography: Ralf Dörnen, music: George Gershwin, stage dimensions: ca. 150m²
Dancers: 13
Duration: 150min (incl. eine interval)
Casanova - (K)ein biografisches Ballett
Choreography: Ralf Dörnen, music: W. A. Mozart u.a., Philharmonisches Orchester Vorpommern, stage dimensions: ca. 150m²
Dancers: 13
Duration: 120min (incl. interval)
Der Nussknacker (1999)
Choreography: Ralf Dörnen, music: P. I. Tschaikowsky, Philharmonisches Orchester Vorpommern, stage dimensions: ca. 150m²
Dancers: 13
Duration: 120min (incl. interval)
Productions from the 2016/2017 season
Rosen (2015)
Choreography: Ralf Dörnen, music from Tschaikowskij to Seal
13 dancers, stage 150m², approx. 120 min
Rhapsody in Gershwin (2016)
Choreography: Ralf Dörnen, music: George Gershwin
13 dancers, Philharmonisches Orchester Vorpommern, stage 150m², approx. 120 min
Rebeccas Schatten (2017)
Choreography: Ralf Dörnen, music: Arnold Bax, Alan Rawsthorne
13 dancers, Philharmonisches Orchester Vorpommern, stage 150m²
TanZZeit (2017)
Choreography: Vera Sander, Maura Morales
13 dancers, stage 144m²
Der Nussknacker (1999)
Choreography: Ralf Dörnen, music: P.I. Tschaikowskij
14 dancers, Philharmonisches Orchester Vorpommern, stage 150 m², 120 min
Soul Ballett Open Air (2017)
In planning
Productions from the 2015/2016 season
Rosen (2015)
Choreography: Ralf Dörnen, music from Tschaikowskij to Seal
13 dancers, Stage 150m², 120 min
Casanova (2016)
Choreography: Ralf Dörnen, music: W.A. Mozart u.a.
13 dancers, Philharmonic Orchestra Vorpommern, stage 150m²
TanZZeit (2016)
Choreography: Adam Sojka, Brigel Gjoka
13 dancers, stage 180m²
Anna Karenina (2015)
Choreography: Ralf Dörnen, music: M. Weinberg
13 dancers, Philharmonic Orchestra Vorpommern, stage 150 m², 135 min
Der Nussknacker (1999)
Choreography: Ralf Dörnen, music: P.I. Tschaikowsky
14 dancers, Philharmonic Orchestra Vorpommern, stage 150 m², 120 min
Rock’n’Ballet Open Air (2015)
Coproduction with the Opera na Zamku w Szczecinie Ballet (PL)
Choreography: Jochen Heckmann, Robert Glumbek
24 dancers, Stage 190 m², 120 min
Productions of the 2014/2015 season
Anna Karenina (2015)
Choreography: Ralf Dörnen, music: M. Weinberg
13 dancers, Philharmonisches Orchester Vorpommern, stage 150 m², 120 min
Rockballett Open-Air (2015)
Choreography: n. a., music: n. a.
ca. 30 dancers (BallettVorpommern and Ballett of Opera na Zamku Stettin), stage 190 m², length n. a.
TanZZeiT (2015)
Choreography: Bryan Diaz, Shumpei Nemoto
13 dancers, stage 180 m², 60 min
In Love - Serenade / Carmen (2014)
Choreography: Ralf Dörnen, music: Leonard Bernstein, Rodion Shchedrin/Georges Bizet
13 dancers, stage 200 m², 80 min
Sunset Boulevard (2013)
Choreography: Ralf Dörnen, music: Elmar Bernstein, E. W. Korngold, Victor Young
13 dancers, stage 200 m², 120 min
Die Schöne und das Biest (2012)
Choreography: Ralf Dörnen, music: William Vaughan
13 dancers, Philharmonisches Orchester Vorpommern, stage 150 m², 120 min
Gilgamesch
Der Nussknacker
BallettVorpommern
Theater Vorpommern GmbH
Anklamer Straße 106 | 17489 Greifswald
Tel 03834 5722 0 | Fax 03834 5722 242
info@theater-vorpommern.de
Ralf Dörnen
Intendant & Ballettdirektor
Theater Vorpommern
Friedrich-Loeffler-Straße 8, 17489 Greifswald Tel: 03834 – 57 22 229
Mobil: 0173 – 70 69 210
r.doernen@theater-vorpommern.de
Adonai Luna
Co-Ballettdirektor & 1. Ballettmeister
Ballett Vorpommern
Siemensallee 5, 17489 Greifswald Tel: 03834-57 22 227
a.luna@theater-vorpommern.de
Gisela Fontarnau Galea
2. Ballettmeisterin
Ballett Vorpommern
Siemensallee 5, 17489 Greifswald Tel: 03834-57 22 226
g.fontarnau.galea@theatervorpommern.de
