• doppel::punkt - Bundesjugendballett und The Young ClassX | © Silvano Ballone

  • Ein kleiner Prinz | © Melanie Couson

  • Im Aufschwung | © Silvano Ballone

  • Bundesjugendballett | © Silvano Ballone

  • Bundesjugendballett trifft Shakespeare | © Silvano Ballone

  • St. Petri Kirche | © Silvano Ballone

BUNDESJUGENDBALLETT Hamburg

Portrait

Germany’s first ever National Youth Ballet was founded by John Neumeier at the beginning of the 2011/2012 theatre season. The company under the artistic and pedagogical direction of Kevin Haigen consists of eight professional dancers between the ages of 18 to 23. With its own repertoire comprising mainly works by young choreographers, the group dances predominantly in new spaces – not theatres, but schools, museums, nursing homes and even prisons; spaces in which dance does not usually attract much interest. The National Youth Ballet aims to demonstrate that dance has a social relevance creating a spirit of community and a sense of unity, focusing especially on a young audience. The company has both national and international tours scheduled, hoping to bring people of different backgrounds and characters together through movement and creativity.

Dance as an art form lives through its dancers, but dancers can only truly do justice to this art on the basis of a profound and fundamental training that unearths artistic potential and nurtures it into fruition. Providing this training is the second aim of the National Youth Ballet.

 

General Director: John Neumeier
Artistic and Pedagogical Director: Kevin Haigen

Ballet Master: Raymond Hilbert

History and biography

The Ensemble trains and rehearses in the studios of the Ballet Center Hamburg John Neumeier but dances at extraordinary places such as retirement homes, schools, churches, prisons, festival stages and clubs. Performances all over Germany but also international tours are scheduled. The Company brings dance closer to people and to places, that don’t get in touch with this art form very often. Workshops in schools and facilities for people with special needs contribute to the aim to inspire spectators of every age.


John Neumeier was born in Milwaukee/Wisconsin in 1939 and studied in his native city as well as in Chicago, Copenhagen and London. In 1963 John Cranko invited him to join Stuttgart Ballet. After four years as Director of Ballet Frankfurt, he was appointed Director and Chief Choreographer of the Hamburg Ballet in 1973. As a choreographer, Mr. Neumeier has continually focused on the preservation of ballet tradition, while giving his works a modern dramatic framework. His ballets range from new versions of full-length story ballets to musicals and symphonic ballets as well as choreographies to sacred music. His latest creations for the Hamburg Ballet: “The Glass Menagerie“ (2019), “Beethoven-Project“ (2018) and “Anna Karenina“ (2017). In addition to his great commitment to the Hamburg Ballet, he regularly works as guest choreographer with the most renowned international ballet companies. In 1978, John Neumeier founded The School of the Hamburg Ballet and in 2011 the National Youth Ballet of Germany (Bundesjugendballett). In 2006 Mr. Neumeier established the John Neumeier Foundation with the aim of preserving and eventually making available to the public his collection of dance and ballet-related objects.

Kevin Haigen is Artistic and Pedagogical Director of the National Youth Ballet. He received his training at the School of American Ballet. After dancing with the American Ballet Theatre and the Stutgart Ballet, he joined the Hamburg Ballet in 1976 to work with John Neumeier. In 1984, he joined the Nederlands Dans Theater, became Principal Dancer, Ballet Master, teacher and choreographer at the Ballet de Monte Carlo in 1985, joined the Béjart Ballet Lausanne in 1986 and returned in 1991 to Hamburg. As Principal Ballet Master of the Hamburg Ballet and teacher for the School of the Hamburg Ballet he teaches internationally and stages John Neumeier’s ballets all over the world. Kevin Haigen was awarded with the Theaterpreis Hamburg – Rolf Mares 2019 for the coproduction “Bundesjugendballett trifft Shakespeare” with the Ernst Deutsch Theater. Most inspiring for him is the development of the future: training creative thinkers and movers that the art of ballet is a never-ending journey.

“With their own repertoire, which creatively reflects the feelings, awareness and ideas of the young generation, the youth company is an ideal mediator between youth culture, high art and the general public. It also has a valuable social aspect with a positive effect on the non-dance world. We want to tie in with the successes of other junior companies and further increase the awareness of dance as an art form within our society.”

John Neumeier, General Director

 

 

Images

Productions

  • 2019/2020

    2019/2020

    Touring Productions:

     

    „Ein kleiner Prinz“ (Premiere 2016, Revival 2020)
    Choreography: Kevin Haigen, Yuka Oishi, Pascal Schmidt, Ausschnitte aus Choreographyn von John Neumeier, Zhang Disha, Natalia Horecna

    Music: Maurice Ravel, Bryce Dessner, Edward Elgar, Leos Janácek, Anton Webern, Max Reger, Jean Francaix, Wolfgang Erich Korngold, Kellen McDaniel, Marain Marais
    Duration: ca. 70 minutes

     

    „Bundesjugendballett trifft Shakespeare“ (Premiere Mai 2019, Revival September 2020)
    Concept and Direction: Kevin Haigen

    Choreography: John Neumeier, Dustin Klein, Edvin Revazov, Joseph Toonga, Christopher Tudor, Ricardo Urbina Reyes, Raymond Hilbert, National Youth Ballet

    Music: Antonio Vivaldi, Philip Glass, W.A. Mozart, John Dowland, Jaakko Mäntyjärvi, Rebecca Clarke, Pētēris Vasks, ALIEN WOW

    Duration: ca. 2 hours
     

    Series of performances:

     

    „doppel::punkt“
    Club series of National Youth Ballet and The Young ClassX

     

    „Im Aufschwung“
    Series of National Youth Ballet at Ernst Deutsch Theater Hamburg

     

    Performances at retirement homes, schools, churches, prisons, festival stages and clubs
    Workshops with schools as well as inclusive and integrative institutions
    Cooperations with music ensembles and festivals

     

    Ausgewählte Repertoirestücke der Spielzeit 2019/2020:

     

    „EIN-KLANG"
    Choreography: Raymond Hilbert
    Music: Antonin Dvorak, Notturno op. 40 und Streichquartett No. 12 op. 96 – II. Lento
    Premiere: 2019 (Otterndorf Sole-Therme)

     

    „Étude sur Pointe“

    Choreography: Lynne Charles

    Music: Marshall McDaniel

     

     „Arked Etudes“

    Choreography: Kevin Haigen

    Music: Andersons Alden, ARK – II. Expansive und III. Locked Groove

    Premiere: 2019 (Berlin)

     

     opus 67“

    Choreography: Raymond Hilbert

    Music: Dmitri Schostakowitsch, Klaviertrio e-Moll, op. 67

    Premiere: 2019 (Berlin)

     

    „wer ko der ko"
    Choreography: Dustin Klein
    Music: Waidlerbluad / Die Hohenschwangauer / Berg Buam
    Premiere: 2017 (Stuttgart Schauspielhaus), Bundesjugendballett 2019 (Otterndorf Sole-Therme)

     

    „Benedick“

    Choreography: Dustin Klein

    Music: Alien Wow, Benedick – Mucho Ado About Nothing

    Premiere: 2019 (Hamburg, in „Bundesjugendballett trifft Shakespeare“)

     

    „Von 55 Engeln behütet“

    Choreography: Raymond Hilbert

    Music: Peteris Vasks, Streichquartett Mr. 3 – I. Moderato

    Premiere: 2019 (Lettland)

     

    „Balthasar“

    Inspiriert durch die Choreography Rap auf Ballett mit Häftlingen der JVA Rottenburg

    Choreography: Bundesjugendballett / Raymond Hilbert

    Music: Alien Wow, Balthasar – Much Ado About Nothing

    Premiere: 2019 (Nordholz. Rap auf Ballett: Rottenburg 2012)

     

    „Finding Light“

    Choreography: Edwaard Liang

    Music: Antonio Vivaldi, Konzert für Violine ‚In Due Cori‘ in B-Dur (RV 583) – II. Andante

    Premiere: Bundesjugendballett 2018 (Solingen) / 2013 (Peking)

     

    „Glory (Ehre)“

    Choreography: Edwaard Liang

    Music: Georges Bizet, L‘Arlésienne

    Premiere: 2018 (Solingen)

     

    „the little match girl passion“

    Choreography: Demis Volpi

    Music: David Lang

    Premiere: 2018 (Esslingen)

     

    „Dumbarton Oaks“

    Choreography: Bundesjugendballett

    Music: Igor Strawinsky, Konzert in Es-Dur „Dumbarton Oaks“

    Premiere: 2017 (Solingen)

     

    „BJB Songbook – What We Call Growing Up“

    Choreographyn: Ricardo Urbina Reyes, Kristian Lever, Marc Jubete, Sasha Riva, Sara Ezzell, Raymond Hilbert, Greg Blackmon, Yuka Oishi, Bundesjugendballett

    Music: Ben Harper, Imogen Heep, Bob Dylan / Carol King, Sixto Rodriguez, Joni Mitchell, Karla Bonoff, Sigur Ros, Leonhard Cohen, Tracy Chapman

    Premiere: 2017 (Hamburg)

     

    „Totilas – Der Ritt“

    Choreography: Paul Hess

    Music: TV-Mitschnitt mit Music von Paul van Dyk und einem Kommentar von Carsten Sostmeier

    Premiere: Bundesjugendballett 2016 (Leverkusen) / 2014 (Essen)

     

    „Mahl3“ aus „Infinite Identities“

    Choreography: Wubkje Kuindersma

    Music: Gustav Mahler, Klavierquartettsatz a-Moll

    Premiere: 2015 (Heidelberg)

     

    „Witches Rhymes“ aus „Infinite Identities“

    Choreography: Joseph Toonga

    Music: Philip Glass, Knee Play 1

    Premiere: 2015 (Heidelberg)

     

    „Petrushka-Variations"
    Choreography: John Neumeier
    Music: Igor Stravinsky, Petrushka – Tableau I-III

    Premiere: 1976 Schwetzingen

    „In the Blue Garden“ (aus „The Loss of Innocence“)

    Choreography: John Neumeier

    Music: Maurice Ravel, Ma Mère l´Oye

    Premiere: Bundesjugendballett, 2014 (Heidelberg) / Hamburg Ballett, 1994 (Hamburg)

     

    „Simple Gifts“ (I-V. Satz)

    Choreography: John Neumeier

    Music: Aaron Copland, Old American Songs
    Premiere: 2013 (Heidelberg)

     

    „Beethovens Streichquartett in B-Dur op.130 (Work in Progress)“

    Choreography: John Neumeier
    Music: Ludwig van Beethoven, Streichquartett in B-Dur op. 130
    Premiere: 2012 (Berlin)
     

    „Muted“

    Choreography: Sasha Riva
    Music: Peteris Vasks, Klavierquartett
    Premiere: 2012 (Esslingen)
     

    „Dressed Up in Tissue Paper“

    Choreography: Natalia Horecna

    Music: Ryoji Ikeda „Into the tranquility“, „Radiorange“, Terry Riley „Requiem for Adam – II. Cortejo Fúnebre en el Monte Diablo“, „Salome Dances For Peace - IV. The Ecstasy: Processional“, „Salome Dances For Peace - II. Conquest of the War Demons: Combat Dance“, „Remember this“, John Cage „The Perilous Night – II.“, Jacky Walker „Jaberwocky“, Luc Martinez „Ascención Final Chord Rising“, Anonymous „A door is ajar“

    Premiere: 2012 (Hamburg)

     

    „Hide and Seek“

    Choreography: Marc Jubete

    Music: Imogen Heap „Hide and Seek“

    Premiere: 2012 (Hamburg)

     

    „John´s Dream“

    Choreography: Auszüge aus verschiedenen Choreographyn von John Neumeier, Bundesjugendballett, Maša Kolar, Sasha Riva

    Music: Leonard Cohen „Halleluja“, Ludwig van Beethoven „Streichquartett Nr.13 D-Dur op. 130“, Carlos Gardel „Melodía de arrabal“, Josh Groban „Thankful“, Beatbox-Impro

     

    „Hamlets Abschied“ aus „Hamlet“

    Choreography: John Neumeier

    Music: Michael Tippet, Divertimento on Sellinger’s Round I. Allegro und II. Andante espressivo

    Premiere: 1997 (Hamburg Ballett, Hamburg)

Materials

Dokumentation - Ein Kleiner Prinz

Ein kleiner Prinz - Trailer

Bundesjugendballett trifft Shakespeare

Contact

Ballettzentrum Hamburg John Neumeier
Caspar-Voght-Str. 54
20535 Hamburg

Organisatorische Leitung: Yohan Stegli
T +49 40 35 68 923 | yohan.stegli@bundesjugendballett.de
Betriebsbüro und Projektmanagement: Sascha Hartmann
T +49 40 35 68 964 | sascha.hartmann@bundesjugendballett.de
Ansprechpartnerin Presse und Öffentlichkeit: Lisa Zillessen
T +49 35 68 916 | presse@bundesjugendballett.de

Das Bundesjugendballett wird gefördert von
der Beauftragten der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien
und der Freien und Hansestadt Hamburg.


http://www.bundesjugendballett.de
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