The trade magazine “Tanz” polled 34 critics about the past season; the Berlin State Ballet is thereby in first place for the third time. As the “glittering highlight of the year,” the company was awarded, among other things, for the staging of the piece banned in Russia, “Nureyev.”
The Moscow Bolshoi Theatre had removed the piece about the gay dancer Rudolf Nureyev (1938-1993) from its lineup under political pressure. The production by director Kirill Serebrennikov and choreographer Yuri Possokhov has now been shown outside Russia for the first time (review by Axel Krämer).
The company of Intendant Christian Spuck had to navigate a season with very different choreographic signatures and styles, and the ensemble was described as exceptionally well trained.
Choreographer of the Year was Sharon Eyal — she is to be recognized primarily for the impressive piece “Delay the Sadness,” which premiered at the Ruhrtriennale. “A work that is at once restrained and expressive,” the justification stated.
The survey looked beyond the stages as well. As Online Event of the Year, Damien Jalet’s choreography for Gener8ion’s video “Storm” featuring rapper Yung Lean was awarded, drawing millions of online clicks.
The lifetime achievement award goes to Brazilian ballerina Marcia Haydée, former director of the Stuttgart Ballet. As “highlights of the year” the Stuttgart Ballet, Basel Ballet, Vienna State Ballet, Ballet am Rhein, and the Gauthier Dance Company were honored.
