I promised photos and more news about what Julian was doing at SemperOper Ballett in Dresden, Germany, but…no photos were ever forthcoming. I kept waiting and waiting and waiting. Since that doesn’t seem to be a possibility, I figure I better just write something.
Also, I’ve been enormously busy launching my new book (The Author Training Manual). So…I apologize. I thought I’d give you a quick rundown of what Julian has been up to, though, since it’s been some exciting stuff.
Upcoming SemperOper Ballett Premier
Alexei Ratmansky has been working with SemperOper Ballett on a world premier, Tanzsuite, to Richard Strauss´ Divertimento, Op. 86 to open this at the end of June.
If you don’t know who Ratmansky is, well, you should. The Telegraph said, “The 45 year-old Russian Alexei Ratmansky has done more to revitalize classical ballet than any other living choreographer.” In that same article by Sarah Compton, she wrote, “Mikhail Baryshnikov told me that ‘Russia never had anyone better,’ comparing Ratmansky’s work to that of historically significant figures such as Petipa and Balanchine.” And Alastair Macaulay, critic for The New York Times, described him as “the most gifted choreographer specializing in classical ballet today.” Ratmansky, a Russian choreographer and former ballet dancer has served as the artist in residence at the American Ballet Theatre since April 2014. From 2004 to 2008, he was the director of the Bolshoi Ballet.
Julian’s has a corps part in Tanzsuite, but he has felt honored to get to work with Ratmansky at this early date in his career.
Additionally, Julian has once again worked with Stijn Celis. He appeared in this choreographer’s premier last year of Romeo and Juliet. This time he will appear in a corps role in Joseph’s Legende by Richard Strauss, who once declared his wish to reform the art of ballet. This is also part of the June Premier.
Ron and I were hoping to go see the premier, but for a variety or reasons, it hasn’t worked out. I’m heartbroken that I won’t be there. Travel to Germany in June is outrageously expensive, and Ron has to travel to Japan for work, which meant I had to go alone, something I was not to keen on doing. Ah…the challenges of having a dancin’ son in Europe.
Other Roles
Recently, Julian also danced in William Forsythe’s Artifact, and he was an understudy for roles in New Suite and Enemy in the Figure. I understand that for a variety of reasons, he did get to perform.
The company also performed Giselle, and he had a role in this as well.
Gala in Venice
The season ends mid-July, but before Julian comes home for the first time in a year, he’ll be off to Venice, Italy, for a gala that highlights young up-and-coming dancers in European companies. He was selected to perform there by his artistic director, Aaron Watkins, along with one of the other company members. He will perform New Sleep by William Forsythe and the wedding pas de deux from the third act of Sleeping Beauty. As a dancin’ mom, I have to say, this made me quite proud and excited! (Wish I could be there to see…not to mention visit Venice again.)
My Take
Julian has had a good year, and a good second half of the season. He’s had a few minor injuries, but nothing that has stopped him from dancing. He had some muscle issues in his neck—a good chiropractor would have solved that. Also, he tweaked his knee, but he still seems to be able to dance without too much issue. He took it a bit easy recently, and the problem seems to have resolved. We hope time off this summer and all our fabulous healers at home will put him back in order.
Plus, he’s had the opportunity to work with phenomenal choreographers and to learn some super roles. He had plenty of chances to perform, and he’s been uber busy. He works a ton! He says he wakes up with his body sore and tired almost every day. I guess that means he’s working hard.
And he says he’s improving all the time. How can he not be? He has missed only a few company classes all year long…and he works with some of the best ballet masters and mistresses and choreographers, such as Ratmanksy, Celis, Forsythe, and David Dawson.
Your Questions and Guest Posts
With Julian home this summer, I’m going to ask him to give me some more information for blog posts. I’d like to also request that you, as parents or dancin’ boys, please leave me comments with your questions and concerns. I’ll try to get them answered by me or by him. This will help me keep this blog going.
Also, if you are a parent of a dancin’ boy who likes to write and feels you have something important to say, feel free to send me your ideas for guest blog posts! I’d be happy to share this space with you. I hope also to start a forum here in the near future where you can ask questions and get responses from other parents, not just from me, and post things like your son’s old dance costumes for sale.
Shout Out to Dads
Last, to all the dads out there who support their sons’ dancing, here’s to you today! Happy Father’s Day! You totally rock!
Thanks for the update. Sounds like the whole family is busy in good stuff. Great ideas for future postings – i.e., no longer needed dance gear. Mentioned to my dancin’ boy re: Julian’s post later this summer, hopefully my son won’t be ’embarrassed’ to pose a question, etc. Ever thought of doing an interactive type of Q/A? That would be cool for all those dancin’ boys (& girls) out there. Probably complicated to set up and $…
Hmmm. Katie, do you mean like a Google Hangout? That would be very cool and not hard at all.
My son just finished his first year at a pre-pro school away from home. He talks constantly about diet and weight, which I know are part of his health and nutrition classes. I worry that he is getting a bit obsessed. A guest post idea I have is to talk about image for male dancers. Are there expectations for weight, muscle mass and height for our dancing boys? I know that female dancers often suffer from eating disorders. Is this something we need to be wary of for our sons that dance? Also, talk about the reality of height for males dancers. What are their options for a career if they are too short or too tall? Thanks, Nina!
Great idea, Suzanne! I’ll discuss this soon…and Julian will be available to talk about this as well, if you want in our live session. He is dealing with height issues.