JUNIOR BALLET ANTWERP, 2nd cohort

On 19 and 20 March, JBA organized live auditions for the second time in Antwerp for young dancers from all corners of the world. This pre-professional dance program did not have an easy start. Corona threw a spanner in the works. It became a trial of strength to achieve the intended results. But artists are inventive. Now we are confronted with the madness of the war in Ukraine. Everyone suffers from it. And these things persist. They travel silently into the future. Young people with the sacred fire burning inside them are not deterred by the stranglehold of corona and current events. They dream of a dance career and have everything at stake for it. Steadfast in their ideals, they embrace an uncertain future. JBA received, despite difficult times, more than 300 registrations for the strict auditions – 50 talented young artists were selected to show what they have to offer and thus earn a place in the two-year pre-professional program that JBA offers. Twenty talented dancers were selected. JBA bridges the gap between studying and professional dancing and gives young talent the opportunity to further perfect themselves. At ballet school, they already received serious basic training. At JBA, the fine-tuning follows. Over a period of two years, these artists of the future participate in exclusive workshops, led by renowned coaches and dance experts, and gain stage experience. The focus is on further developing their artistic and technical capacities. Ballet is a top sport, mentally and physically demanding. An important issue is also learning to deal with stress.

Initiators

After a successful career as principal at Ballet Vlaanderen, Alain Honorez chose a freelance existence. He was a sought-after guest dancer at home and abroad. He also worked temporarily as ballet master at Ballet Vlaanderen. His body is imprinted with traces. It is a living archive. With special alertness and a feeling for beauty, he also studied photography and was active as a teacher and coach. In 2019, together with Irma Swijnen, he realized his great dream and Junior Ballet Antwerp was christened. As an independent artistic director, he guides the young dancers in collaboration with choreographer and life partner Altea Nuñez.

JBA profiles itself as a pre-professional training program in the form of a junior ballet company. Building on the pioneering legacy of Jeanne Brabants and the rich experience that Alain Honorez can draw from his own career as a star dancer, JBA offers both classical and contemporary dance techniques. Somewhere there is a gap. After secondary ballet training, young people are thrown to the wolves. Competition is fierce among smaller companies. They can join companies in the corps de ballet. From his own experience, Alain Honorez provides tools: combining dance technicality with stage presence. The world-renowned choreographer David Dawson is the artistic patron of Junior Ballet Antwerp.

Boundary-pushing

Nowadays, many art disciplines are mixed in cross-overs. Styles are linked and matched together. JBA also plays into that. Combining contemporary classical ballet with an eclectic variety of other art forms such as film, music, fashion, photography… to stimulate artistic events.

Their first performance was 'SEASONS 4.0' (The Four Seasons) set to music by Vivaldi/Max Richter, a composition with special time dimensions. For each season, a different choreographer was invited to contribute with his own dance vocabulary. This resulted in an outstanding performance. Ranging from joyous and meticulous to tragic.

When the entire cultural scene was shut down by the pandemic, film proved to be the key approach, an ideal way to continue working. Alain Honorez could showcase his talents as a photographer and filmmaker. With one or two dancers, jewels of choreography were captured in short films called 'Miniaturen' and distributed. Highly diverse choreographies in style and content. Embodied abstractions in fascinating compositions and the modeling of spaces. Solos and duets where music and dance dialogue according to the principle of unison or counterpoint. Sometimes it was an aubade, a rendezvous between dusk and dawn in a forest. Another miniature was ethereal, of delicate beauty. Yet another evoked images of sturdy Japanese warriors with strongly controlled and stylized moves. Alain Honorez Alain Honorez Alain Honorez

11 & 12 May

JBA will soon shine with its small choreographic pearls at the palace in Antwerp in a new version of MINIATUREN featuring, among others, the world premiere of ALONE/TOGETHER – an energetic creation for the full group of JBA dancers by American choreographer Nicolo Fonte. The performance further brings together choreographies by resident choreographer Altea Nuñez and by the internationally renowned choreographer David Dawson. The varied soundscapes of, among others, Philip Glass, Max Richter and Federico Albanese finally ensure that these small jewels can only delight both enthusiastic young people and more critical and experienced dance and music lovers.

JBA is a springboard to an international career. The first cohort can now set out with serious credentials. A new cohort of emerging talent is beginning a remarkable adventure shortly. For both: GOOD LUCK.

Those who would like to see these young performers at work: danstickets.be