'I have a dream'
Alain Honorez was a restless boy as a child. Born dancing, so to speak. He studied at the Royal Ballet School of Antwerp and after graduation he started working at Ballet Vlaanderen, which at that time mainly presented classical ballet. Talented and focused, he worked his way up to principal dancer. As a principal, he performed at home and abroad. He especially thrilled audiences with his grand jetés and emotional depth. During the years he danced there, alongside classical ballet, neoclassical, modern and contemporary choreographies were also introduced. He met his wife Altea Nuñez there. She evolved from dancer to choreographer. With their years of experience, both sensed that the transition from a ballet school to the professional circuit deserved more attention. Today's companies focus on versatile dancers. A gap that needed to be filled. Two artists who both enjoy working hard on projects that demand the best of them. And yes, that's when he came up with his ambitious dream. In close collaboration with the Royal Ballet School, he presented his plan five years ago: Junior Ballet Antwerp.
Junior Ballet Antwerp is a youth company (Junior Company) where talented, highly trained, graduated dancers from all over the world are given their first professional stage experiences. A young artist can only get to know themselves on stage and acquire the necessary expertise. Daily, JBA works to guide and perfect its dancers in this art form. To prepare them for a future as a professional dancer/artist. Alain and Altea have a large network of choreographers they can draw from and know how to surround themselves well. The first 5 years were not plain sailing. Corona was the big spoiler. The entire cultural sector licked its wounds. But his love for dance and wonderful engagement could not be shaken even by corona. Problems will always exist. The art is to get through them and come out the other side. His creative energy overcame that obstacle too. Slowing down and then taking a new acceleration. A man with artistic relevance and drive. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
'5!'
The festive celebration of 5 years of JBA brings a review of their artistic projects. Alain Honorez looks back through the past 5 years, interwoven in a captivating, eclectic mix of choreographies. In a wide range of classical ballet, neoclassical, modern and contemporary repertoire. To dance contemporary is to have classical ballet training as a foundation. Contemporary ballet can fill the academic technique as it sees fit. The versatility of the work shown raises awareness of the enormous work that has been undertaken. It is sheer pleasure how the whole is composed. Dance, a world constantly in motion. A fluid universe in which forms, colors and movement speed constantly change. The continuous transformations of movement made this festive program a unique experience.
'études'
choreography, dance teachers Royal Ballet School Antwerp
music, Carl Czerny
Not only JBA makes an appearance, but also the students of the Royal Ballet School B1-B7 were involved. Participating in the festive program. For the audience, an insight into how it all begins and movement by movement is built up. In a choreography by the classical ballet dance teachers, they present 'Etudes', a showcase of their abilities. The 5 basic positions at the barre are practiced, with a smile, all grace and discipline in simultaneous movements. After the fairly static beginning and as they grow older you see the progression in jumps, pirouettes. The bodies in perfect balance. A stage full of young talent.
'THE WIND'S GIFT'
choreography, Le Wang
music, Qigang Chen
The young Chinese choreographer Le Wang is a rising star. And what a star! His career is on the rise. Worldwide there is growing demand for his classically inspired, visceral style with Oriental hues and restrained emotional depth. The sum of the parts: young dance talent meets young choreographer creates fireworks. He drew inspiration for his choreography from the natural element wind. Wind that brings coolness during hot summer days but also propels clouds, tears autumn leaves from trees and choreographically makes them swirl through the air. In diffuse lighting and complete silence, a row of dancers slowly emerges from the darkness, while with their legs they push forward a second group of dancers lying in front of them. They too lie down. They roll onto their bellies. Shortly after, limbs, torsos and heads move at rapid pace. They stand up, fall, they twist and roll. In the absence of music, it is the breath of one of the dancers that synchronizes the group to find perfect coordination. A characteristic of Le Wang's dance language is his rhythmic, percussive floor work. Deep concentration and rhythmic precision are therefore required. An intriguing visual spectacle. The dancers are dressed in Chinese-inspired beige paper-thin outfits. After the floor work, there is dancing to music by the renowned Chinese composer Qiang Chen. In the Western world particularly known for his composition in honor of the Olympic Summer Games in Beijing in 2008. He combines both Chinese and Western classical traditions in his work. Here too Le Wang draws from a specific personal dance vocabulary. Two dancers move in a tender duet back to back. They seem to stick to each other. When the entire ensemble takes to the stage, Le Wang creates beautiful rectilinear figures including the many arms of Shiva, the god who governs the cardinal directions. You are simply fascinated by the beauty and grace of the dancers.
After the intermission, a kaleidoscope of different works follows. Short fragments from eleven choreographies of the past years were skillfully woven together in a beautiful field of tension. Each piece is an atmospheric ballet full of dynamism.
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A birthday calls for cake. A figure from the production 'Cinderella' parades through the hall with a tall cake that takes a prominent place on the stage. This festive accent fits perfectly with:
'CAKE OR DEATH'
choreography Nancy Osbaldeston
Junior Ballet Antwerp's very first stage performance in 2019. Osbaldeston was then principal dancer at Opera Ballet Vlaanderen. Theatrical flair and humor take the upper hand here to a snappy melody by Frédéric Chopin. Performed live on piano by Emi Morishita.
The young dancers never let the bubbling energy flag. With heart and soul they give themselves completely. Dedication is the beginning of mastery. They have barely a few seconds to slip from one costume into another and enter yet another dynamic. The bar is set high. Many choreographies are technically demanding, but perfection is achieved everywhere, testament to an intense musical sensitivity. Movements do not always fall on a note but also in between. In ensemble scenes, this requires utmost concentration and craftsmanship. Choreographies by Yannick Boquin 'CONCERTO CON BRIO', music Dmitri Shostakovich; Andrew McNicol 'SIGNATURES', music Enrique Granados; David Dawson also JBA's Artistic patron 'METAMORPHOSIS', music Philip Glass; Altea Nuñez 'ABSOLUTIO', music Hans Zimmer and 'CLAROSCURIO', music Hector Gonzales Sánchez; Altea Nuñez and Alain Honorez 'CINDERELLA', music Sergei Prokofiev; Altea Nuñez 'YU', music Johan Johannson; Ilja Louwen 'JOURNEY', music Franz Schubert and Mauro de Candia who closed the ranks earlier this year with the intriguing production 'JAMES', music Wolf Hoeyberghs, created on the occasion of the James Ensor year, and Altea Nuñez' 'SUMMER' from the successful production 'SEASONS 4.0'. The whole thing has a sweeping momentum and yet they do not lose their breath.
'5!' showcases a colorful palette of emotions and dance styles. Diversity galore. These young people are athletes, dancers and actors all in one: all-rounders. An elite group consisting of Lauren Alving, Soazig Drion, Rinka Matsuura, Ella Matthews, Maja Grubic, Mackenzie Mount, Seohyun Mo, James Cooper, Sora Nishida, Lizé Mentz, Letizia Austoni, Tilly Wightman, Laura Flügel.
The dancers were dressed in beautiful costumes for all choreographies by the skilled hands of Ria Van Looveren and Jolien Deweerdt. Julie Coppens designed the masks and the cake. The atmospheric lighting was entrusted to Sjim Rijnhout.
5 years of Junior Ballet Antwerp culminated in an impressive and sparkling dance spectacle and four well-attended performances. What a night! It leaves you wanting more…. And it will come because between the lines I gathered that grand plans are being cherished.