What’s in a reputation, or so Shakespeare as soon as mulled. I don’t often quote the bard, however his musing appears apt within the context of the Singapore Dance Theatre, which, after 34 years of existence, has been rebranded to Singapore Ballet.
Would the up to date identify usher in a brand new repertoire, and the way wouldn’t it affect the best way the ballets are presently introduced? It was with this query in thoughts that I attended the Masterpiece in Movement ballet efficiency again in July on the Esplanade, my first for the reason that pandemic.
I’ve to confess that watching Singapore Dance Theatre performances has at all times been a cathartic, barely non secular expertise for me, the place I immerse myself utterly within the efficiency. So it was via this twin lens of does-absence-make-the-heart-grow-fonder and curiosity-about-the-new-brand that I attended the efficiency.
It ended up being (IMO) top-of-the-line Singapore Ballet performances I’d ever attended – it was clear from the primary pirouette that the corporate had clearly levelled up, and every efficiency was exhilarating. For the 2022 efficiency, Masterpiece in Movement featured three up to date ballets, together with the world premiere of Quiver by Timothy Rushton, the corporate premiere of Ibsen’s Home by Val Caniparoli, and a restaging of Nils Christie’s Organ Concerto. Like a crescendo, every efficiency was higher than final, highly effective and evocative, and demonstrative of the dancers’ degree of sophistication.
It bought me questioning – was the change of identify merely aesthetic, or did it signify better ripples throughout the firm? What can we count on from the upcoming performances, and the way can we count on Singapore Ballet to evolve within the subsequent few years? I made a decision to interview Janek Schergen, who joined the corporate in 1988, only one yr after it was established by dancers Goh Soo Khim and Anthony Then. Each founders had been dancers who had carried out in main roles in Washington and London respectively, and had earned a repute for his or her inventive excellence. Since their “humble beginnings” in a studio at Killiney Highway, Singapore Ballet has grown from energy to energy, finally staging full-length ballets and commissioning world premieres.
Right this moment, Janek is the award-winning, recognisable creative director of Singapore Ballet, working tirelessly to supply world-class performances and honing expertise in and round Singapore. Humble and soft-spoken, Janek can generally be noticed on stage by eagle-eyed attendees.
As the corporate gears up for its subsequent version of Ballet Below the Stars – taking place from 2nd to 4th, and 9th to 11th September – we converse to Janek and discover out extra about the way forward for the corporate.
Inform us in regards to the motive behind altering the identify of Singapore Dance Theatre to Singapore Ballet — what does it signify for the way forward for Singapore Ballet?
The identify change to Singapore Ballet higher displays the repertoire we carry out. It can additionally assist us once we go on excursions, because it provides the viewers, who could have by no means seen us, an concept of what to anticipate in efficiency. In actuality, the corporate grew to become Singapore Ballet as soon as it began presenting full size narrative classical ballet recurrently.
Aside from a reputation change, on the floor, issues appear fairly related — i.e, the identical line-up of Ballet Below the Stars, Masterpieces in Movement, two full-length ballets a yr — however I’m positive there are many adjustments under the floor that we don’t see. What are a number of the adjustments which have been carried out internally to begin the brand new chapter? What have been some main selections made?
There aren’t actually any deliberate repertory adjustments. What is going to alter is that there’s a want to take Singapore Ballet worldwide with touring outdoors Singapore, whereas preserving our efficiency line- up unchanged right here at residence.
What can we count on within the subsequent yr?
In 2023, we’ve got a particular thirty fifth Anniversary Ballet being created for us by Tim Rushton, utilizing all of the dancers in Singapore Ballet. For subsequent yr’s Masterpiece in Movement, we are going to lastly current the total manufacturing of Choo-San Goh’s Configurations. Passages 2023 was deliberate way back, and it’ll embody works by Natalie Weir, Alice Topp and Christina Chan.
How do you envision Singapore Ballet within the subsequent 5 years?
We’ll create a brand new manufacturing of Cinderella with an all-Singaporean design staff for costumes, units and lighting. I’ve a robust want to get Singapore Ballet again out on tour quick area, in addition to Europe, London, New York, and North America.
As we’re lastly recovering from the pandemic & the world is (hopefully) going again to regular, what was the impression of Covid on Singapore Ballet?
We confronted an excessive amount of restrictions as did everybody and to every one we tailored. We used the time to do choreographic workshops with ‘Made in Singapore’ in addition to the Choo-San Goh Archives of ten ballets, which we’re simply ending this yr.
You’ve been a part of Singapore Ballet for greater than 30 years — what have been a number of the most seminal milestones you’ve witnessed?
I’ve been a part of the corporate for 34 years, there are too many milestones to checklist. The largest moments have been absorbed into the historical past. A very powerful factor has been the institution of an organization id via our repertoire and performances. Anthony Then and Goh Soo Khim wished to current a uniquely Singaporean skilled dance firm that will carry out at a world degree, in addition to giving Singaporean dancers the opportunity of having skilled careers right here. These stay our guiding rules.
In previous performances, we’ve seen you on stage (usually uncredited) — Do you miss performing? What’s a typical day like for you?
For me, I’ve a day that begins with instructing the every day firm class and often adopted by three to 5 hours of rehearsals. I deal with nearly all of classical and neoclassical choreographic works, which constitutes to 60 per cent of the repertoire. I do a serious quantity of the ahead planning with all of the each day actions. I additionally train college students within the Students Programme and Ballet Associates Course. Efficiency seasons should be deliberate about 18 months prematurely. Do I miss performing? I solely go on stage when it’s applicable in a personality function.
Ballet generally will be seen as conventional — how has the dance type developed through the years, and the way can we proceed attracting younger youngsters to the artwork type?
Dance has developed tremendously in so some ways, choreographically, and that’s removed from over. The best change within the mixing of classical and trendy dance to what we now name neoclassical and up to date repertoire.
Bringing youngsters to ballets like Peter & Blue or Dance Appreciation Sequence, supplies a very good introduction to them.
Supply: Her World