Day 2: The Premier

30th March 2012 
by Gina Scott, dancer of Semperoper Ballett

Gina Scott

Going to breakfast at 8.00am so that we can go to the beach before the bus arrives. Today is a bit cloudy, therefore, the beautiful sea isn't as warm but it was still an amazing morning swim. At 10.00am the bus arrived to take us all to the Emirates Palace for class at 11:00am which continued in rehearsals and corrections from the stage rehearsal yesterday "29th" and Coppelia.

Backstage refreshments: coffee and tea  (photo by Virna Toppi)

Warm-up: the golden ballet barre in the studio (photo by Virna Toppi)

After rehearsals we all made our way back to the Hotel by bus and went to the beach. Had lunch as it was around 3.00pm by this time the weather was nice and warm which was great. We could watch the people on the jet ski's which looked so exciting. After around 2 hours at the beach everyone left at different times to make their ways back to the Emirates Palace for their hair and make-up. Warm up class was at 7.00pm for half an hour and then the show started at 8.00pm. You could feel by the atmosphere everyone was a little nervous, but very excited for the first performance.

Preparation: Susanna Santoro & Chiara Scarrone (photo by Virna Toppi)

The experience was incredible and after the show everyone was so relieved and we were all so pleased that Aaron Watkin, our artistic director was very happy with how everyone did in the show. Now we all have to just make tomorrows even better, which is what we always aim for 'perfection'.

One of the tutus of Shades (photo by Virna Toppi)

After the show we made our way down town to a traditional restaurant which was very interesting as it is part of the culture. It was great to see the culture the food was very interesting and tasty. We stayed for a few hours and then made our way back to the Hotel to sleep.

Day 1: The Palace

29th March 2012 
by Gina Scott, dancer of Semperoper Ballett

Gina Scott

After an amazing night's sleep in the Incontinental Hotel. When I awoke this morning the sun was shining in through the window which was gorgeous. We got up at 8.30am and went down to breakfast which was incredible. The selection of food to choose from was amazing. The view from the restaurant was so wonderful, seeing the beach and everything else.  After breakfast at 10.00am we made our way to the beach, it was a short walk and on our way, we walked along the harbour where all the boats were anchored. 

The Harbour (photo by Gina Scott)

Once we arrived we all put our sun tan lotion on to protect our skin from the hot sun.  We went into the bright blue sea which was fantastic.  

On the Beach: Ian Whalen, Zarina Stahnke, Seraphine Detscher, Hannah McDonald, 
Mark Wandselb, Charlie Peters, Abby Bushnell, Gina Scott

We stayed at the beach for around 2 hours and then we all met at the Hotel to change our money from euro's to the local currency 'dirhams' . Next we took a bus ride to the supermarket. 

Traditional Arab clothes in the supermarket

It was really interesting watching all the people on our bus journey. We all got lunch and snacks and then made our way to the Emirates Palace, the building is so amazing, absolutely incredible. 

Sarah Hay at the front of the Emirates Palace (photo by Gina Scott)

Once we got in we had a look at the stage and had a security talk, then makeup and hair time began from 2.30pm 'the wigs are amazing'. Class started at 4.15pm and finished at 6pm and then everyone got ready for the first stage rehearsals for La Bayadere. It was hard work, a bit stressful for everyone with spacing and quick changes, but overall we had a great time and it was so much fun.

Already in costume: Virna Toppi, Jenny Laudadio, Elena Diéguez, Susanna Santoro
(photo by Virna Toppi)

The stage rehearsal finished around 10.30pm, then we all got changed.  The bus and taxi were waiting for us to take us back to the hotel. We had to go the main reception to get to them and really it was amazing inside. It was so done up and the appearance was very grand. It's such a privilege to be dancing at the Emirates Palace and we are so happy we have had this wonderful opportunity.

Floor in the Emirates Palace (photo by Virna Toppi)

Sweet :-) towels in the Emirates Palace (photo by Virna Toppi) 

Rolex in the Emerald Palace (photo by Mykola Abramenko)

"Gold to go": gold ATM in Emirates Palace (photo by Mykola Abramenko)

Once we arrived back at the Hotel everyone did their own thing.  A group of us went to find somewhere to have dinner, but in the end we made the decision to have dinner at the Hotels restaurant, where we joined the other company members which was really nice.  After a long wonderful day we all went back to our rooms to bed.

Day 1: Abu Dhabi and the Emirates Palace

29th March 2012 
photo album by Duosi Zhu, dancer of Semperoper Ballett

Duosi Zhu

Morning shopping in Marina Mall

Very warm welcome at Emirates Palace: We felt treated like real royals!
Amazing Cups

Trying the stage: Charlie Peters, Gina Scott, Johannes Schmidt, Michael Tucker, Duosi Zhu, Jan Oratynski, Briony Viele, Carmen Piqueras

Carmen Piqueras, Briony Viele, Vanja Vitman, Duosi Zhu, Ana Presta

Duosi Zhu & Raquel Martinez

Rebecca Gladstone & Ian Whalen 

In the dressing room: Sara-Michelle Murawski, Caroline Beach, Kanako Fujimoto, Yuki Ogasawara

Physio in work: Barbara Hohlfeld & Arika Togawa

Arika warms up

Ladies' room in the Palace

Duosi Zhu & Arika Togawa in the Palace 

Self portrait in the mirror

Carmen Piqueras, Michael Tucker & Duosi Zhu in a local restaurant

Coca Cola connects cultures :-)

Day 0: The Travel

28th March 2012 
by Gina Scott, dancer of Semperoper Ballett

Gina Scott

Meeting at the Semperoper at 5.30am in the morning, really is an early start to the day. After waiting for everyone to arrive the bus took us to Dresden airport. 

Start at 5:30am (photo by István Simon)

We left the theater at 6.00am. The energy in the bus was buzzing with excitement for our tour to Abu Dhabi. Once we arrived at the airport everyone checked in and stopped off at the café for refreshments.Our flight from Dresden to Frankfurt left at 8.30am and we arrived at 9.30am. Eventually, we all ended up in one of the restaurants for breakfast. 

     Morning sunshine at Dresden Airport

The futuristic tunnel of the
Frankfurt Airport (photos by István Simon)

We had sometime before our flight to Abu Dhabi which was at 2.30pm. During the 5 hours we had to wait for the flight, we all did our own thing, which was a range of shopping, sleeping, eating, taking photos and quiz games.

Passports (photo by Gina Scott)

We all checked in at 1.45pm and our flight left at 2.30pm, the flight was 5 hours long. The atmosphere was electric and everyone was so happy. On the flight we were looked after very well, we got lots of food and we had a variety of movies to watch. One of the movies people watched was "Tower Heist" which was a comedy. As we arrived in Abu Dhabi, the air hostess made an announcement in German saying that the Semperoper Ballett are here which was so nice. 

Friends at the Airport (photo by Gina Scott)

We arrived in Abu Dhabi at 10.30pm, we all collected our luggage and went to the bus which was taking us to the Abu Dhabi InterContinental Hotel. 

The Airport of Abu Dhabi: Oriental Beauty (photo by Gina Scott)

When walking out of the airport the feeling of the heat was unbelievable it was so hot it was like you were in a sauna, by this time it was 11.45pm. Outside we admired the palm trees, again the vibes from everyone was great. We took a bus ride to the hotel which took 30 minutes and we all checked in and got our keys and made our way to rooms,  the rooms were amazing and really so posh. Once we got all organised we went on a nice walk near by the hotel and the views where amazing. 

Night at Abu Dhabi (photo by Gina Scott)

La Bayadère: Playing With Fire

Semperoper Ballett presents La Bayadère (The Temple Dancer) in Abu Dhabi.

The dancing Shiva

 La Bayadère originally was staged in four acts and seven scenes by French choreographer Marius Petipa to the music of Ludwig Minkus. Set in ancient India, this typically romantic story tells of love, jealousy, intrigue, murder and revenge between Nikiya, a temple dancer, her rival, the Rajah’s daughter Hamsatti, and Solor, a noble warrior passionately loved by both women.  The ballet was first performed by the Imperial Ballet at the Imperial Bolshoi Kamenny Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia, on 4 February 1877. A scene from the ballet, known as The Kingdom of the Shades, is one of the most celebrated excerpts in all of classical ballet, and is considered to be one of the first examples of abstract ballet. In 1948, the Kirov Ballet Danseur Nikolai Zubkovsky added an exotic character variation to the Grand divertissement of 2nd act known in Russia as Bazhok or as the Little God, or as it would later be called in the west, The Dance of the Golden Idol.

Aaron S. Watkins production of La Bayadère is based on the traditional version of Marius Petipa. This choreography is performed in 2 acts, the most beautiful scenes and dances of the original ballet are presented and the progression of the story is more dynamic.

Ekaterina Vazem, the first Nikiya (1877)

„Of all the ballets which I had the occasion to create, this was my favorite. I liked its beautiful, very theatrical scenario, its interesting, very lively dances in the most varied genres, and finally Minkus' music, which the composer managed especially well as regards melody and its coordination with the character of the scenes and dances.” - Ekaterina Ottovna Vazem, Prima Ballerina of the St. Petersburg Imperial Theatres (Memoirs of a Ballerina of the St. Petersburg Imperial Bolshoi Kamenny Theatre, 1867-1884)

Our Principal Dancer Natalia Sologub has a more comfortable costume…

“….the cheered premiere was a point of intersection of the St. Petersburg ballet's traditions and generations of dancers ... marking the transition of the Romantic ballet transforming into Classical” - Vera Krosovskaya, ballet historian


Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s poem The God and the Bayadère (Der Gott und die Bajadere) is known as one of the inspirations of La Bayadère

„…In the sinner repentant the Godhead feels joy;
Immortals delight thus their might to employ.
Lost children to raise to a heavenly place.”

„…Es freut sich die Gottheit der reuigen Sünder;
Unsterbliche heben verlorene Kinder
Mit feurigen Armen zum Himmel empor.”

We are ready

The suitcases are packed, the sets and costumes have been shipped months ago and now finally the Semperoper Ballet is off to Abu Dhabi. For almost a week, from March 27th to April 1st, 2012 we will be staying in the United Arab Emirates with almost 100 Semperoper employees: dancers, ballet masters, technicians and dressers among others. On the nights of the 30th and 31st of March 2012 each, at 8:00 p.m., our company will be performing »La Bayadère« at the Emirates Palace within the framework of the Abu Dhabi Festival. It will be the first big tour for the Semperoper Ballett for this season 2011/12.