Düsseldorf is not just known for its fashion, shopping, culture, and fairs, it also houses one of Europe’s leading ballet companies: the Ballett am Rhein! This month the troupe of dancers is going back to work under a new system with all the Corona regulations.
Traditionally, ballet companies present the big classics like Swan Lake and Nutcracker, but Ballett am Rhein has a lot more to offer. Still based on the classical technique and the development of dance throughout time, the company performs a carefully selected mix of traditional ballets, contemporary masterpieces, and world premieres that are created especially for the dancers of the company. As a result, the company presents a multitude of attractive and beautiful programs that manage to satisfy all tastes!
There has been an average of 6 programs a year. Most of the programs were evenings with 3 different ballets, normally combining classical ballet, a contemporary piece, and a new creation. The rest of the programs were filled with full evening ballets with either a traditional story danced in a new way, or a contemporary creation for the whole spectacle.
Almost every show is sold out
Even though it normally isn’t your cheapest option of entertainment, an evening watching the Ballett am Rhein is an experience you will never forget and most likely will want to repeat. The house holds over 1.300 seats and is almost always sold out, so planning ahead is a must.
The tickets usually vary depending on the scale of the event, whether it is an opening night or a weekday show, and the placement of the seats. Now, due to Corona, the dancers are performing to a limited number of spectators and offering a special price between 19 and 29 Euros.
You can take a look at the monthly program online.
Ballett am Rhein was voted “Company of the Year” 4 times in 5 years
For the past 11 years, the director of the company has been the Swiss-born Martin Schläpfer. When he first became director, he managed to, in a very short time, not only to get the public’s approval but achieve many award nominations and bring attention to the international press. The German dance magazine Tanz voted Ballett am Rhein “Company of the Year” in 2013, 2014, 2015, and again in 2017.
The Deutsche Oper am Rhein opera house is situated on the Heinrich-Heine Allee, right in the heart of the city. The building might fool you with its simple post-war architecture, but it delivers the best social and cultural aspect of an evening out in Düsseldorf! It is the best night out combined with dinner before, drinks or even a party after.
On the coming 2020/2021 season, the newly appointed director Demis Volpi will take over the Ballett am Rhein troupe! He is an Argentinian born German choreographer who started his career at the Stuttgart Ballett, which is considered the Mecca of dance in Germany. He has created many successful balletts in Stuttgart and throughout the world and was based in Berlin until now. Starting August, he plans to keep Ballett am Rhein’s acclaim and make Düsseldorf the prime destination for dance in Germany and in Europe.
The Rhine river connects Düsseldorf with Duisburg and there you will find its affiliated Duisburg Theatre, which is only 28 kilometres away from Düsseldorf — where Ballett am Rhein also performs (if anyone is interested in a bargain for good seats)!
Coming to Düsseldorf for the show?
If you’re coming to Düsseldorf for a visit, there are a number of great hotel and bed & breakfast options around the city and close to the Ballett am Rhein.
Looking for an alternative to Ballett?
As an alternative to a ballet evening out, Düsseldorf also offers the Tanzhaus. A beautiful old tram station turned into a center for international dance with 8 studios and 2 small stages. Dancers, choreographers, and artists from all genres represent the house’s core. Anyone can take part in the courses and workshops at the academy and/or watch the varied program the house offers.
If you’re a fan of the performing arts, you might also want to check out Blue Goat Theatre, an English language theatre group here in Düsseldorf, Germany.
