Q&A with Kirby Selchow

In 3 words what does ballet mean to you?

Passion, joy, freedom

What would be your favourite ballet to dance?

This question is really hard for me to answer.. My ten years with RNZB I have been really fortunateto have been involved in 17 new creations for the company, so a few highlights of mine would be having the role of Gretel in the full length ballet Hansel & Gretel choreographed by resident choreographer Loughlan Prior in 2019 after this ballet I was promoted to Soloist. Another work is Stand To Reason Choreographed by Andrea Schermoly, this work is a strong contemporary work with 8 women and is about the women’s suffrage movement “ Ten Reason Why Women Should Vote”, Another ballet is Liam Scarlett’s A Midsummer Nights Dream this was created on the company in 2015 and toured to Honk Kong in 2016, later this year the company is performing this ballet for our end of year production.

Do you believe that ballet is a readily accessible art-form?

Ballet has traditionally been associated exclusivity due to factors like cost and accessibility to training. However, efforts to make it more accessible through outreach programs, scholarships and digital platforms are helping to broaden its reach. It is great that we live in a society / generation now that so big with its online platforms that makes ballet easily accessible, however it’s not universally accessible yet, there are still barriers for some individuals due to factors like cost and location.

What do you believe is a typical misconception about ballet that you would like to set straight?

That ballet is just for females and its all Tiaras and tutus! Male dancers play a crucial role in ballet performances, demonstrating strength, agility and grace. This misconception overlooks the significant contributions of a male dancer to this art form and the diverse roles they perform. You would never have a picture without its frame and every partner needs their strong frame.

What are you reading right now?

David McAllisters – Ballet Confidential

One thing that most people don't know about you?

I iron my bed sheets! Yes I cant get into my bed without freshly Ironed sheets.

Why is the work BWB do so important?

A lot of my “non” ballet friends say that they wished they could have done ballet when they where younger but their parents couldn’t afford and yet pay to go se the ballet. BWB are opening a door and is making accessible to the wider community that have never ben exposed to ballet, for those who have been less fortunate or have never had the chance to dance. By sharing this wonderful ballet community its gives every child an opportunity to become ballet lovers and to inspire our future generations to continue to pass on this long life legacy.

Favourite ballet to watch?

Graeme Murphy Swan Lake! I remember when I was young seeing this ballet for the time I was transfixed, my mum also brought me the “ on the wings of a swan” DVD which is about when The Australian ballet toured to the UK with this ballet, I think I watched it every weekend.

If you could go back to a point in time in your life, what advice would you give yourself?

I have always been really hard on myself and even till this day. I would tell my younger self to believe, trust and be kind to yourself because you have gift, you work hard and hard work pays off. Everyone has something different to offer.

You have been given an elephant! You cannot sell it or give it away, what do you do?

I’d focus on providing it with the best care possible, open a Elephant sanctuary creating a suitable living environment, ensuring it has proper nutrition and exploring opportunities for it to serve as an ambassador for wildlife conservation or education programs. If it was an ornamental elephant I would give it a good polish put it on the shelf, and hope it would bring me good luck, happiness and prosperity.

Q&A with Franziska Rosenzweig

Franziska Rosenzweig, founder of Holistic Ballet® and creator of the Holistic Ballet DVD series, was born in Berlin, East Germany. After graduating from the State Ballet School in Berlin, she danced with the German State Opera Berlin (now Staatsballet Berlin) and the Peter Schaufuss Ballet in Denmark. In 1998, Franziska relocated to London, transitioning from a freelance artist to a ballet teacher, concurrently adding Gyrotonic®, Pilates, and yoga to her skill set. Her teaching engagements spanned locations like India, and included professional dance companies like Random Dance, Richard Alston, and Ballet Prejlocaj. Presently, Franziska teaches amateur dancers at Pineapple Dance Studios and her studio in East London.

In 3 words what does ballet mean to you?

complex, challenging, life-changing

What would be your favourite ballet to dance?

My favourite part of dancing was Tchaikovsky pas de deux. I loved the female solo the first time I saw it and I was fortunate to be given that role a few years later. I wish I could have danced it with the knowledge I have now to make it even more enjoyable.

Do you believe that ballet is a readily accessible art-form?

I believe the UK has varied outreach programmes for school children. However, to attend more serious ballet training without being on the path of a professional dancer and a scholarship may be very costly.

What do you believe is a typical misconception about ballet that you would like to set

straight?  

As I am in the field of amateur adult ballet training, the most common misconceptions are that one has to be young and flexible to attend ballet classes, and probably female too.

What are you reading right now?

I just started reading ‘Determined: Life Without Free Will by Robert Sapolsky. I am not sure whether I will manage to read the entire volume but as I am also a trained hypnotherapist, I am fascinated by the way our minds work. That’s another thing I wish I had known more about during my active dancing career.

One thing that most people don’t know about you?

My great dislike for chamomile tea.

Why is the work BWB do so important?

There would be too many things to list. But to name a few: every child should have the right to explore and express themselves kinetically through dance. Moreover, movement and dance education help to counteract the negative physical and mental consequences of our sedentary culture and screen time addiction. In our current society, where anything that does not promise immediate measurable profit is seen as dispensable, we need organisations like BWB to challenge these ideologies and show how crucial movement and dance are the the development of children’s social skills and their evolving brains.

Favourite ballet to watch?

I was absolutely mesmerised by Sharon Eyal’s Half-Life that the Berlin Staatsballet streamed for free during lockdown. I usually find it difficult to watch dance on a screen but this piece and the incredible dancers drew me in completely. I hope to get the chance to watch it live one day.

If you could go back to a point in time in your life, what advice would you give yourself?

I would encourage my younger self to find a confidant to talk to. As a teenager, I was extremely withdrawn and dealt with my problems on my own instead of seeking mental and emotional support.

You have been given an elephant! You cannot sell it or give it away, what do you do?

I guess, I would have to give up my life as it is, take my cat Herbert, and move to a place where Icould make a home for us and the elephant.

Q & A with Vito Bernasconi

We had the pleasure of interviewing Vito, current soloist with The Queensland Ballet.

1. In 3 words what does ballet mean to you?

Passion, Courage, Creativity

2. What would be your favourite ballet to dance?

Sir Kenneth Macmillan’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’. While I’ve performed Tybalt, Mercutio, Lord Capulet and Lead Mandolin, I’ve never performed Romeo and hopefully one day I can experience the role.

3. Do you believe that ballet is a readily accessible art-form?

I believe that ballet is a readily accessible art-form to watch and perform in metropolitan areas, and the more outreach we can undertake as a community, the more possibility there is to affect many more future dancers and performers in wider reaching areas of this country and the world. 

4.  What do you believe is a typical misconception about ballet that you would like to set straight?  

I have a few:

Ballet is not just for girls, it is for anyone and everyone. Ballet does not define your sexuality. MYTH: Ballet is easy. FACT: Anyone who does ballet requires a high level of physical, mental, psychological and emotional fortitude. It is an art form for the strong, focussed and determined. 

5. What are you reading right now?

I have just finished ‘What Doesn’t Kill Us’ by Scott Carney, and am excited to have begun reading ‘Mr. Einstein’s Secretary’ by Matthew Reilly. He’s one of my favourite authors. 

6. 1 thing that most people don't know about you?

I hate sand out of context. Unless I’m having a beach day and able to rinse it off, it really annoys me. 

7.  Why is the work BWB does so important? 

Everyone needs art in their lives and I believe that everyone deserves to express themselves creatively and passionately in any way they wish. With the mission of bringing ballet to as many people as possible, BWB is ensuring that more people have the possibility to have ballet enriching and enhancing their lives. 

8. Favourite ballet to watch?

I have always admired After The Rain by Christopher Wheeldon. The music, Spiegel I’m Spiegel by Arvo Pärt, and choreography have an incredible symbiotic connection and it has been a dream of mine to one day perform the main Pas De Deux.

9. If you could go back to a point in time in your life, what advice would you give yourself?

I would go back to any time that I’ve had a big decision to make and remind myself, ‘Trust your instincts and follow your heart’. 

10. You have been given an elephant! You cannot sell it or give it away, what do you do?

I would call it Dumbo, Trunks or Stampy and wonder how I was going to get it up to, and fit in, my apartment! I would also be obligated to come into any awkward conversation to comprehensively and effectively express, ‘the elephant in the room’.