The Sarasota Ballet Presents Johann Kobborg’s La Sylphide

February 27, 2023 – Sarasota

The 2022 – 2023 Season’s Program 6 sees The Sarasota Ballet perform Johan Kobborg’s production of August Bournonville’s iconic full-length romantic ballet, La Sylphide. Although La Sylphide has the distinction of being the oldest surviving ballet in active repertoire, with a performance history dating back to November 1836, this will be the first time The Sarasota Ballet has brought the production to the stage.

“This Company premiere is particularly important to me,” explains Director Iain Webb. “As a dancer, La Sylphide was the one work I was always so desperate to dance myself, and while I never managed to make that a reality, I am thrilled to bring this opportunity to our dancers. Additionally, to have my dear friend Johan here with us, staging his remarkable production and passing on his decades of experience and artistry to the Company and audience, is a real pleasure and honor. It is through artists like Johan and performing works like La Sylphide, that the legacy, technique, and style of August Bournonville continues to live on and thrive.”

A crown jewel of The Danish Royal Ballet, La Sylphide recounts a narrative of a Scottish man, betrothed to a local woman, becoming entranced by the vision of a sylph, and the ensuing chaos as he is torn between two romances. Kobborg’s production preserves the source material’s dramatic potency while reinvigorating the choreography and designs and maintaining a thoroughly Danish flair. This production has become one of the preeminent versions of Bournonville’s ballet and has been performed by companies across the world including The Royal Ballet and the Bolshoi Ballet.

Kobborg has distinguished himself not only as a dancer, but likewise as a choreographer, director, and visual artist—dancing as a Principal with companies like The Royal Danish Ballet and The Royal Ballet; and choreographing and staging works for major companies including The National Ballet of Canada and Zurich Ballet.

Every production tells a story – and this production is no different. Of special interest for this production are the sets and costumes; originally commissioned in the ‘50s by Choreographer Flemming Flindt while he was Director of The Royal Danish Ballet. These would be the company’s first purpose-built set for La Sylphide – previously sets had sourced pieces from various operas and ballets. The costumes and sets would later go on to be purchased by The Royal Ballet in 2005 for Kobborg’s then upcoming production premiere before coming to live in Sarasota this Season. As Flemming himself would eventually retire to Sarasota (sadly passing away in 2009), this Company premiere is, in a way, a coming home story.

With 3 performances between March 24 – 25, The Sarasota Ballet is accompanied by the Sarasota Orchestra under the baton of American Ballet Theatre Music Director Ormsby Wilkins.

The Sarasota Ballet’s performances of Program 6 – La Sylphide are sponsored by Sarasota SCENE Magazine and BMO Wealth Management.

Performance Schedule and Ticket Information

Program 6 – La Sylphide   |   24 – 25 March 2023
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
 
La Sylphide (Company Premiere)
Choreography by Johan Kobborg after August Bournonville
Music by Herman Severin Løvenskiold

Single Tickets

Individual tickets for Program 6 – La Sylphide, starting at $35, are on sale now at SarasotaBallet.org or by calling 941.359.0099.