Stars from one of the oldest and most renowned theatres in the world — the Royal Danish Ballet — held a masterclass for students of the Almaty Choreographic School named after A. Seleznev, reports Orda.kz.
The artists were invited to Almaty by Meirambek Nazarkozhaev, a soloist with the Royal Danish Ballet. He has worked with the legendary company since 2017 and became a permanent member in 2018. The Royal Danish Ballet has signed a lifetime contract with the Kazakh dancer. According to Meirambek, he can leave the troupe at any time by choice, but retains the right to remain part of it for life.
The idea to bring the Danish stars to Almaty came from Meirambek and his friends — graduates of the Seleznev Choreographic School. Together, they founded the Nomad Ballet Project, under which this visit is taking place. The project is designed as a platform for cultural exchange and cooperation between Kazakh and international artists.
“This is the first time such a renowned theatre has visited Kazakhstan, and indeed Central Asia. The Royal Danish Theatre tours the world, but this is its debut in our region. The theatre was established in 1748 and is one of the oldest in the world. It is famous for its Bournonville technique, which forms the foundation of many classical ballets. And now, representatives of this great school are our guests,” said Meirambek during a press conference with the artists.
Ten leading dancers of the Royal Danish Ballet — from Canada, the USA, Portugal, Japan, South Korea, Italy, and Poland — will perform a gala concert at the Almaty Theatre. The Royal troupe brings together some of the best performers from around the world, including Andreas Kaas, Emma Riis-Kofoed, Caroline Baldwin, Marcin Kupinski, Mattia Santini, Chi Min Hong, Afonso Coelho, Tomoka Kawadzoe, Beatriz Domingues Carneiro, and Liam Redhead. In Almaty, they will showcase the Bournonville technique — one of Europe’s three classical ballet schools alongside the Russian and French.
Joining the soloists in Almaty is Dinna Bjørn, a true legend of Danish ballet. A former principal ballerina of the Royal Theatre, she now travels the world passing on the Bournonville style to new generations through masterclasses. She has devoted her life to preserving this tradition as a living legacy of global ballet, ensuring its relevance in the 21st century.
The guests from Denmark spoke warmly about Kazakhstan. In breaks between rehearsals, they explored the nature of Almaty region — visiting Kolsai and Kaindy lakes, and the Charyn Canyon. The dancers shared their hope to return with new projects and continue collaborating with Kazakh ballet stars.
August Bournonville was a great 19th-century choreographer who led the Royal Danish Ballet for many years. He developed a unique style combining the grace of the French school, Nordic sensitivity, and romantic depth. His technique became the basis for Denmark’s national ballet school and is now recognized as part of the country's intangible cultural heritage.
