Published 18/06/2026
The collaboration between the Rudolf Nureyev Foundation and the Royal Danish Ballet School explored the connection and the mutual influence of Rudolf Nureyev and the Royal Danish Ballet. Artists including Vivi Flindt, Johnny Eliassen, Anne Marie Vessel Schlüter, Clairemarie Osta and Nicolas Le Riche connected today’s students to this important chapter in the Royal Danish Ballet’s history.
The Danish Connection
Year one of this three year programme focussed on the Don Quixote pas de deux, including the bridesmaids. Students were coached by Clairemarie Osta and Nicolas LeRiche and performed the work in March 2026, including on the Royal Theatre’s Old Stage.
All students and some company dancers participated in an artists’ talk, moderated by the school’s dance history teacher, Michael Netschajeff. Royal Danish Ballet luminaries shared their histories of working with Nureyev, connecting today’s students to the vibrant history of Nureyev and the Royal Danish Ballet.
The experience of working with Clairemarie Osta and Nicolas Le Riche on unlocking the intricate and challenging Don Quixote choreography was particularly significant for the students. It lifted their technical level and, in some cases, unveiled potential that had not previously been fully displayed. It was a deeply inspiring process for students and staff and the school looks forward to the continuing collaboration with the Rudolf Nureyev Foundation over the next two years.
Photo © Henrik Stenberg 2026 Stenberg Studio www.henrikstenberg.com
