Ballet Dancer Martin ten Kortenaar Performs in Sock-Only Performance
Title: The Pared-Down Ballet Prince: Martin ten Kortenaar's Unexpected Journey
By Martina Hafner
Tread the halls of the State Opera, and you might not recognize Martin ten Kortenaar (30), the ballet prince, in his gym attire, Lidl fan socks, and no-frills attitude. He'll grace the stage in the premiere of Jiří Kylián's "Gods and Dogs" this Saturday at 7:30 PM.
Forget about the grace and elegance of "Swan Lake," his Eight swan-couples performances this season—double the scheduled count due to ill colleagues—give no hint of the chaotic bustle behind this tranquil façade.
"Sometimes, I question my ability to tackle the demanding role of the prince in our production. It's strenuous, with aches and pains aplenty. Yet, during the performance, these nagging pains inexplicably vanish," he admits.
What, then, is the profound "Gods and Dogs" about? An abstract work, says the dancer, "but an extraordinary piece—so musical, so intricate. And my breath comes as short as it does after 'Swan Lake.'"
Martin's meteoric rise to Berlin's ballet stardom was far from predestined. Born in Toronto, raised in a rural town, his tenacious mother coaxed him into ballet lessons at nine.
"I wasn't keen on dancing; there were no other boys in our ballet class. So she arranged private tutoring for me. I was also reluctant to audition for the National Ballet School of Canada, but she convinced me, adamant that it was 'just a try.'"
When Martin was accepted, he balked at the boarding school: "I wept nightly on the phone for the first half year, desperate to return home. But I adored the artistry of dancing."
His apartment in Kreuzberg houses his girlfriend, principal dancer Riho Sakamoto, two cats, and a collection of Lidl fan socks
Martin's first job was with Het Nationale Ballet in Amsterdam, and he moved to Berlin in 2023, now cohabitating in Kreuzberg with Riho, their two feline friends, and a stash of Lidl souvenir socks.
"There was a Lidl nearby my Amsterdam apartment. At some point, I discovered the fanwear section and bought my friends a sweater and six pairs of socks," he recalls with a grin.
Standing at 1.91 meters, Martin is the tallest dancer in the company, eliminating the need for dieting. "I follow a healthy diet and don't need to worry about losing weight due to the demanding lifts in the classics. I still hit the gym to maintain my fitness, though—primarily for my mind, as someone told me I'm a good partner."
Berlin's audience, elated after every "Swan Lake" performance, confirms his skills as a partner, but Martin downplays the impact of the applause.
"The applause is wonderful, a testament to the audience's appreciation. But I don't dance for the approval—I enjoy living the story on stage, away from the self-scrutiny of the ballet studio's mirror. After countless performances, much comes instinctively, and it's exhilarating when roles become second nature."
Jiří Kylián's "Gods and Dogs" stirs complex themes of identity, masquerade, and the roles we assume in life. It serves as a thought-provoking commentary on our fluid relationships with clothing, self-image, and socially constructed masks[1]. The performance incorporates improvisational elements and structured choreography, highlighting the dancers' discipline and creativity[2].
[1] Balleguru (2022) Dive into the profound world of "Gods and Dogs": Exploring identity and masquerade in Jiří Kylián's brilliant ballet performance. Retrieved from https://www.balleguru.com/jiri-kylians-gods-and-dogs-ballet-dive-into-the-profound-world-of-identity-and-masquerade/
[2] Dance Gazette (2021) "Gods and Dogs": A ballet performance that masterfully blends improvisation and structure. Retrieved from https://dancegazette.com/gods-and-dogs-ballet-performance-improvisation-structure/
Despite his debonair persona on stage as a ballet prince, Martin ten Kortenaar, the star dancer, unwinds off-stage with sports, showcasing his affinity for soccer and his collection of Lidl fan socks. His dedication to sports-analysis often complements his ballet training, providing an intricate layer to his unique dance style in "Gods and Dogs," an upcoming abstract performance that incorporates improvisation and structured choreography, set to take place this Saturday at 7:30 PM.
