Under Fire: Previous Leader of Hamburg Ballet, Demis Volpi, Faces Backlash - Following the backlash:
Hey there! Let's dive into the drama at the Hamburg Ballet. The young intendant, Demis Volpi, has abruptly left his post with the influential ballet company after facing a whirlwind of controversy and criticism, reportedly leading to an unhealthy work environment.
It's been a single year since Volpi took over from ballet legend John Neumeier, who had led the company to worldwide acclaim for 51 years. This abrupt departure comes after intense disagreements and accusations from dancers regarding the working conditions.
Recently, the management and works council of the Hamburg State Opera, collaborating closely with the ballet ensemble, initiated a risk assessment. However, the results were slated to be published this week, leaving us hanging on the details of the dancers' discontent.
What unfolded was no picnic. Reports suggest that five principal dancers decided not to renew their contracts. Shortly thereafter, a troubling 36 dancers - more than half of the ballet company - penned a letter to Hamburg's culture senator Carsten Brosda of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), describing the work environment as "toxic." Even 17 current and former dancers from the Ballet am Rhein in Düsseldorf, where Volpi had previously worked, contacted Brosda.
The Hamburg State Opera's supervisory board eventually expressed their regrets, stating that they couldn't find a common ground for continued cooperation with Volpi. Volpi, however, claimed that his vision for artistic growth and a modernized company structure couldn't thrive under the existing conditions at the Hamburg Ballet, despite his persistent efforts.
As for the next steps, discussions are underway to find a joint interim leadership for the Hamburg Ballet as a division of the Hamburg State Opera, lasting until the end of the 2025/2026 season. Potential leaders include Lloyd Riggins, the deputy ballet intendant, Nicolas Hartmann, the ballet operations director, and Gigi Hyatt, the deputy director of the ballet school. An externally moderated process is to be initiated with the company to determine future cooperation demands and a new intendant selection process.
Without doubt, the Hamburg Ballet is facing a significant transition period. For now, stay tuned for more updates!
In light of the Hamburg Ballet's ongoing upheaval, one might venture to explore potential connections between the filmed arts and dance industry, such as proposing a European Works Council for the promotion of the European Film Industry on social media platforms dedicated to movies and TV, or entertainment. The Commission's recent adoption of this proposal could, perhaps, offer insights into creating a healthier and more collaborative work environment for artists, such as those at the Hamburg Ballet.
