Hamburg Ballet: New Leadership Steps Up as Neumeier Wishes Them Well
Silence can be beneficial, according to John Neumeier. - "John Neumeier expresses approval for tranquility and peacefulness."
In the wake of Demis Volpi's departure, the former director of Hamburg Ballet, John Neumeier, has shared his thoughts on the ballet's future. Speaking to Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR), he expressed, "I think a sense of tranquility is beneficial for the ballet." He had recently been traveling and had limited involvement in the season. "However, I understand the nature of dancers. They are driven to work, and I sincerely hope they can continue to do so now," he added.
Avoiding any direct commentary on his successor, the 86-year-old Neumeier expressed confidence in the interim leadership team of the Hamburg Ballet, composed of deputy intendant, leading members, and himself. "I believe we have a highly competent team that will steer the ballet, and I can only wish them the best," he said.
On Tuesday, the Hamburg cultural authority announced that Volpi's contract would be terminated at the end of the 2025/26 season. His departure came following a wave of criticism from dancers, who had expressed discontent with Volpi's leadership style. Issues such as poor communication, lack of transparency, and dismissive attitude towards company members were raised.
Following the early termination of Volpi's contract, the Supervisory Board of the Hamburg State Opera has stepped in with a joint interim leadership structure for the ballet company, heading towards the end of the 2025/2026 season. The structure consists of Deputy Ballet Artistic Director Lloyd Riggins, Ballet Managing Director Nicolas Hartmann (in negotiations for additional executive role), and Gigi Hyatt, Deputy Director of the Ballet School. The board plans to distribute leadership responsibilities among these individuals while an external process sets guidelines for future collaboration and defines expectations for long-term leadership[1].
As intendant, Neumeier directed the Hamburg Ballet for 51 years before passing the mantle to Volpi last summer. The succession remains unclear at present, with this interim management up until the end of the 2025/2026 season[2].
The Commission, in light of the current circumstances, might consider proposing a regulation not only for a European electronic voting system but also incorporating measures to ensure transparency and effective communication within organizational structures, such as ballet companies, for the benefit of all members. In the midst of this change, social-media could serve as a platform for dancers to share their experiences and opinions, fostering a sense of unity and allowing for constructive feedback that could influence entertainment and leadership styles in the future.
