Hinter den Kulissen: Robert North

If one were to make a list of „global citizens” the name Robert North is a must. In addition to all the cities where he has lived and worked: London, Turin, Gothenburg, Verona, and Glasgow, just to name a few, he has also worked with more than 95 ballet companies all over the world. It would take too long to list them all here! His name is well known in such renowned companies as the Royal Ballet, Ballet Rambert, New Zealand Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet, La Scala, Hong Kong Ballet or San Francisco Ballet… As a choreographer he has created more than 100 works, many of which have been staged by our theatre. One has to ask oneself how this can all fit into one life.

For the last 13 years Robert North has worked at our theatre, firstly as choreographer and since the season 2010/11 as Ballet Director.

…what keeps you here in the Niederrhein?

Since coming here the time has flown by. I have a great job, a talented company of dancers, sympathetic colleagues in all departments, an Intendant that supports me, an audience that likes my ballets, a wife who does more than her fair share of the work, and of course, the Friends of the Ballet who are so generous to me and the company. I feel lucky to be living and working in the Niederrhein.

…How difficult is it to move on to the next country, the next job? How have you coped with this in your life?

When I was a child my family moved many times. My father’s work as an artist/sculptor took us to France, Spain, England, Morocco, Cuba, Mexico, and the USA. I had attended 23 different schools by the time I went to boarding school in England at the age of 15. So, I was used to making my home in different countries. The hardest part is moving away from your friends. I try to stay in contact with
many of them. But I do miss them, especially now when travelling is almost impossible. I cope because Sheri and I are always together.

…Where do you find your inspiration for your ballets?

A premiere date is what gets me going. Knowing there will be an audience sitting in the theater, starts my adrenalin pumping. That is when I start looking for a subject and music that gives me the possibility of choreographing a ballet with lots of dancing and usually a story. I also try to create choreography that will give the dancers a sense of satisfaction and achievement at the end of the performance.

…Do you adjust your ideas to suit the country or region that you’re in?

I do adjust my ideas to the audiences, and sometimes the stories I choose are related to the countries I am working in. In Scotland I did Scottish folktales, in Denmark the Scandinavian story of Elvira Madigan, and here we just premiered the ballet Beethoven! For me it is essential to get the audience involved; which means losing themselves in the performance and when they leave the theater, feeling that their time has been well spent.

…How did you develop into a modern story teller?

I have learned a lot from films, particularly when they don’t have a lot of dialogue. If you can find the right movement that fits the music, it can be more powerful and direct than words. After all, words are symbols whereas body language and dance movement can be more immediate. I have worked hard to learn how to communicate to the public. I think the idea that I want to get across should be very clear, but not so obvious that it takes away the satisfaction the public has of figuring things out for themselves.

…Is this a high output or quite normal for a company?

It is a good output for a company of 22 dancers as it keeps us regularly performing and that is what makes dancers happy.

…What’s your secret? How do you both stay relaxed?

My secret is: Sheri is a saint. And who said we stay relaxed?

…the private Robert North.

Actually before Coronavirus time, Sheri and I went to the supermarket regularly. We also enjoyed going to restaurants a lot. A perfect day off is a drive in the country, meeting friends for lunch, and a walk together afterwards.

…Corona pandemic. How does this affect your life?

Being in the high risk group, Sheri and I follow the Coronavirus rules vigorously. So, rare supermarket visits, no restaurants, occasionally meeting friends and colleagues in our back garden observing social distancing rules, more FaceTime with our friends, and time to learn new guitar pieces (which I haven’t done for 20 years).

…Dancers fit and prepare them for new productions?

During lockdown we taught online classes using Zoom to the dancers and choreographed 2 pieces for the Junges Theater Beethoven project. We had guest teachers through Zoom. Since June 10, we have been teaching company classes at the Red Box to three separate groups each day and we are doing rehearsals; all of which comply with the Coronavirus rules, i.e. staying six meters apart unless you live in the same household. We are finding our way as we go along. Fortunately, dancers are disciplined, versatile, and resilient.

Es gibt viele Dinge, die ich schon immer sagen wollte – in der Tat, sage ich sie auch ständig. Allerdings merke ich, je älter ich werde, umso mehr neige ich dazu dabei zu übertreiben und wenn ich übertreibe, fällt es mir auf, dass andere immer seltener meiner Meinung sind.

Also, wenn es um die großen Themen geht, wie das Leben, die Liebe, der Tod oder die Unendlichkeit, zögere ich jetzt meine Gedanken in Worte zu fassen. Andererseits, wollte man, dass ich das alles in einen kleinen Tanz thematisiere, mache ich das sehr gerne!

Das war es von mir!