Mensen > Choreographers > Alexander Ekman
| Nationality: | Swedish |
| Experience: | Alexander Ekman - biography Alexander Ekman (Sweden, 1984) danced with Royal Swedish Ballet, Cullberg Ballet and Nederlands Dans Theater 2. In the annual Choreography Workshop (Switch) he attracted attention for his individual style, full of original ideas. In 2006 he decided to devote himself completely to choreography. Now Alexander Ekman is a much-wanted choreographer internationally. He has already made many ballets, for companies like the Cullberg Ballet, Compañia Nacional de Danza Goteborg Ballet, The Iceland Dance Company, Bern Ballet, Cedar Lake Contemporary Dance, Ballet de l’Opéra du Rhin, Royal Swedish Ballet and The Norwegian National Ballet. He also created for festivals like ‘Europa Danse’ in France and for the Athens International Dance Festival. For Nederlands Dans Theater 2 he made FLOCKWORK in 2006, one year later LAB 15 (Nederlands Dans Theater 1) and CACTI in 2010 (Nederlands Dans Theater 2). CACTI was nominated for the Dutch danceprize ‘Swan best danceproduction 2010’. His most recent work for NDT 2 is Left Right Left Right(February 2012), which got great reviews.
In his years as choreographer, Alexander Ekman has proved that he is an artistic multitalent. For one thing, he often makes film productions as well. Though usually integrated in the young Swede's choreographies, these productions also arouse more and more interest on their own. In June 2009, for instance, he created a dance film, 40 M UNDER, for and with the Cullberg Ballet which was broadcasted on National Swedish television. In the autumn of that same year he collaborated with the Swedish renowned choreographer Mats Ek who asked him to make video projections for his new theatre play called Håll Plats. Alexander Ekman also created a museum installations for the Modern Museum in Stockholm, where the dancers of the Cullberg Ballet became the art objects. Moreover, he has composed music for many of his dance pieces, with a wide variety of rhythms. The sets for his performances are usually of his own design. In 2010 Ekman created for Goteborg Ballet (La La Land, together with choreographer Medhi Walerski), for Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet and for Cullberg Ballet. That same year he also created his first full evening for the Cullberg Ballet, Ekmans Triptych – A study of Entertainment which received great response and is still touring the world. In the International Choreography Competition of Hannover Ekman won the 2nd prize with Swingle Sisters (one of the ballets from his Sisters trilogy). In addition, he was awarded first prize by the critics. During 2011 Ekman also worked as a teacher / choreographer at the prestigious Julliard School in New York City. His first full evening, Ekmans Triptych - a study in entertainment, was premiered by Cullberg Ballet in2011 and has been presented on tour over the world ever since. Compania Nacional de Danza, Madrid has added Flockwork to their repertoire from June 2011 onwards. In 2012 Alexander will be creating for NDT2, Royal Swedish Ballet, Norwegian National Ballet and Ballets de Monte-Carlo. In 2012 Cacti was nominated "Best new modern Choreography" for the UK dance critics foundation. His 2010 NDT2 work 'Cacti' was an instant hit and has been performed by NDT2 in the Netherlands and on tour world-wide to great acclaim since. ‘Cacti’ was nominated for the Dutch dance prize ‘Swan best dance production 2010’. And also nominated for best new modern Choreography in the UK. In March 2013 Sydney Dance Company, Dresden Ballet and Dortmond Ballet will premiere 'Cacti' and then tour the work in Australia as part of their repertoire. Alexander's dance film ‘40 Meters Under’ for Cullberg Ballet will be available for rental andpurchase on iTunes in short. ’40 Meters Under’ forms part of a Cullberg triple bill evening and has been repeatedly broadcasted on National Swedish Television. In 2012 Alexander collaborated with pop singer Alicia Keys and incorporated her into his work Tuplet. Future commissions include Royal Swedish Ballet, Cedar Lake contemporary Ballet, Norwegian National Ballet, Boston Ballet and Dresden Ballet. From season 2011 until 2013 Ekman is ‘associate choreographer’ of Nederlands Dans Theater. How wonderful with a magician like Alexander Ekman, the choreographer who ever more clearly is a rising star in the Swedish dance scene. (Göteborgsposten about La la land, May 2010). In Cacti the young Swedish choreographer Alexander Ekman (25), who used to dance in Nederlands Dans Theater 2 for three years, presents his former employer with hilarious comment on the intellectual calibre of dance as High Art. He does this in a subtle manner, with a sense of humour and a feel for pace, music, energy and total picture”. (Volkskrant about CACTI, March 2010) For short films and trailers by Alexander Ekman see: |
