Profile: Alexander Ekman (Sweden, 1984) danced with Royal Swedish Ballet, Cullberg Ballet and Nederlands Dans Theater 2. In the annual NDT2 Choreography Workshop (‘Switch’) he attracted attention for his individual style, full of original ideas. In 2006 he decided to devote himself completely to choreography.
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’.
In his years as a 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 broadcast 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 installation 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 dancepieces, 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.
Future commissions include Royal Swedish Ballet, Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, Norwegian National Ballet, Boston Ballet and Dresden Ballet. During 2011 Ekman also worked as a teacher / choreographer at the prestigious Julliard School in New York City. From season 2011 until 2013 Ekman is associate choreographer of Nederlands Dans Theater.
Useful Links: Nederlands Dans Theater