In the winter of 2007, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Cullberg Ballet, a celebratory series of performances were organized at Dansens Hus in Stockholm. A survey of works by Birgit Cullberg and Mats Ek were presented alongside new works expressly created for the occasion by Johan Inger and Alexander Ekman. The program was extremely popular, a queue forming each night at the box office of hopeful spectators looking to procure a ticket to the sold out performances.
“We turn 40 and are celebrating our anniversary with eight performances. A unique evening with a line up of festive surprises featuring both a look back and forward with historical repertoire and new works. This time we not only take the stage but also fill the foyer with exhibitions, installations and with ourselves. Come and celebrate with us!
Greetings,
Cullberg Ballet ”
The works in the foyer were created by Cullberg dancers Tilman O’Donnell, Thomas Zamolo and Daniel Sjökvist, in collaboration with Bernard Cauchard and Yvan Auzely. The installations included specially curated archival footage from the history of the company. In addition, a film was presented between each segment of the onstage performances featuring interviews with wellknown figures from Swedish sports, business and culture speaking about their impressions of the Cullberg Ballet through the years.
About the Cullberg Ballet 2007
In its fifth decade, the Cullberg Ballet is today a world-renowned dance company. The ensemble has danced in roughly forty countries and is an important element in the international presentation of Swedish cultural life. In the last ten years, the Cullberg Ballet has given as many performances abroad as in Sweden to much acclaim the world over. Through its annual tours within the country, the Cullberg Ballet also reaches our nation with the best of Swedish dance has to offer. The ensemble’s members have been of an international mix since the beginning, and Cullberg Ballet’s twenty dancers are its greatest strength. The dancers’ strong stage personalities and technical strength have always been the hallmark of the Cullberg Ballet.
The Cullberg Ballet was founded in 1967 by Birgit Cullberg. She has had a strong influence on contemporary Swedish and international dance since the 1950’s when her work Miss Julie premiered. It went on to become one of the world’s most performed dance pieces. The Cullberg Ballet’s first ensemble consisted of eight hand-picked international dancers. The original idea that all of them should be considered soloists still applies today.
In 1982, Birgit Cullberg was succeeded by Mats Ek, who remained the Cullberg Ballet’s artistic director until 1993. With their outstanding works, the two have left their personal mark on the Cullberg Ballet and contributed to it being one of the world’s foremost ensembles.
Carolyn Carlson took over the artistic management after Mats Ek in 1993, and was succeeded in 1995 by Lena Wennergren-Juras and Margareta Lidström. Since the summer of 2003, Johan Inger has been the artistic director of the Cullberg Ballet. He has garnered attention both in Sweden and abroad for his strong choreographic works, and has received several awards, including the 2006 Birgit Cullberg Scholarship from the Swedish Arts Grants Committee.