Johan Kobborg

Biography

Born in Odense, Denmark Johan entered the Royal Danish Ballet School in 1988. Having spend most of his childhood performing in various theater plays, musicals, TV series and productions, as well as travelling Europe as a classically-trained singer, Johan’s future was thought to be as a singer/actor. Only after entering the Royal Danish Ballet School (aged 16) did his focus turn completely onto pursuing a career in dance. After a year at the school he became an apprentice with the company and during this time made his stage debut, dancing the Peasant Pas de Deux in Giselle. He joined the Royal Danish Ballet as a full-time member in 1991. Johan was promoted to Principal Dancer by Peter Schaufuss in 1994, after his debut as James in La Sylphide. For the first time in the history of the Royal Theater this took place on stage, in front of the audience. Having danced most leading parts in the Danish repertoire, he joined the Royal Ballet in 1999, after having performed with the company as a guest artist. While a member of the Royal Ballet he continues to perform as a guest artist with companies worldwide. He is further more part of the Kings of The Dance project that opened in the USA (New York and Orange County), and recently toured Russia (Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Perm).

Repertoire:

Prince (Nutcracker, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake), Solor, Basilio, Romeo, Onegin, Lenski, Albrecht, Oberon, Franz, Rudolf, Des Grieux, Colas, James, Gennaro, Hamlet, Messenger of Death, Paquita, The Leaves Are Fading, Agon, Masquerade, Remanso, Les Rendezvous, The Sleepwalker, Symphonic Variations, In the middle somewhat elevated, Aureole, Scenes de ballet, Danses concertantes, Les Saisons, Symphony in C, Anastasia, Concerto, Gaite Parisienne, Stars and Stribes, Flames of Paris, Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux, Corsaire, Flower Festival in Genzano, Santanilla, Red Shoes, Voices of Spring, The Lesson, Vestris, Kermesse in Bruges, Fearfull Symmetries, Zakouski, Virtiginous Thrill Of Exatitude, Fest Polonaise, A Folktale, Etudes, The Concert, Dance Variations, Polacca, Hommage to a Princess, Suite en Blanc, Mahler’s 5, Who Cares?, Beyond Bach, Duo Concertant, Tombeaux, Two Footnotes to Ashton, Afternoon of a Faun, Dances at a Gathering, Other Dances, For Four and many more.

As a guest artist:

He has appeared with the Kirov Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, La Scala Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, Teatro San Carlo (Naples), Ballet Nacional of Cuba, Wiener Staatsoper Ballet, National Ballet of Romania, Hungarian National Ballet, Hamburg Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, National Ballet of China, Tokyo Ballet, South African Ballet Theater, Scottish Ballet, Munich Ballet, Kobayashi Ballet (Tokyo), New National Theater Ballet (Tokyo), Star Dancers Company (Tokyo), Inoue Ballet (Tokyo), Ballet Basel, Royal Danish Ballet, Hannover Ballet, Dortmund Ballet, Royal Swedish Ballet, National Ballet of Finland, Norwegian National Ballet and more. Other countries where Johan has performed in galas include: Brazil, Portugal, Iceland, Malaysia, South Korea, France, USA, Poland, Latvia, Czech Republic, Turkey.

As artistic director/producer/choreographer:

In January 2007 Johan staged and did costume designs for Diverts from Napoli for the Royal Ballet. In October 2005 the Royal Ballets 05/06 season opened with Johan’s new production of La Sylphide. Johan has put on international ballet galas in Copenhagen, 2001 (Denmark), taken the Bournonville Group to Genzano in 1999 (Italy) and in September 2003 he created his own show, Out of Denmark, at the Queen Elizabeth Hall (London).
In July 2005/06/07 Johan directed 6 gala performances in Sweden.
He has staged Bournonville divertissements and pas de deuxs, such as Napoli act III, Flower Festival in Genzano, La Sylphide, Wilhelm Tell and many more. Johan is currently working on a all new works program he will present in London, February 09.

Creations by:

Flemming Flindt, Kim Brandstrup, Peter Schaufuss, David Bintley, Christopher Wheeldon, Ashley Page, Michael Corder, Stanton Welch, Stephen Pier, Tim Rushton, Anna Laerkesen, Thordal Christensen, Will Tucket, Anders Christiansen, Christopher Hampson, Annette Abildgaard and others.

Video, TV and live relays:

Cinderella, Don Quixote, Swan Lake, Onegin, Sleeping Beauty, Mime Matters, 50 Bournonville Enchainements, A Folktale, The South Bank Show, The Dream, and pas de deuxs in various galas.

Awards:

Eurovision Ballet Competition, Helsinki, (3’rd Prize, 1991)
Erik Bruhn Competition, Canada, (Gold, 1993)
Nureyev International Ballet Competition, Hungary (Gold and Grand Prix, 1994)
USA International Ballet Competition, Jackson, USA, (Gold and Grand Prix, 1994)
Critics’ Circle Dance Award (Best Male Dancer 2001)
The Positano Award: Premio al Valore (Italy 2004)
Mr. Kobborg has been nominated for the Benois de La Danse and was nominated for the 2006 Laurence Olivier Award, for his production of La Sylphide and for his performance in The Lesson.
He has recieved many Danish ballet Grants and Awards.