BALLET

One day many years
ago, when the fax
machine was still
an amazing artifact,
the disturbing sound
of a transmission
led to a moment of
confusion – out came
an invitation to create
a piece for Ballet
de l’Opera National
du Rhin in France.
Jo Strømgren had never
worked with a ballet
company before, and
never really abroad
either. He considered
it to be a mistake and
sent a reply, clearing
out that they most
likely had contacted
the wrong person
and suggesting
someone else to do
the assignment instead.
A few minutes later
the phone rang and
artistic director
Bertrand D’At almost
shouted: “No, no, no.
I don’t want anybody
else. I want you.”
Jo Strømgren was
still confused, as he
never thought of
himself as a ballet
man, really. A few
months later, in a
studio with excellent,
curious, and willing
dancers, he experienced
somewhat of a revelation.
Being a choreographer
in large scale
productions is and
always will be a
privilege to those who
get the chance.
And so he converted to
a ballet man in a day.