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Det Kongelige Teater søger en kunstnerisk leder for Den Kongelige Ballet (balletmester) til at lede kompagniets fortsatte vækst og succes fra august 2026 og frem.

Teatret og balletten

Den Kongelige Ballet er en del af Det Kongelige Teater og et bemærkelsesværdigt balletkompagni, der leverer kunstneriske forestillinger af højeste kaliber, og som er et af verdens mest anerkendte balletkompagnier. Kompagniet blev grundlagt i 1748 i København, hvor det stadig har sin base i dag.

Den Kongelige Ballet omfatter også Den Kongelige Balletskole, der uddanner klassiske balletdansere i verdensklasse. Balletskolen blev grundlagt i 1771 og er en af de få balletskoler i verden, der ligger i selve teaterbygningen.

Kernen i Den Kongelige Ballet er traditionen fra August Bournonville, som ledede kompagniet i 1830'erne. I dag er Den Kongelige Ballet et moderne balletkompagni, der omfavner både klassisk og neoklassisk repertoire, moderne værker, og som støtter skabelsen af nye balletter – hvor Bournonville-traditionen fortsat spiller en helt særlig rolle. Kompagniet tæller ca. 80 dansere af både dansk og international oprindelse.

Teatret har en strategi om at nå ud til nye publikumsgrupper i hele Danmark med særlig vægt på at introducere flere børn og unge for den klassiske kunst.

Den Kongelige Ballet er i gang med en udvikling, hvor der rettes et særligt fokus på kultur, arbejdsmiljø, trivsel og diversitet. Vi stræber kontinuerligt efter at optimere vores planlægning og udvikle vores organisation med det formål at etablere og opretholde et bæredygtigt og sundt arbejdsmiljø og en stærk arbejdspladskultur, hvor alle oplever en høj grad af psykologisk tryghed.

Stillingen

Balletmesteren er ansvarlig for Det Kongelige Teaters produktion og iscenesættelse af balletprøver og forestillinger. Balletmesteren planlægger teatrets ballet- og danserepertoire inden for de definerede rammer for Det Kongelige Teaters samlede budgetter, fælles strategi, struktur og mål og under mandat fra teatrets direktør. Balletmesteren er en del af teatrets direktion og har medansvar for teatrets strategi. Balletmesteren har et særligt ansvar for at bidrage til aktiviteter, der gør kunstformen mere tilgængelig og relevant for folk i hele Danmark, herunder digital programmering, turnévirksomhed og opsøgende aktiviteter.

Balletmesteren er også ansvarlig for Den Kongelige Balletskole og står for det overordnede kreative lederskab for kompagniet og skolen, herunder træning og udvikling af dansere og sikring af, at Bournonville-traditionen, -æstetikken og -repertoiret bevares og forbliver relevant for kommende generationer – både studerende, dansere og publikum. Balletskolen ledes af Den Kongelige Balletskoles kunstneriske leder, som refererer til balletmesteren.

Balletmesteren er den øverst ansvarlige for Balletafdelingens kunstneriske og administrative personale, som omfatter balletkompagniet, musikere, producere, inspektører og administrativt personale samt personalet på Det Kongelige Teaters Balletskole – i alt ca. 175 medarbejdere plus 140 elever på Det Kongelige Teaters Balletskole. Administrationen af driften varetages af balletafdelingens administrative leder, som refererer til balletmesteren. Der er et tæt samarbejde med den administrerende leder om den strategiske udvikling af Balletten og sikring af en moderne arbejdspladskultur med et højt trivselsniveau.

Balletmesteren har det økonomiske ansvar for balletafdelingens budget. Balletmesteren er udpeget af bestyrelsen og refererer direkte til teatrets direktør.

Opgaver

Balletmesteren har bl.a. følgende opgaver:

• Sikre en stærk kunstnerisk profil for Den Kongelige Ballet
• Udnytte stærke internationale kontakter for at sikre førsteklasses produktioner og kunstnerisk talent
• Skabe et kernerepertoire, som fortsat vil udgøre kernen i det kongelige danske balletrepertoire med bred publikumsstøtte
• Fremme og udvikle både klassiske og moderne ballettraditioner
• Udvikle nye kunstneriske tiltag og fokusområder
• Udvælge, tiltrække og udvikle enestående dansetalenter og kunstneriske talenter
• Sikre en stærk kultur og et sundt arbejdsmiljø i balletkompagniet
• Arbejde tæt sammen med den administrative leder og foretage de nødvendige prioriteringer for at sikre økonomisk bæredygtighed, optimal udnyttelse af ressourcerne og overholdelse af de givne budgetter for både udgifter og indtægter
• Tiltrække både nye og faste publikummer til kunstformen
• Garantere et trygt og professionelt uddannelsesmiljø for eleverne på Den Kongelige Balletskole og den kostskole, der er tilknyttet Balletskolen
• Sikre, at balletkompagniets arbejde til stadighed opfylder alle lovkrav med særlig forståelse for de vilkår, der gælder for en statslig institution som Det Kongelige Teater

Kvalifikationer

Den ideelle kandidat er en selvbevidst, velformuleret og empatisk leder med erfaring og flair for ledelse og kommunikation, som kan levere en dristig, innovativ og overbevisende kunstnerisk vision for at styrke kompagniet og dets dansere i samklang med teatrets mission og mål.

Teatret søger en kunstnerisk leder (balletmester) for Den Kongelige Ballet med:

• Stærke kunstneriske evner og et indgående kendskab til ballet og dans
• Kendskab til August Bournonvilles arbejde og æstetik
• Kunstneriske visioner for udviklingen af Den Kongelige Ballet
• Ledererfaring, herunder stærke kommunikationsfærdigheder, et veludviklet internationalt netværk, evnen til at inspirere andre og til at levere på ambitiøse mål
• Øje for talent, herunder evnen til at udvælge de bedste dansere, studerende, koreografer, lærere og trænere og opmuntre deres udvikling
• Stærk repræsentation i medierne og evnen til at engagere nye og eksisterende publikummer gennem narrativet om balletten som kunstform
• Godt overblik over økonomien og overholdelse af budgetter
• Strategiske ideer til, hvordan kulturen omkring klassisk ballet kan udvikles for at sikre mangfoldighed, et trygt arbejdsmiljø og sunde praksisser
• Lyst og evne til at arbejde tæt sammen med kollegerne i direktionen både med fleksibilitet og interesse for at videreudvikle sin ledelsesstil i takt med skiftende behov

Kendskab til kulturen og traditionerne inden for dansk ballet og dans samt kendskab til dansk kulturtradition generelt vil være en fordel.

Vilkår og proces

Stillingen besættes som en tidsbegrænset/åremåls kontrakt i overensstemmelse med relevant statslig overenskomst og åremålsaftale eller på individuelle vilkår afhængig af den valgte kandidat.

Startdato aftales mellem parterne, men gerne senest d. 1. august 2026.

Hvis du vil ansøge om stillingen, skal du klikke på knappen "Apply". Ansøgninger skal stiles til bestyrelsesformand Lars Barfoed og være modtaget senest d. 31. august 2024.

Den første samtalerunde vil blive afholdt medio september 2024 efterfulgt af en anden runde primo oktober 2024. Der foretages en personlighedstest mellem første og anden runde.

Vi gør opmærksom på, at der indhentes børneattest i forbindelse med ansættelsen.

Henvendelser vedrørende stillingen rettes til CEO teaterchef Kasper Holten, tlf. (+45) 3157 7273 eller [email protected].

Alle interesserede kandidater, uanset personlig baggrund, opfordres til at søge stillingen.

Læs mere om Det Kongelige Teater på www.kglteater.dk.

The Royal Danish Theatre seeks Artistic Director of the Royal Danish Ballet from 2026

The Royal Danish Theatre is seeking an Artistic Director of the Royal Danish Ballet to guide the company’s continued growth and success from August 2026 onwards.

The theatre and the ballet

The Royal Danish Ballet is a division of The Royal Danish Theatre and is a remarkable ballet company delivering artistic performances of the highest calibre, and is as such one of the world's most renowned ballet-companies. The company was founded in 1748 in Copenhagen where it still has its base today.

The Royal Danish Ballet also includes The Royal Danish Ballet School which educates world class classical ballet dancers. The Ballet School was founded in 1771, and is one of the few ballet schools in the world that is housed in the theatre building itself.

The core of the Royal Danish Ballet is the tradition of August Bournonville, who led the company in the 1830's. Today The Royal Danish Ballet is a modern ballet company that embraces both classical and neoclassical repertoire, contemporary works, as well as encouraging the creation of new ballets – with the Bournonville tradition continuously playing a very special role. The company has approx. 80 dancers of both Danish and international origin.

The theatre has a strategy to reach out to new audience groups in all of Denmark with a particular emphasis on introducing more children and young adults to the classical arts.

The Royal Danish Ballet is undergoing a development with a focus on culture, working environment, well-being and diversity. We continuously strive to optimize our planning and develop our organization with the aim of creating and maintaining a sustainable and healthy work environment and a strong workplace culture, where everyone experiences a high level of psychological safety.

The position

The Artistic Director of the Royal Danish Ballet is responsible for the Royal Danish Theatre’s production and staging of ballet rehearsals and performances. The Artistic Director of the Royal Danish Ballet plans the theatre’s ballet and dance repertoire, within the defined framework of the entire Royal Danish Theatre’s budgets, strategy, structure and common goals and under mandate from the CEO. The Artistic Director of the Royal Danish Ballet is part of the theatre’s executive management board and has a joint responsibility for the theatre's strategy. The Artistic Director has a special responsibility to contribute to activities that will make the art form more accessible and relevant for people in all of Denmark, including digital programming, touring and outreach activities.

The Artistic Director of the Royal Danish Ballet is also responsible for the Royal Danish Ballet School and will provide the overall creative leadership for the Company and the School, including the training and development of dancers and ensuring that the Bournonville tradition, aesthetic and repertoire are maintained and remain relevant for generations to come – students, dancers and audiences alike. The ballet school is managed by the Artistic Director of the Royal Ballet School, reporting to the Artistic Director of the Royal Danish Ballet.

The Artistic Director of the Royal Danish Ballet is the senior manager of the Ballet Department’s artistic and administrative staff, which includes the ballet company, music staff, producers, stage managers and administrative staff, as well as the staff of the Royal Danish Ballet School – approximately 175 employees in all plus 140 students at the Royal Danish Ballet School. The operational management is handled by the Ballet Department’s Administrative Director, who report to the Artistic Director. There is close collaboration with the Administrative Director on the strategic development of the Royal Ballet and to ensure a modern workplace culture with a high level of well-being.

The Artistic Director of the Royal Danish Ballet has the financial responsibility for the ballet department’s budget. The Artistic Director of the Royal Danish Ballet is appointed by the board and reports directly to the CEO.

Duties

The duties of the Artistic Director of the Royal Danish Ballet include:

• Ensuring a strong artistic profile for the Royal Danish Ballet
• Leverage strong international contacts to secure premium productions and artistic talent
• Creating a core repertoire, which will continue to form the nucleus of the Royal Danish. Ballet’s repertoire, with broad audience support
• Fostering and developing both classic and contemporary ballet traditions
• Developing new artistic initiatives and focus areas
• Select, engage and develop outstanding dance and artistic talent
• Ensure a strong culture and healthy working environment within the ballet company
• Work in close partnership with the Administrative Director and make the necessary priorities to deliver financial sustainability and ensure optimum use of resources and compliance with the given budgets for both expenses and income
• Attract both new and loyal audiences to the art form
• Ensure a safe and professional educational environment for the students of the Royal Ballet School and the boarding school connected to RBS
• Ensure that the work of the ballet company is continuously in compliance with all legislative demands, with particularly understanding of the conditions applying to a government institution such as the Royal Danish Theatre

Qualifications

The ideal candidate is a confident, articulate and empathetic leader with experience and a flair for leadership and communication who can deliver a bold, innovative and compelling artistic vision to advance the company and its dancers consistent with the theatre’s mission and goals.

The theatre is seeking an Artistic Director of the Royal Danish Ballet with:

• Strong artistic abilities and a deep knowledge of ballet and dance
• Knowledge of the works and aesthetics of August Bournonville
• Artistic visions for the development of the Royal Danish Ballet
• Leadership experience, including strong communication skills, a well-developed international network, the ability to inspire others, and can deliver on ambitious goals
• An eye for talent; the ability to select the best dancers, students, choreographers, teachers, and coaches and encourage their development
• A strong media presence and ability to engage new and existing audiences with the narrative of ballet as an art form
• Good command of finances and budget compliance
• Strategic thoughts on how to develop the culture of classical ballet, ensuring diversity, a safe working environment and healthy practices
• Desire and ability to work closely together with the colleagues on the executive board, and a flexibility and interest to further develop one’s leadership style with changing needs

Knowledge of Danish ballet and dance culture and tradition, as well as knowledge of general Danish cultural tradition, would be beneficial.

Terms and process

The position will be filled as a fixed-term contract and in accordance with relevant collective agreement or on individual terms.

Starting date as agreed between the parties but preferably by 1 August 2026.

To apply for the position, click "APPLY” button. Applications must be addressed to Chairman of the Board Lars Barfoed and received by 31st of August 2024.

The first round of interviews will be conducted mid-September 2024 followed by a second round at the beginning of October 2024. There will be a personality test between the first and second round.

Please note, a child protection certificate will be applied for in conjunction with employment.

Please direct enquiries regarding the position to CEO Kasper Holten, tel. (+45) 3157 7273 or [email protected].

All interested candidates, regardless of personal background, are encouraged to apply for the position.

Read more about the Royal Danish Theatre at www.kglteater.dk.