Scapino Ballet + Blaudzun Oscar: sophisticated cross-discipline entertainment

As the 2024-2025 season kicks off, my first ballet and dance watching was Scapino Ballet Rotterdam's Oscar.

Oscar was commissioned by Koninklijk Theater Carré Amsterdam (the Royal Carré Theatre) to celebrate its 135 year anniversary. The show was originally performed there in 2022 and turned out so popular it is already revived this year, 2024.

I went to see it at Nieuwe Luxor Theater (the New Luxor Theatre) in Rotterdam on Friday, 6th September.

Oscar is a sophisticated full-scale entertainment. In addition to the amazing contemporary ballet dancers of Scapino, it showcases circus acts and the live band of popular Dutch singer songwriter Blaudzun on stage. I had known Scapino does an amazing job incorporating dancers with live musicians on stage, Song of the Dark Forest, for example. But Oscar is yet another scale. Whether you are after techniques, music or general feel good elements, or all of these, you will be happy after watching the show.

Cross-discipline stage entertainments are not new. Many ballet companies have also produced and are producing ballet on rock and pop music (some of these productions have been below par, unfortunately). Oscar is, however, the finest of this kind of contemporary ballet I have ever seen.

Sadly, the choreographer of Oscar and Company Artistic Director Ed Wubbe bits farewell to Scapino after 30 years in December. In the image I took with my iPhone, he can be seen in the centre stage, wearing white trainers.

After this show, he starts working with the incoming artistic director, Nanine Linning, who will then officially takes over the position.

To give you more numbers, Scapino celebrates its 75 year anniversary this year.

And to give you some background, Nanine Linning is a highly acclaimed Dutch choreographer and stepped in when Wayne McGregor pulled out of the new opera-ballet production of the Dutch National Opera and Ballet in a last minute in February.

Go watch Oscar if you can. I might travel to Amsterdam to watch it again in the original setting of the Carré theatre.

Until Sunday, 8th September at Nieuwe Luxor Theater

From 18th to 29th September at Koninklijk Theater Carré Amsterdam

P.S. Very subjective and personal note, with which many of you may disagree ... At the time of writing, the reunion of Oasis and its concert ticket pricings were capturing major headlines. My ticket for Oscar was €21 + admission fee of €2.50. I like Oasis but Oscar made me think some tickets are overpriced.