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| Royal Ballet star Alina Cojocaru to join Tamara Rojo at English National Ballet | Royal Ballet star Alina Cojocaru to join Tamara Rojo at English National Ballet |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Last year Tamara Rojo, the fiercely intelligent Spanish star of the Royal Ballet, jumped ship to become the artistic director and principal dancer of that other behemoth of the British classical dance scene, English National Ballet. | Last year Tamara Rojo, the fiercely intelligent Spanish star of the Royal Ballet, jumped ship to become the artistic director and principal dancer of that other behemoth of the British classical dance scene, English National Ballet. |
| Now Rojo has lured a hugely valuable scalp from the Royal to join her: her erstwhile competitor, the Romanian ballerina Alina Cojocaru. For years Rojo and Cojocaru were the golden women of the Royal, the company's biggest stars; indeed, rumours of their intense rivalry circulated in the dance world. | Now Rojo has lured a hugely valuable scalp from the Royal to join her: her erstwhile competitor, the Romanian ballerina Alina Cojocaru. For years Rojo and Cojocaru were the golden women of the Royal, the company's biggest stars; indeed, rumours of their intense rivalry circulated in the dance world. |
| Cojocaru and her onstage and offstage partner Johann Kobborg gave their last performance at Covent Garden last month, shortly after the Royal Ballet issued a short statement announcing their departure. They exited the stage amid a shower of flowers and bouquets "rising as high as a barricade", as one critic put it, lauded by an audience that has adored the couple's artistry for a decade. | Cojocaru and her onstage and offstage partner Johann Kobborg gave their last performance at Covent Garden last month, shortly after the Royal Ballet issued a short statement announcing their departure. They exited the stage amid a shower of flowers and bouquets "rising as high as a barricade", as one critic put it, lauded by an audience that has adored the couple's artistry for a decade. |
| This latest move is, conceded Rojo, a little like the current Wimbledon champion recruiting Novak Djokovic to Team Murray. She said: "People did keep saying we were rivals, but in fact we got on fine. It's like when you watch Wimbledon: these people are of course rivals in a match, but off-court there is actually a camaraderie and a respect for each other's talent." | This latest move is, conceded Rojo, a little like the current Wimbledon champion recruiting Novak Djokovic to Team Murray. She said: "People did keep saying we were rivals, but in fact we got on fine. It's like when you watch Wimbledon: these people are of course rivals in a match, but off-court there is actually a camaraderie and a respect for each other's talent." |
| Rojo said the appointment of such a big name would hugely increase the "international awareness" of ENB and, she hoped, attract overseas touring dates as well as the best directors and designers as collaborators. | Rojo said the appointment of such a big name would hugely increase the "international awareness" of ENB and, she hoped, attract overseas touring dates as well as the best directors and designers as collaborators. |
| While Rojo is herself currently the biggest name associated with the company, the responsibilities of artistic directorship are heavy and, arguably, another famous ballerina on the books will lighten the pressure on her to be the organisation's most bankable star. | While Rojo is herself currently the biggest name associated with the company, the responsibilities of artistic directorship are heavy and, arguably, another famous ballerina on the books will lighten the pressure on her to be the organisation's most bankable star. |
| It has been speculated that Cojocaru had become frustrated at the Royal by the paucity of new works created for her; while Kobborg, nearing the end of his dancing career, had not found sufficient outlet for his choreographic ambitions. Rojo said she hoped "Alina will be able to work with all our choreographers and be created upon" [as dance parlance has it] at ENB. | |
| In a statement, Cojocaru said she was "attracted by the opportunities the [ENB] repertoire offers, the combination of the classics and the chance to work with choreographers I really admire". | In a statement, Cojocaru said she was "attracted by the opportunities the [ENB] repertoire offers, the combination of the classics and the chance to work with choreographers I really admire". |
| Over the past seasons, Cojocaru has been dogged by injury, leading to a reduced performing schedule. Rojo brushed off the injury issue, saying, "It's just something that happens; as dancers we work with our bodies and that is part of who and what we are. Injuries are normal." | Over the past seasons, Cojocaru has been dogged by injury, leading to a reduced performing schedule. Rojo brushed off the injury issue, saying, "It's just something that happens; as dancers we work with our bodies and that is part of who and what we are. Injuries are normal." |
| Rojo added that "so far" Kobborg has not been lured to the ENB as a guest artist: "He's a very busy man," she said. | Rojo added that "so far" Kobborg has not been lured to the ENB as a guest artist: "He's a very busy man," she said. |
| Cojocaru will make her debut with ENB dancing the role of the heroine Medora on the opening night of Le Corsaire in Milton Keynes on 17 October. | Cojocaru will make her debut with ENB dancing the role of the heroine Medora on the opening night of Le Corsaire in Milton Keynes on 17 October. |