Newspaper Article

Duncan man prepares for top job at Ballet Dresden

Griffin, Kevin

2005

Overview

It's a heady time for [Aaron Watkin]. At 35, he's just been hired as the new artistic director of Ballet Dresden. Even though he doesn't start his new job for more than a year -- his appointment takes effect on Aug. 1, 2006 -- Watkin arrived in Dresden two days before our interview for his first official visit. Watkin, who was born and raised in [Duncan] on Vancouver Island, joked that he'll been in meetings 24 hours a day during the remainder of his 10-day stay. Not only was Watkin a former soloist with the legendary William Forsythe at Ballet Frankfurt, he's also been travelling throughout Europe for the past few years as Forsythe's personal choreographic assistant. Dancers and administrative staff in Dresden know him from a stint last fall when he did the preparatory legwork for two of Forsythe's contemporary ballets. There's also the telling detail about one of the reasons Watkin got the Dresden job: Forsythe personally recommended him. At the Ballet Dresden, Watkin will be working out of the Sachsische Staatsoper Dresden Semperoper, one of the most impressive opera houses in Europe. Located in central Dresden on the banks of the Elbe River, the opera house was designed by Gottfried Semper in 1841 but was rebuilt by Semper in High Renaissance style in 1878 after a fire.

• Publisher: Postmedia Network Inc
• Subject: Carlson, Margaret / Forsythe, William / Watkin, Aaron