Crisis in the Hamburg Ballet: Dancers complain about a toxic climate!

Crisis in the Hamburg Ballet: Dancers complain about a toxic climate!

The Hamburg ballet director Demis Volpi is confronted with a profound crisis triggered by numerous allegations regarding his leadership style and working conditions in the ensemble. According to the Small newspaper Volpi regrets the necessary interruption of his work on the production “Demian”, which was triggered by positive feedback from the audience. For this reason, he is now planning to switch to the existing production “Surrogate Cities” to create more space for current topics.

The situation is getting worse: Over 30 dancers have criticized Volpi in an incendiary letter to the Hamburg Senator for Culture Carsten Brosda (SPD). Five of the first eleven soloists did not extend their contracts. In addition, 17 current and former dancers from the Ballett am Rhein in Düsseldorf also sent a letter to Brosda in which they accused Volpi of a working environment characterized by “inconsistent communication, a lack of transparency and an atmosphere of fear”.

Accusations and critical voices

The NDR reports that during Volpi's previous tenure in Düsseldorf, a revealing letter was written that described negative effects on dancers' confidence, motivation and well-being. Long-time dancers there quit before their contracts expired, which is considered unusual in the ballet scene. One dancer described Volpi as loud and unpleasant, in contrast to his public portrayal.

In Hamburg, more than half of the ballet company and five of eleven first soloists expressed their dissatisfaction. Alexandr Trusch, a dismissed first soloist, said that there was a lack of role models and criticized Volpi's artistic abilities. The Hamburg cultural authority was surprised by the allegations and planned internal discussions to clarify the situation and promote a constructive exchange.

Outlook and further developments

Volpi, who took over from John Neumeier after 51 years at the helm of the Hamburg Ballet, takes the allegations seriously and is in close contact with the ensemble spokespersons. His task includes enriching the repertoire with new productions and preserving Neumeier's legacy. However, the current tensions and challenges to his leadership style could threaten his artistic vision.

Given this complex situation, the Düsseldorf dancers hope that their letter to Brosda can stimulate a broader discussion about the responsibilities in cultural positions. The problems that were highlighted in the leadership context not only affect the Hamburg Ballet, but also shed light on the challenges in the area of ​​human resources management in the cultural sector. This is particularly relevant because factors such as “inconsistent communication” and “toxic work environment” can represent key issues for successful artist management, as shown in an analysis by De Gruyter is presented.