Meet the Artist: Alban Lendorf

Get to Know the Guest Dancer Onstage in Manon

This season Guest Artist Alban Lendorf joins us to dance the role of Des Grieux in MacMillan’s Manon. The international guest artist and actor has previously danced with American Ballet Theatre and The Royal Danish Ballet. He was awarded ‘Best Male Dancer’ Primio in Positano, Italy (2011), ‘Dancer of the Year’ at the Reumert Awards (2012 and 2014), ‘Best Male Dancer’ Prix Benois de la Danse at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow (2013), and ‘Best Male Dancer’ at European Ballet Awards in Berlin (2014).

Get to know Des Grieux: The male lead in the ballet, Des Grieux is a passionate and idealistic young man whose love for Manon leads him on a tumultuous journey. Initially noble and virtuous, he becomes consumed by his devotion to her, willing to sacrifice his principles and endure hardship to remain by her side. His character embodies both the innocence of youthful love and the tragedy of its consequences, as his obsessive desire for Manon blinds him to reason and ultimately leads to his downfall.

We sat down with Alban to get to know him and his portrayal of this character.

SAN FRANCISCO BALLET: What is your relationship to this ballet? Can you tell us a little bit about your interpretation of Des Grieux?

Alban Lendorf: I’ve performed Des Grieux in MacMillan’s Manon with the Royal Danish Ballet in 2013 and with the Stanislavsky Ballet Theatre in Moscow in 2014. Des Grieux is a writer. He is more introverted than the rest of the characters in the story, but when he talks to anyone, he is very direct and honest, almost too much for Manon when he approaches her for the first time, so he chooses his words (steps) very carefully.

SFB: What elements of his character do you focus on when dancing this role?

AF: I try to work on his honesty – in the steps – but also as a human being. To really open myself up to my partner and to the room. It’s a challenge to make the audience believe that Manon and Des Grieux fall in love within FIVE minutes of meeting each other, without overdoing it. It should feel realistic, but 3000 people in a big auditorium need to be with us – in that feeling as well. I think it’s key to surrender myself to being very honest in that moment. Fortunately, Jules Massenet’s music does half the job for us.

SFB: Tell us about Des Grieux’s relationship to Manon, how does he get what he needs from her?

AF: It’s obvious that Des Grieux loves Manon from the first time he sets his eyes on her. He is a romantic. He sees her as a deep beautiful being underneath the expensive fur and jewelry. He sees her for who she really is, that’s his conviction anyway. But he is also the more naive of the two. He believes that their love is enough for them to live happily ever after. He doesn’t share the same worry about the dangers of having a life without the guarantees of income. The fact that Manon is hesitant about leaving the luxurious life to only be with him hurts him deeply and he turns to jealousy in moments where he feels most betrayed. Though, when they’re alone, she always has a way of making him forget everything and feel happiness.

SFB: Is this an especially challenging role technically and/or emotionally?

AF: Everything is challenging – I think it is where technical skill meets artistry. All the years of training really don’t matter if we can’t portray a believable character and story to the audience. But we wouldn’t be able and lucky enough to perform this ballet without the years of hard work on our skills. It’s a paradox, virtuoso and beautiful. It’s why I fell in love with ballet in the first place.

SFB: How do you feel dancing here with San Francisco Ballet for the first time?

AF: The theatre building is amazing and I’m very excited to dance on this stage for the first time.

I can’t wait to perform with Sasha De Sola as Manon, she is a beautiful person and artist.

Alban Lendorf and Sasha De Sola dance Manon and Des Grieux in Manon on Saturday, January 25 at 8 pm and Tuesday, January 28 at 7:30 pm.

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