OSLO: Kristian Ruutu received to day, Thursday 29th September 2011, the Norwegian Dance Critic Prize for the Season 2010-2011 for his Mercutio in Michael Corder´s and Sergei Prokofievs Romeo and Juliet with the Norwegian National Ballet in Oslo.

The Prize was handed out by Henning Høholt, at Litteraturhuset. Oslo.

The Prize is a print by the artist Tom Stian Kosmo named “The Search Party”.

The text for the handing out of the Prize: by Henning Høholt:

Dance:

The Dance critic prize 2010-2011 is given to Kristian Ruutu for.his interpretation of the role as Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet with the Norwegian National Ballet.

Kristian Ruutus outstanding interpretation of the role of Mercutio is unsurpassed.

From my criticism in www.kulturkompasset.com 17 May 2011 i quote:

Kristian Ruutu, as in the demanding role of Mercutio makes one of the best performances of this role, as I have ever seen.

From Inger Margrethe Lunde‘s criticism in Aftenposten 15 May 2011:

Romeo. Danced by Kaloyan Boyadjiev, and his friends, Mercutio, danced by Kristian Ruutu and Benvolio, danced by Lucas Lima, gives us many impressive scenes.

We become infected by the fellow cabinet and joy of life. In particular, Ruutu flourishes. With this role, he has his absolutebreakthrough. So strong, yet light and playful. He must die for his friend. We believe in him.

Permit me also to add: Every time you are on stage, you are not only dancing your roles, you are to peforming and palying theroles, and therefore you are allways in the center of the attention for the audience and therefore they love you.

It is my great privillige and in deed a pleasure, here to day to handover the cirtic prize for dance, The prize is a Print of Tom Stian Kosmo titled ”The Search Party” which is a given by the Norwegian Critic Association for the season 2010-2011 to Kristian Ruutu for his interpretation of Mercutio in Michael Corder´s and Sergei Prokofievs Romeo and Juliet.

Kristian Ruutu was born in Vantaa, Finland. He studied at the Ballet School in his hometown and at the Finnish Nasjonalballetts Ballet School, Helsinki. He danced with Le Jeune Ballet de France, Paris, before he in 2001 joined the NationalBallet.

With the Norwegian National Ballet Kristian Ruutu has danced Nutcracker Prince in Dinna Bjørn´s Nutcracker, Ferdinand in Glen Tetley’s The Tempest,

Demetrius and Puck in Sund´S A Midsummer Night’s Dream,

Mercutio and Benvolio in Romeo and Juliet by Michael Corders,

Hortensio in John Crankos Taming of the Shrew,

Blue Bird pas de deux’en in Petipa´s: Sleeping Beauty,

Cassio in Lubovitch ‘Othello

and Romeo in Cina Espejord and Kristian Støvinds Romeo & Juliet, a modern love story.

He has danced prominent solo parts in such ballets as

Rudi van Dantzig´s: Vier letzte Lieder,

Peter Martins‘: Fearful Symmetries,

George Balanchine: Agon and The Four temperaments,

Jiri Kylian: BellaFigura and 27’52”,

Duatos: Por Vos Muero, White Darkness and Arcanelo,

Lightfoot/ León: Sh–Boom, Step Lightly, Softly as i Leave You, Shutters Shut, Subject to change and Skew Whiff,

Glen Tetley’s: Rite of Spring, Mats Ek: Sleeping Beauty, Welch: ‘Maninyas, York’s: Celts, Lees: Fractured Wake,

Elos: Cut to Drive * and Brake–Green *,

Kaloyan Boyadjiev: Open for Discussion and Lost in Time *,

Ben Stevenson’s: Cinderella,

Holmes‘: Swan Lake,

William Forsyth: The Second Detail, and the Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude,

Christopher Wheeldons: The Christening Suite

John Neumeier: A Streetcar Named Desire

and Rudolf Nurejev´s: Don Quixote.

* Awarded for the dancer

In his sparetime he is too an activ participant in the Fagotchoire.

Foto by Jørund Langeggen.