Vision Wanted

The departure of John Neumeier after more than half a century at the helm of Hamburg Ballet was always going to be seismic. His successor, choreographer Demis Volpi, resigned after only one season, amid reports of deep structural tensions within the company. As the institution now enters an interim phase under three long-time Neumeier associates, questions remain about its future direction. How can a company so closely identified with a single artistic figure reinvent itself? In this interview, coach and organisational consultant Dagmar Birke reflects on the systemic challenges of such successions – in Hamburg, Wuppertal, and beyond – and why a clear vision is more important than ever.

Dagmar Birke, in last year’s Yearbook you and I spoke about conflicts in ensembles and ...