Ballet master Nikolaj Hübbe has temporarily stepped down from the Royal Danish Theatre (Det Kongelige Teater) following a revealing investigation into harmful conditions at the ballet school. According to theatre director Kasper Holten, director Amy Watson will serve as acting ballet master in Hübbe’s absence. Hübbe had previously taken a leave of absence earlier this year after an independent investigation uncovered alarming conditions at the school, where normal-weight children as young as nine were encouraged to lose weight, leading many students to develop eating disorders and mental health issues.

Holten confirmed to Politiken, a prominent Danish newspaper, that the decision to place Hübbe on medical leave was made in consultation with the theatre’s board in light of the investigation’s findings. Allegations of fear-based teaching and bullying emerged, resulting in a strong reaction from the board, which issued warnings to both Hübbe and Holten.

The investigation, conducted by the law firm Horten, indicated that conditions at the school have improved over time. Nevertheless, there were calls for employment-related consequences for several staff members involved.

Nikolaj Hübbe is officially on indefinite medical leave, but plans are already in place for him to step down as ballet master when his contract expires in 2026. In the meantime, the experienced Amy Watson, who has been associated with the Royal Danish Ballet since 2000, will take on the role of ballet master, guiding the company through this turbulent period.