Jan McNulty

I was privileged indeed to see the performance of Mehek at The Lowry on Tuesday evening. Mehek is the story of a forbidden love between a younger man and an older woman. The cast consists of Aakash Odedra, Aditi Mangaldas, 3 musicians and a singer. The set consists of hanging pieces of what look like mirrors but are perspex pieces, the lighting is mostly used to pinpoint the dancers (and is extremely effective) and everything is an integrated whole. The performance starts with Aakash Odedra sitting at the front left corner of the stage playing with a piece of "mirror" sending rays around the auditorium. Gradually he is lit up by spotlights. Back into darkness and Audit Mangaldas is highlighted behind some of the "mirrors". Gradually the 2 meet and there is the most intense duet of kathak moves from slow and gentle to whirling across the stage. At times they join together. The movement of their hands was mesmerising as was the slapping of the feet that gave such a percussive sound. The three musicians appear in front of Aditi Mangaldas and try to keep her away from Aakash Odedra but love seems to win out. I found this performance intense, mesmerising, sensual and, in parts, profoundly moving. These are truly great artists and it was such a privilege to see them.

A belated welcome to the Forum @TiaBallerina.

And also covered in the Links today:

Congratulations to all the nominees!

The press release was issued for release at 8am this morning but I was doing the links and then I was busy. PRESS RELEASE: The 24th National Dance Awards - #NDA24 Announcement of Nominations The Dance Section of the Critics’ Circle is pleased to announce the short-listed nominations for the National Dance Awards (#NDA24). The qualifying period for performances was between 1st January and 31st December 2023. The short-listed nominees are taken from nominations made by the members of the Dance section of the Critics’ Circle. In total there were 311 companies, choreographers, performers and other creative artists nominated, from which the short-listed nominees are: DANCING TIMES AWARD FOR BEST MALE DANCER William Bracewell Paris Fitzpatrick Francesco Gabriele Frola Brandon Lawrence Vadim Muntagirov BEST FEMALE DANCER Sara Baras Jemima Brown Fumi Kaneko Tiler Peck Aishwarya Raut STEF STEFANOU AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING COMPANY Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Birmingham Royal Ballet Nederlands Dans Theater New Adventures The Royal Ballet BEST MID-SCALE COMPANY Acosta Danza Ballet Black Ockham’s Razor Scottish Dance Theatre ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company BEST INDEPENDENT COMPANY Drew McOnie Company Pett I Clausen-Knight Russell Maliphant Dance Company Seeta Patel Dance Tiler Peck & Friends BEST CLASSICAL CHOREOGRAPHY Sara Baras for Alma for Compañia Sara Baras/The Flamenco Festival David Dawson for Four Last Songs for English National Ballet William Forsythe for The Barre Project for Tiler Peck & Friends Wayne McGregor for Untitled, 2023 for The Royal Ballet Seeta Patel for The Rite of Spring for Seeta Patel Dance BEST MODERN CHOREOGRAPHY Kyle Abrahams for Are you in Your Feelings? for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre Drew McOnie for Nutcracker for Drew McOnie Company Kristen McNally for The Limit at The Royal Opera House Crystal Pite and Simon McBurney for Figures in Extinction (1.0) for Nederlands Dans Theater Pam Tanowitz for Song of Songs for Pam Tanowitz Dance EMERGING ARTIST AWARD Nicole-Lily Baisden, musical theatre artist Jordan James Bridge, dancer and choreographer Eric Pinto Cata, artist, Birmingham Royal Ballet Joshua Junker, choreographer, The Royal Ballet Sae Maeda, soloist, The Royal Ballet OUTSTANDING FEMALE MODERN PERFORMANCE Cordelia Braithwaite as Juliet in Romeo + Juliet for New Adventures Jemima Brown in Surge for Tom Dale Company Aditi Mangaldas in Forbidden for Aditi Mangaldas Dance Company Dada Masilo as the Chosen One in The Sacrifice for Dance Consortium Constance Stamatiou in Cry for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre OUTSTANDING MALE MODERN PERFORMANCE Harry Alexander in how did we get here? for Julie Cunningham & Company Paris Fitzpatrick as Romeo in Romeo + Juliet for New Adventures Yannick Lebrun in Dancing Spirit for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre Liam Mower as Edward Scissorhands for New Adventures Charlie Stemp as Bobby Child in Crazy for You OUTSTANDING FEMALE CLASSICAL PERFORMANCE Sara Baras in Alma for Compañía Sara Baras in the Flamenco Festival Isabela Coracy as Nina Simone in NINA: By Whatever Means for Ballet Black Mercedes de Cordoba in Si, Quiero in the Flamenco Festival Fumi Kaneko as Princess Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty for The Royal Ballet Tiler Peck in Turn it Out for Tiler Peck and Friends OUTSTANDING MALE CLASSICAL PERFORMANCE Gareth Haw in Four Last Songs for English National Ballet Ryoichi Hirano as Espada in Don Quixote for The Royal Ballet Brandon Lawrence in Liebestod for Birmingham Royal Ballet Sooraj Subramaniam in The Rite of Spring for Seeta Patel Dance Joseph Taylor as Gatsby in The Great Gatsby for Northern Ballet OUTSTANDING CREATIVE CONTRIBUTION Carlos Acosta for the concept of Black Sabbath – The Ballet for Birmingham Royal Ballet Cormac Begley, musician/concertina player in MÁM for Teaċ Damsa Ravi Deepres, visual artist for UniVerse: A Dark Crystal Odyssey for Studio Wayne McGregor Cassie Kinoshi, composer for Nutcracker for Drew McOnie Company & England on Fire for the Balletboyz Kate Shipway, pianist at The Royal Opera House There are also awards for Best Dance Film and Best Short Dance Film and the nominees in these categories will be announced at the beginning of May. The winners will be announced at a live lunchtime ceremony to be held at The Coronet Theatre on Monday, 3rd June. The Critics’ Circle is grateful to Anda Winters and the team at Coronet Theatre for their unstinting support. The event will also play host to the De Valois Award for Outstanding Achievement for which there are no prior nominations. Although there was a wide spread of nominations covering a record 29 separate companies (+1 from 2022), The Royal Ballet once again tops the list with a total of 11 nominations (down from 14 in 2022), followed by Birmingham Royal Ballet and New Adventures (5 each) and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, the Flamenco Festival and Tiler Peck and Friends (4 each). Announcing the nominations, the Chair of the National Dance Awards, Graham Watts OBE, said: “This is the best year yet for the diversity of nominations across the dance sector with a rich list from flamenco, south Asian dance, dance and musical theatre as well as the usual plethora of nominees from ballet and contemporary dance; all spread over a record number of companies.” The National Dance Awards have been organised by the Dance Section of the Critics’ Circle in each year of this Millennium to celebrate the vigour and variety of Britain’s thriving dance culture. They are presented by the Dance Section of the Critics’ Circle, which brings together over 60 dance writers and critics. They are the only awards given by the body of professional dance critics in the UK. The National Dance Awards will be sponsored this year by Marquee TV, Harlequin Floors, Stef Stefanou, International Arts and Cultural Projects Ltd, Tendu, the Ballet Association, London Ballet Circle, The L&M Trust, Lee McLernon, Danza&Danza International, Celeste Fenichel, Fern Potter and others to be announced. The Awards Committee wishes to express grateful thanks to our sponsors, without whom the event would not be possible; to the body of dance critics across the UK for giving their time to ensure the best possible list of nominees; and, above all, the companies, choreographers and performers for providing such a rich variety of choice. To discuss opportunities to sponsor the National Dance Awards contact the Chairman, Graham Watts on graham@g-watts.com or +44 (0) 7710 057252. For further information contact: Graham Watts – Chairman - +44 (0) 7710 057252 - graham@g-watts.com; Fabiana Jaramillo – Executive Secretary - uknationaldanceawards@gmail.com Deborah Weiss – Secretary - dnightingaleweiss@gmail.com Note: The National Dance Awards Committee is: Debra Craine (Deputy Chair), Sarah Crompton, Maggie Foyer, Lynette Halewood, Donald Hutera, Josephine Leask, Bruce Marriott, Emily May, David Mead, Graham Watts OBE (Chair), Deborah Weiss (Secretary) and Lyndsey Winship twitter: @NatDanceAwards Instagram: @national_dance_awards Facebook: National Dance Awards ENDS

Hello @banksy and welcome to the Forum!

Links - Thursday 18 April, 2024 Review - Pacific Northwest Ballet, The Seasons’ Canon, Seattle: Rich Smith, The Stranger Review - Aakash Odedra & Aditi Mangaldas, Mehek, London: Rachel Nouchi, Britihsh Theatre Guide Review - Hong Kong Dance Company, The Legend of Lanling, Hong Kong: Natasha Rogai, South China Morning Post News - San Francisco Ballet reveals 2024-25 season: Graham Spicer, Gramilano Stephi Wild, Broadway World Preview - Northern Ballet, Romeo and Juliet, London: Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper Preview - BRB2, Carlos Acosta’s Classical Selection, UK Tour: Staff, Theatre Weekly Preview Feature - Southern California Ballet, Coppelia, San Diego: Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union Tribune Gallery - Ballet Theatre of Maryland, Sleeping Beauty rehearsal, Annapolis: Stephi Wild, Broadway World Interview - Eric Gauthier, AD Gauthier Dance ahead of his company’s visit to Toronto: Staff, Ludwig Van In Conversation - Maria Khoreva, Mariinsky Ballet, Part 2: Jerry Hochman, Critical Dance Book Feature - The Swans of Harlem highlights 5 pioneering Dance Theater of Harlem ballerinas: Martha Anne Toll, Pointe Magazine Featurette - Ava May Llewellyn, Birmingham Royal Ballet: Chloe Harcombe, BBC News - Anjali Dance Company announces choreographer Gary Clarke as Company Champion: Steve Orme, British Theatre Guide News - Aspen Santa Fe Ballet announces summer season: Staff, Aspen Times News - Hundreds of ballet dancers go on tippy toes simultaneously to break Guinness World Record at NYC’s Plaza Hotel: Georgett Roberts & Natalie O’Neill, NY Post

PRESS RELEASE 17 April 2024 CARLOS ACOSTA’S BRB2 BEGINS SECOND UK TOUR WITH A NEW GLOBAL COHORT OF FIRST-CLASS EMERGING BALLET DANCERS ALL 2023 BRB2 MEMBERS TO JOIN BRB COMPANY AS ARTISTS In Spring 2023, Birmingham Royal Ballet’s (BRB) Director, the world-renowned Carlos Acosta, launched BRB2 - a new initiative through which BRB pro-actively seeks out some of the best young ballet graduates from across the globe. Announced today, after 12 months with BRB2, all five original members of the 2023 cohort will join the Birmingham Royal Ballet Company as Artists at the end of the current season. They are: Jack Easton, Frieda Kaden, Maïlène Katoch, Mason King and Oscar Kempsey Fagg. Now, after a hugely successful inaugural tour in 2023, BRB2 hits the road again with further performances of Carlos Acosta’s Classical Selection, a mixed programme of balletic highlights chosen by Acosta himself, visiting some venues for the first time. Opening in Cheltenham, the tour then visits Poole, Northampton, Canterbury and Peterborough. BRB2’s visit to Canterbury will mark the first time Birmingham Royal Ballet has performed in the city. BRB2 features some of the brightest young stars in the ballet world, hailing from the UK, USA, Ukraine, France, Germany, New Zealand and Australia, and offers a unique opportunity for audiences to be the first to see ballet’s elite rising stars on stage. In this second year the original cohort, who are all joining the main Company as Artists from this Autumn, are joined by five new members of the company selected by Carlos Acosta and Assistant Director Dominic Antonucci. They are: Ariana Allen (UK / Royal Ballet School), Alisa Garkavenko (Ukraine / Princess Grace Academy), Thomas Hazelby (UK / Royal Ballet School), Alexandra Manuel (USA / Royal Ballet School) and Alfie Shacklock (UK/Australia / Royal Ballet School). Alisa Garkavenko trained at Kyiv State Ballet School and Vaganova Ballet Academy in Ukraine. When Russia declared war on Ukraine, Alisa was offered refuge at Monaco’s Princess Grace Academy before joining BRB2. Alisa said: “I think it is really important to have junior companies like BRB2 because this kind of company, they are giving the opportunity to young dancers to show their talent. It’s an incredible experience.” BRB2 is a magnet for the best UK and international talent, providing extensive training and professional experience, sending developed, professional dancers back into the dance sector and providing role models for the next generation. The two-year performance programme provides vital employment for the next generation of exceptional ballet dancers (aged 18-22) to transition from training into jobs at BRB or other leading ballet companies, impacting the dance sector worldwide. BRB2 dancers have danced alongside the main Company, with many from last year’s cohort performing pivotal roles in the current repertoire, including the world premiere of Black Sabbath - The Ballet, The Nutcracker and the current UK tour of The Sleeping Beauty. The music for End of Time and Dying Swans will be performed live by Jeanette Wong (Head of Piano) and Antonio Novais (Principal Cellist). Jeanette will also perform two solo piano pieces by Ravel to accompany a brand-new duet, titled Mirrored, choreographed especially for BRB2 this year by Will Tuckett. Carlos Acosta said: “Everyone was so delighted with how the inaugural year of BRB2 went. It's been a great year, watching the inaugural group of dancers grow and develop, and to welcome the second intake join and quickly establish themselves as vital members of the Company. Many BRB2 artists are already taking important roles in the current The Sleeping Beauty tour (over 41 shows this Spring) and I cannot be more thrilled that all of the initial intake will be joining the Company full-time at the end of this season. It's not just about talent spotting though! My Classical Selection is a brilliant evening of ballet whether you are an established fan or looking for a way to discover what ballet is all about.” BRB’s First Soloist, Kit Holder, will again lead BRB2 as Artistic Coordinator, he said: “Last year’s inaugural BRB2 tour was a huge success and set the bar very high both technically and artistically. It’s been wonderful to support the development of these young dancers who are already becoming seasoned professionals and I’m really pleased that our initial cohort will all be staying on to continue their careers as full members of Birmingham Royal Ballet. I am excited to watch their careers continue to develop and I’m proud to have helped propel them on to continuing success. I’m also excited by the new dancers who have joined us this season to begin their professional careers and I look forward to showcasing the talents of all of these young artists with audiences across the country in the spring.” The programme for the 2024 UK tour includes the world premiere of Mirrored, a wholly new duet created by William Tuckett for BRB2. Further pas de deux include Frederick Ashton’s Rhapsody - premiered at The Royal Ballet in 1980 by Mikhail Baryshnikov and Lesley Collier; August Bournonville’s most famous ballet La Sylphide; the love duet from Swan Lake - probably the most famous pas de deux in ballet; Carlos Acosta’s take on Fokine’s The Dying Swan which features two dancers instead of one (hence The Dying Swans plural) and is double the usual length; Marius Petipa’s Diana and Actaeon pas de deux; Ben Stevenson’s End of Time set to Rachmaninov's gloriously melancholic Sonata in G Minor (3rd movement). In the second half Gustavo Mollajoli’s A Buenos Aires celebrates the spirit of tango to music by Astor Piazzolla; the iconic Edith Piaf’s Je ne regrette rien choreographed by Ben Van Cauwenbergh, whose Jacques Brel-inspired humorous gala piece Les Bourgeois will also feature. Acosta’s choreography for the Carmen pas de deux promises to raise the temperature with Bizet’s heat-seeking score. Will Tuckett’s new duet Mirrored will captivate audiences before Jorges Garcia’s Majisimo closes out the programme, performed to Massenet’s music from Le Cid. See listings information for full tour details. Listings information Everyman Theatre Cheltenham Fri 10 May 7.30pm; Sat 11 May 2pm & 7.30pm The Lighthouse Poole Sat 18 May 2.30pm & 7.45pm Northampton Royal and Derngate Sat 25 May 2.30pm & 7.30pm Marlowe Theatre Canterbury Wed 29 May 2.30pm & 7.30pm New Theatre Peterborough Sat 1 June 2.30pm & 7pm Programme (subject to change) Rhapsody – pas de deux Choreography: Frederick Ashton Music: Sergei Rachmaninov, Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini La Sylphide – Act II pas de deux Choreography: August Bournonville Music: Herman Lovenskiold Swan Lake – Act II pas de deux Choreography, Marius Petipa, Lev Ivanov, Sir Peter Wright Music: Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky The Dying Swans Choreography: Carlos Acosta (after Michel Fokine and Michel Descombes) Music: Camille Saint-Saens Diana and Actaeon – pas de deux Choreography: Marius Petipa, Agrippina Vaganova Music: Cesare Pugni End of Time – pas de deux Choreography: Ben Stevenson Music: Sergei Rachmaninov, Cello Sonata in G Minor (3rd movement) Interval A Buenos Aires Choreography: Gustavo Mollajoli Music: Astor Piazzolla, Primavera Portena Je ne regrette rien Choreography: Ben Van Cauwenbergh Music: Edith Piaf's Je ne regrette rien (Dumont/Vaucaire) Les Bourgeois Choreography: Ben Van Cauwenbergh Music: Jacques Brel’s Les Bourgeois Carmen Choreography: Carlos Acosta Music: George Bizet – Shchedrin Mirrored Choreography: Will Tuckett Music: Maurice Ravel Majisimo Choreography: Georges Garcia Music: Jules Massenet (from Le Cid) Notes to Editors Birmingham Royal Ballet Based at Birmingham Hippodrome, Birmingham Royal Ballet is the United Kingdom’s leading touring ballet company performing a range of traditional, classical and heritage ballets as well as ground-breaking new works with the aim of encouraging choreographers of the future. The Company’s Director since January 2020 is the internationally renowned Carlos Acosta. Birmingham Royal Ballet standardly performs at Birmingham Hippodrome for approximately ten weeks of the year and the remainder of the year tours throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. On average, the Company performs around 100 shows a year nationally and internationally.

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Changing perceptions of the creative and artistic potential of people with learning disabilities in the UK and beyond. ANJALI DANCE COMPANY APPOINTS BRITISH DANCE ARTIST AND CHOREOGRAPHER GARY CLARKE IN BRAND NEW COMPANY CHAMPION ROLE Following the appointment last year as Artists in Residence at their new home at Déda, the Creative Centre for Dance, Contemporary Circus and Outdoor Performance in Derby, Anjali Dance Company is delighted to announce acclaimed British Dance Artist and Choreographer Gary Clarke as its new Company Champion with immediate effect. Established in 1995, Anjali Dance Company has guided people with learning disabilities to establish themselves as dance artists in their own right and has helped to change perceptions of the creative and artistic potential of people with learning disabilities in the UK and beyond. Gary, the first artist to take-up this newly created role, is currently Artistic Director of Gary Clarke Company, one of Art’s Council England’s new NPO’s, touring extensively both nationally and internationally. Gary has previously worked with Anjali Dance Company choreographing Beethoven, the company’s last tour, which formed part of the GENIUS double bill. The work toured nationally and internationally to 18 venues, reaching 4+ live audiences, 712 workshop participants and a digital audience of 136.5K. Commenting on his appointment Gary said “'I am thrilled to be collaborating with Anjali Dance Company as their new Company Champion as they step into an exciting phase of development. “Inclusivity, visibility and diversity is an integral part of our sector growth, and I believe Anjali is at the forefront of breaking down barriers for dance and disability. The company's rigour, professionalism, artistic flair and integrity are all qualities of which we can learn from as we aim to grow into a more progressive and well-rounded industry.” Gary has created stage and site-specific work for a number of companies and organisations including The National Theatre, Opera North, Sky Arts, Akademi, Hull City of Culture and the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. He has also worked as a movement specialist on several large-scale feature films including World War Z, and The Mummy. His performance credits include work with Lea Anderson’s The Cholomondeleys & The Featherstonehaughs, Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures, Lloyd Newson’s DV8 Physical Theatre, Sadler's Wells Productions, Phoenix Dance Theatre and Candoco Dance Company. In 2017, Gary was appointed as an Honorary Fellow at The Northern School of Contemporary Dance. Gary has received a multitude of awards for his work including a UK Theatre Award for Achievement in Dance (COAL), A Critics Circle National Dance Award (COAL), A Herald Angel Award (the Troth) and The Brian Glover Memorial Award. Gary added “My time working with Anjali has always been a rich and enlightening experience and something I deeply treasure as a developing dance artist. My contact with the company continues to broaden my thinking, push my artistry and deepen my understanding. I am honoured to be a part Anjali’s bright and prosperous future.” Anjali Dance Company’s Director Alex Henwood said “We are very excited to welcome Gary as Company Champion, his skills and commitment will be a great asset to us which will help drive the artistic vision of the company.” Working with Alex, Gary’s initial focus will be to support Anjali dancers with their career development, offering opportunities for shadowing and observing, and facilitating wider artistic possibilities within the industry. Gary is currently working with Anjali dancer Nick McKerrow as Nick develops his choreographic practice through his current Arts Council England, Developing your Creative Practice, award. Nick will be visiting Gary in the studio as Gary creates his new company work DETENTION. Gary is also supporting Anjali’s three Research and Development choreographers, Chisato Minamimura, Rebecca Namgauds and Joe Garbett, over the next 6 months whilst they work with the dancers in the studio, to ensure a successful and collaborative process with the company. For further information on Anjali Dance Company and their work please go to www.anjali.co.uk/ Notes to Editors Anjali Dance Company is a leading dance company that celebrates the extraordinary creative potential of people with learning disabilities. We guide them as creative artists, supporting them to demonstrate their extraordinary talents and excellent creative abilities. Established in 1995, we create and perform original work, in collaboration with world-class choreographers, with high production values. Our dancers are treated with utmost respect as artists who happen to have learning disabilities, not as people with learning disabilities who happen to dance. Anjali’s dancers have performed at venues throughout the UK, including the Royal Festival Hall, Sadler’s Wells, the Royal Opera House in London and at venues in Europe and Mexico. Anjali’s 2017 & 2019 original double bill Genius, choreographed by Gary Clarke and Lea Anderson MBE was performed live nationally and internationally in 19 venues, with a digital audience of 136.4k. International links: Anjali has an ongoing seven-year partnership with Buró Cultural in Mexico, which led to international tours, presentations, and the development of a company of learning-disabled dancers in Mexico modelled on Anjali.

And the press release: Press Release Tuesday 16 April 2024 Lynne Charles appointed as Artistic Director of English National Ballet School English National Ballet School is delighted to announce that internationally renowned dancer, teacher, and creator of 4Pointe, Lynne Charles has been appointed as its new Artistic Director, taking up the position in September 2024. Her 35-year international dance career saw her perform with Hamburg Ballet for 12 years, where she was the muse for many of John Neumeier’s creations, and with Bejart Ballet Lausanne, the Ballet National Roland Petit de Marseille, and as a Principal Guest Artist with English National Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet. As the creator and teacher of 4pointe, a somatic and mindful method of working on pointe, Lynne has taught at companies including English National Ballet, Hamburg Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, as well as Royal Danish Ballet School and San Francisco Ballet School. She has also worked as a coach with professional dancers. Of her appointment, Lynne Charles said: “I am delighted to be taking up the role of Artistic Director of English National Ballet School. Over the course of its history ENBS has cemented itself as one of the leading centres for dance training in the world, and it is a privilege to build on this and help produce dancers that are ready to meet the challenges of today. “It is my belief that formal classical ballet training is essential for every dancer to begin their career, and it is my ambition to further develop the syllabus at ENBS to produce well rounded dancers that go on to enjoy successful careers with the top ballet companies in the UK and internationally. “I also plan for ENBS to become the home of 4pointe and be used as a unique tool to enhance the teachers' training and students' education, as well as continuing the programme's far-reaching impact on teachers outside of the School.” Amanda Skoog, Executive Director of English National Ballet School said: “I am thrilled Lynne will be joining ENBS as Artistic Director. Her wealth of experience as both teacher and dancer will mean our students are better placed than ever to establish themselves as world-class dancers. Her experiences in both America and Europe will give ENBS a specific point of difference and open many doors to the School and our students. I look forward to working alongside Lynne and our dedicated teaching faculty as we continue to make ENBS one of the world’s most celebrated centres for classical ballet training. James Mee, Chair of the Board of Governors of English National Ballet School added: “On behalf of the Board I am delighted to welcome Lynne as our new Artistic Director. Lynne’s distinguished career will give ENBS a unique voice in the world of ballet training. I would also like to take this opportunity once again to thank Viviana Durante for her exceptional artistic leadership, vision, and passion over the last five years. Aaron S. Watkin, Artistic Director of English National Ballet said: “I am thrilled that Lynne Charles will be the new Artistic Director of English National Ballet School. Lynne will bring a wealth of knowledge as a renowned ballerina and a world class dance educator. I look forward to continued collaboration with English National Ballet School under her direction.” For over 35 years English National Ballet School has been at the forefront of classical ballet training. Through its full-time Senior School, it trains almost 100 dancers from around the world to fulfil their potential and become exceptional artists. As Artistic Director, Lynne will lead on the artistic vision of the ENBS, setting the standard, style and methodology of the training and development of its students, as well as being responsible for the creation of student performance opportunities and other projects. Lynne will officially take up the role of Artistic Director in September 2024. She succeeds Viviana Durante, who announced at the beginning of the year that she would be stepping down in the summer to pursue other opportunities. Notes to Editors About English National Ballet School English National Ballet School prepares the finest young ballet dancers for a lifetime of achievement, providing world-class training, education, pastoral care and performance opportunities. We provide our students with the confidence, creativity and skills for a career as a professional dancer with the major international companies, and for a future beyond performing. We aspire to be the school of choice for the next generation of ballet artists and to pioneer the future of dance education. www.enbschool.org.uk About Lynne Charles Lynne Charles completed her training at Harkness House for Ballet Arts, the School of American Ballet and the American Ballet Theater School in New York City. As the creator and teacher of 4pointe, a somatic and mindful method of working on pointe. Lynne has taught 4pointe at English National Ballet, Hamburg Ballet, Badisches Staats Theater, Ballet am Rhein Dusseldorf, Les Ballet des Monte Carlo, Royal Danish Ballet, Bundes Jugend Ballet Hamburg, San Francisco Ballet, as well as Royal Danish Ballet School, San Francisco Ballet School and Folkwang University of the Arts. She also works as a coach with professional dancers from around the world. Find out more at www.4-pointe.com Lynne began her dancing career with American Ballet Theater 2nd Company and Geneva Ballet, before joining Hamburg Ballet in 1974. During her 12 years at the company, John Neumeier created multiple roles for her in his ballets The Legend of Arthur, The Sleeping Beauty, As You Like It, Petrushka, Giselle, Firebird, The Age of Anxiety and more. She also danced in Bejart Ballet Lausanne, the Ballet National Roland Petit de Marseille (Scheherazade (created for her), Coppelia, L’Arlesienne, Puss in Boots, The Devil in Love, Nutcracker) and as a guest with Birmingham Royal Ballet, Malmo Ballet in Sweden, Columbia City Ballet in the USA, and Aalto Ballet Essen (Germany). Danced as a Guest Artist with ENB between 1991-1995, performing lead roles in Natalia Makarova’s Swan Lake, Ben Stevenson’s Four Last Songs, George Balanchine’s Symphony in C, John Cranko’s Onegin and The Taming of the Shrew, Rudolf Nureyev’s Romeo & Juliet, and Harald Lander’s Etudes Lynne Charles has worked as a Ballet Mistress, Guest Ballet Mistress and Guest Teacher in companies around the world, including Hamburg Ballet, Ballett am Rhein Düsseldorf, San Francisco Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet, Les Ballet de Monte Carlo, Ballet Im Revier, National Ballet of China, Houston Ballet, Alonso King’s Lines Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet, and more. She has also created works for Finnish National Ballet, National Ballet of China, Slovenian National Ballet, Dortmund Ballet, Aalto Ballet Essen, Royal Danish Ballet School, Badische Staats Ballet and more. Between 2014 and 2019, she was professor of Classical Ballet at the Folkwang University.

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Hello @Chira and welcome to the Forum!

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Links - Wednesday 17 April, 2024 Review - Aakash Odedra & Aditi Mangaldas, Mehek, London: Louise Levene, FT Reviews - Australian Ballet, Carmen (Inger), Sydney: Deborah Jones, Follow Spot Geraldine Higginson, Dance Australia Review - Pacific Northwest Ballet, The Seasons’ Canon, Seattle: Melody Datz Hansen, Broadway World Reviews - Queensland Ballet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Brisbane: Michelle Potter, ... on dancing Denise Richardson, Dance Australia Review - West Australian Ballet, La Bayadère, Perth: Deborah Jones, Follow Spot Review - Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Snow White, Ottawa: Courtney Castelino, Broadway World Review - International Draft Works, London: Maggie Foyer, Seeing Dance Review - Elixir Festival, triple bill, London: Graham Watts, Gramilano Preview - Martha Graham Dance Company, American Legacies (mixed programme), New York: Caedra Scott-Flaherty, NY Observer Preview - Ballet BC, For Ever (mixed programme), Vancouver: Staff, Stir Preview - The Australian Ballet School presents its 60th anniversary showcase, Sydney: Staff, Aussie Theatre Preview - Jefferson Dancers, Annual Spring Concert, Portland: Jean Zondervan, Oregon Arts Watch Feature - Cathy Marston, AD Zürich Ballet, talks about her new ballet Atonement: Laura Cappelle, FT Feature - Why are we still watching La Bayadère: Jo Pickup, Arts Hub Feature - Hay as happiness, beauty and freedom at Joffrey production of 'Midsummer Night's Dream’: Neil Steinberg, Chicago Sun Times Feature - Ballerina graduates from University of Alabama: Tehreem Khan, UAB News - Lynne Charles to lead English National Ballet School: Graham Spicer, Gramilano Stephi Wild, Broadway World Georgia Luckhurst, Stage

Dreadfully sad news. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-68824189