Jan McNulty

https://www.thestrad.com/news/a-disastrous-situation-petition-to-save-northern-ballet-sinfonia-from-being-replaced-by-recordings/17520.article

I assume it will be SDB's, which is gorgeous. It tours well - I have seen it in both The Lowry and the Empire in Sunderland. It was a cut-down version of this lovely production that was shown at Birmingham Rep during the experimental shows of Autumn 2020. I assume from this that Acosta must have a good working relationship with SDB. So good that wouldn't it be wonderful if Hobson's Choice or Madding Crowd was announced for the Autumn!

He was always scheduled to dance the matinee on 22nd February and the evening of 28th. It's just that things went a bit bizarre when he was taken out and then reinstated on the website...

Hello @Anna1805 and welcome to the Forum!

I do believe a performance of Stevenson's Cinderella in Manchester may have been Muntagirov's first time in a leading role... I was there!

So sorry you’ve both been unwell Fiz.

Also when I went to book LCB in Bath row A was being sold for the first night but not for the rest of the week. I rang up and it was a mistake on the first night.

I’d check with the theatre. To my cost a few years ago I booked front row for something only to find months later that it wasn’t the front row and I was reallocated a circle seat as the stalls was full!

Motorists who think traffic lights don't exist for them. I was coming down the dual carriageway this morning towards a rather complex roundabout structure when a car came around the roundabout at speed and didn't even slow down, just shot through the lights on red. They hadn't just changed to red as at least 4 cars had gone ahead of me. I had to brake very hard and fortunately the car behind me also managed to stop.

It's so bizarre isn't it Peter - those were 2 of the 3 performances he was originally down for. Miki is now due to dance with Max for one performance in Birmingham and dates elsewhere. Lachlan is now partnering her too. They were truly outstanding together in Fille.

I heard this on the news this morning. It's dreadfully sad news.

PRESS RELEASE 26 January 2024 Twitter / Facebook / Instagram / Website ANNA HAINSWORTH ANNOUNCED AS PRODUCER AT BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET Birmingham Royal Ballet has today announced Anna Hainsworth as their new in-house Producer. Anna Hainsworth is a producer working across dance, theatre and opera. Anna has worked in a breadth of roles within the arts sector, beginning her career in fundraising before moving into creative learning and producing, with companies including Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, Elmhurst School for Dance, Opera North and Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Since 2021, Anna was Senior Producer for Scottish Dance Theatre and Dundee Rep Theatre, and prior to this was the Tour and Projects Producer for National Dance Company Wales, managing a varied programme of new commissions, organising and delivering tours throughout the UK and abroad, and managing projects including Scottish Dance Theatre's co-production with Celtic Connections in 2023 and NDCWales performances as part of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. In 2021, she began a freelance practice, working on projects with independent artists and established companies, including Scottish Opera, Surrogate Productions, Jasmine Ellis (Munich) and Rosana Ribeiro (Salzburg). Anna holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Arts, Festivals and Cultural Management from Queen Margaret University and is Chair of New Opera in Scotland Events (NOISE). Anna said; "I'm delighted and very privileged to be joining the team at Birmingham Royal Ballet. The diversity and scale of projects delivered by this ambitious company is incredibly exciting and I'm looking forward to delivering performances which attract new audiences and ballet enthusiasts alike." Birmingham Royal Ballet will begin a UK tour of Sir Peter Wright’s classic production of The Sleeping Beauty in its 40th anniversary year from 8 February. www.brb.org.uk. Notes to Editors: Birmingham Royal Ballet 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 175 shows a year nationally and internationally. Music is at the heart of BRB’s activities and the company is committed to regularly commissioning new orchestral music for ballet. Through BRB’s Ballet Now programme which was launched in 2017 BRB has commissioned the largest number of new orchestral music for Ballet since Diaghilev.

I would assume that, as with many such jobs, at least 6 months notice would be required to give time for the next incumbent to be found. Once the job is advertised the cat is out of the bag so all they have done is make the announcement before advertising the job and causing even more speculation.

London City Ballet will be performing at Latitude this year: https://www.latitudefestival.com/artists/london-city-ballet/

Hello @CaronJ and welcome to the Forum!

Hello Spottydotty and welcome to the Forum!

Media release: 24 January 2024 ELMHURST BALLET SCHOOL STUDENTS SHINE IN NEW PHOTOGRAPHY CAMPAIGN The prestigious school celebrates 20 years in Birmingham in 2024 In 2023, Elmhurst Ballet School celebrated its centenary, and the celebrations are continuing into 2024 as the school marks 20 years in its current home in Edgbaston, Birmingham. A brand-new campaign Exceptional Dancers, Exceptional People celebrates the diversity, individuality, and talent of Elmhurst students from across the school. Tom Wood Over ten decades, Elmhurst has firmly secured its place amongst the top ballet schools in the world, attracting local, national, and international dance students to Camberley (1923-2004) and now Birmingham (from 2004). Elmhurst Ballet School’s relocation to Birmingham in 2004 was overseen by the then Principal John McNamara and supported by the UK Government, Birmingham City Council and Birmingham Royal Ballet. The aim of the relocation was to meet the growing demand for professional dance training, education, and research outside of London. The invaluable link with Birmingham Royal Ballet was also initiated. The school will commemorate its 20 years in Birmingham during the Exceptional Dancers, Exceptional People campaign throughout 2024. Kicking off the campaign, in photography by highly regarded dance photographer Johan Persson, is Year 12 student Olivia Rickard from Harrison, Australia. Alfie-Lee Hall from Warrington, Cheshire; Amber Cook from Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire; Tom Wood from Nuneaton, Warwickshire; Omarian Beckford from Hockley in Birmingham; Elaine Fan from Guangdong, China; Joseph Chow from Boldon, Tyne and Wear; and Annabelle Handley from Kings Bromley, Staffordshire also feature in the collection of dynamic photographs, highlighting the students who live, dance, and learn at Elmhurst Ballet School. Commenting on working with the eight students, dance photographer Johan Persson said: “The students from Elmhurst Ballet School were an absolute joy to work with on this campaign. A photoshoot can be an overwhelming experience, and being involved in a ballet photoshoot where you are looking for a perfect line, or a particular visual look, is even more challenging. The students engaged in it with conviction, making minor changes to their positions and lines when asked to, something that even professional dancers can find difficult. They approached it with complete professionalism and passion and allowed their personalities to shine through, which was exactly what we wanted to achieve.” Olivia Rickard Four of the students whose life-size Exceptional Dancers, Exceptional People photographs are due to be unveiled at the school this month, said: Joseph Chow, Year 8: “When I came to the Open Day at Elmhurst, I instantly fell in love with the school, and I begged my parents to let me audition. My favourite memory of Elmhurst so far is performing in front of Queen Camilla, who is Patron of the school. It was a very magical moment for me and all my friends, and I was so proud. Some professional dancers don’t even get the chance to perform for the Queen, and as a student I’ve already been given that opportunity at Elmhurst.” Annabelle Handley, Year 9: “I was involved with the Elmhurst Young Dancers scheme for three years before I came to train at Elmhurst full-time, so I’ve been coming here for most of my life. I really like it here; everyone is so friendly. Because we spend such a lot of time with each other, it feels different to a normal school. To me, ‘Exceptional Dancers, Exceptional People’ means that we always give our best in everything we do, and we always strive to be our best self in dance and in every other aspect of life.” Annabelle Handley Amber Cook, Year 13: “People look at Elmhurst and just see an incredible ballet school, which it definitely is, but there are so many different aspects to Elmhurst which come together to make it the school that it is. For example, the catering, the gym facilities, the dance studios, our teachers; everything comes together to give us the full experience we have here. I’ve been at Elmhurst for six years, and when I think back to being in year 7, when I was that little girl who walked through Elmhurst’s doors for the first time, I had these big hopes and dreams. And I look at where I am now, and it makes me realise how much I’ve grown. I’ve grown up at this school, it’s my home. Elmhurst gives you growth not only through dance, technically and artistically, but also as a person. I can see the evolution from when I joined, and how young I was, and the maturity that I’ve gained. I wouldn’t be the person or the dancer that I am today if I hadn’t attended Elmhurst. It has shaped me and will continue to shape me in the future.” Alfie-Lee Hall, Year 13: “Elmhurst gives you lots of life opportunities and makes you determined to succeed in life as well as dance. The facilities here are extraordinary and it’s just an incredible environment to be in. Life at Elmhurst isn’t just about dance. It’s about growing as a person as well and being the best person you can be. We get a lot of opportunities at Elmhurst to perform throughout the year, with a winter show and a summer show, and I was lucky enough to perform in last year’s graduate company show, which was amazing. One highlight that stands out for me was when I got to perform at His Majesty’s Theatre in London for the Margot Fonteyn International Ballet Competition, where I won the award for my own choreography. The school supported me through this in a big way; the teachers here helped me progress with rehearsals and supported me throughout. It helped me gain confidence in the pieces that I was doing. It was an amazing experience.” To find out more about Elmhurst Ballet School, please visit the school website elmhurstballetschool.org or follow the school’s social media channels. Notes to Editors Photo Credit for all photographs: Johan Persson Omarian Beckford About Elmhurst Ballet School Elmhurst Ballet School is a world-renowned centre of dance excellence in association with Birmingham Royal Ballet, which trains young dancers aged 11-19. Celebrating its 100th birthday in 2023, the school was founded in Camberley, Surrey in 1923 and relocated to Edgbaston in Birmingham in 2004. The school aims to nurture individuality through dance training, academics and health & wellbeing and guide students to become independent, collaborative, and versatile artists. Elmhurst's dance training is delivered by current and former dance professionals. The training is enhanced by the association with Birmingham Royal Ballet, an ongoing relationship with Studio Wayne McGregor, and many visiting choreographers and dance artists work collaboratively with the students during the school year. Elmhurst’s exceptional training opportunities is available to young dancers regardless of their financial, social, or cultural backgrounds. Although Elmhurst is an independent school, 89% of students benefit from UK Government support or in-house bursaries to train at the school. Recent graduates are working with companies across the UK and internationally including Birmingham Royal Ballet, New Adventures, Northern Ballet, Scottish Ballet, and the Royal Ballet. Wayne McGregor CBE is President of the school, and Carlos Acosta CBE and Dame Merle Park are listed amongst the school’s Vice Presidents. Elmhurst Young Dancers’ Programme provides weekend pre-vocational training in Birmingham, Manchester, Plymouth, and Sunderland. A new Research and Performance Department is the first in the world to support evidence-based practice in a vocational dance school setting. www.elmhurstballetschool.org Social media: Twitter: @ElmhurstBallet Instagram: @elmhurstballetschool Facebook: elmhurstballetschool

For immediate release PRESS RELEASE Date: 23/01/24 Royal Academy of Dance’s The Fonteyn comes to London in 2024 The Fonteyn is one of the world’s most prestigious dance competitions Image of The Fonteyn 2023 Gold medallist Jakob Wheway-Hughes. Image by Martin Bell. Today the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) is delighted to announce that its flagship event The Margot Fonteyn International Ballet Competition comes to London in 2024. The Fonteyn (previously known as The Genée) is one of the oldest and most prestigious ballet competitions in the world, representing the pinnacle of achievement for young dancers trained in the RAD syllabus. Beginning in 1931, the competition has toured the globe and is dedicated to promoting dance, providing educational experiences and recognising excellence in young ballet dancers internationally. A launch pad for a professional career, past winners of The Genée and The Fonteyn – including Steven McRae and Francesca Hayward - have become professional dancers with companies worldwide and enjoyed long-lasting careers in the arts. Tim Arthur Chief Executive of the RAD said: “The Fonteyn is such a special event loved by so many people across the international dance industry. Each year we bring together dancers from around the globe for a week of dance that they’ll remember and cherish forever. We’re delighted to be putting on this event in London this year and look forward to creating even more Fonteyn memories.” The competition begins on 1 September, with coaching days kicking off the week. Three days of semi-finals then follow, hosted at RAD’s state-of-the-art dance studios in its HQ. The semi-finals will see candidates take part in a judged class on stage and performing one variation from the Classical Repertoire list. Candidates also perform a ‘Dancer’s Own’ piece – a newly choreographed solo created by themselves, their teacher, or a peer, to a piece of music of their choice. After the semi-finals, the grand final will be held at His Majesty’s Theatre, London on 8 September. During The Fonteyn 2024 competition, candidates will work with a top choreographer on a variation commissioned for the competition. The finalists will perform this at the final, where it will have its premiere. Last year’s commissioned choreographer was The Royal Ballet first soloist Valentino Zucchetti who choreographed Jeunesse. Bursaries are now open! In 2023 RAD was able to give bursaries to around a quarter of The Fonteyn candidates. This scheme provides vital support for young dancers facing additional barriers to achieving their dreams. Bursary applications for The Fonteyn 2024 are now open and close on Friday 1 March. Candidate applications for 2024 Candidate applications for The Fonteyn 2024 competition open on Friday March 1 and close on Friday 31 May. Ticket sales for public will open in the next few months. You can find out more at The Fonteyn website https://www.thefonteyn.org/ Notes to Editors About the Royal Academy of Dance Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) is one of the most influential dance education and training organisations in the world with a strong global membership in over 80 countries. Established in 1920 to improve standards and re-invigorate dance training, the Academy helps and encourages its teachers to perfect their teaching skills and pass on this knowledge to their students. There are currently over 1,000 students in full-time or part-time teacher training programmes with the Academy and each year the examination syllabus is taught to thousands of young people worldwide, with around a quarter of a million pupils per year going on to take RAD exams.

Congratulations to David and Yoko. I wonder how permanent an appointment it is or whether it is just while the company is still sorting itself out after the issues last year when it looked as though the company might end up folding. https://www.iol.co.za/sunday-tribune/entertainment/cape-town-city-ballet-welcomes-david-nixon-cbe-as-the-artistic-producer-for-90th-anniversary-season-9202043a-24ac-439f-80d1-46bfd425d8c0 I love "I got rhythm" but it's probably not realistic for me to book a trip to see it! https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/future-of-cape-town-city-ballet-uncertain-as-dispute-between-ceo-and-board-drags-on-20230512

PRESS RELEASE 24 January 2024 Statement from Dance Umbrella on the death of Emma Gladstone OBE Above photo by Hugo Glendinning It is with great sadness that we are announcing the death of Emma Gladstone OBE. A pioneering and highly respected leader in the dance world across the globe, Emma was Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Dance Umbrella from 2013 to 2021. Emma died on Monday 22 January, after a short illness, at home and surrounded by her loving family. As well as being internationally celebrated for her exquisite taste and incisive acumen, Emma was a joyful collaborator who was loved by artists, colleagues and audiences alike. Her infectious laugh, delicious wit and kindness made her a cherished friend and mentor to more people than we can count; and her dedicated encouragement, care and companionship made her an extraordinary mother, stepmother and wife. Emma Gladstone was a hugely respected senior arts advisor and programmer working in cultural and creative industries worldwide. She specialised in dance and performance. As Artistic Director of the Rolex Arts Festival (Athens, 2023), Director of the Big Pulse Intensive (Creative Europe 2021-24) and former Artistic Director, BBC Young Dancer (2015, 2019 & 2022), she specialised in the professional development of artists and cultural workers. From 2013 to 2021 Emma was Artistic Director & Chief Executive of Dance Umbrella, London's long running international dance festival. Her tenure was characterised by diversifying choreographic styles, reinforcing its role as a catalytic introducer of talent, and reaching and inspiring local audiences from babies to adults in more locations than ever before in the festival’s history. Emma’s work was not just about who’s on stage but also the creative collaboration and shared vision it takes to make things happen. This led to Producer Farm, a joint initiative with Fuel, Bristol Old Vic Ferment, Dance Umbrella, In Between Time and Coombe Farm Studios, which offers free residencies for professional UK and international producers to reflect on and refresh ideas and their practice. Emma was also a founding member, and instrumental in the development of the Creative Europe project Big Pulse Dance Alliance, a network of 12 European dance festivals and institutions supporting artists and diversifying dance programming on the big stages of Europe and beyond. Freddie Opoku-Addaie, Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Dance Umbrella said: ‘Emma embodied a vital and informed outlook about what the non-verbal expression of dance can do for all humanity. Hold on, having read what I’ve written back to myself, I can hear Emma asking ‘what on earth do you mean, Freddie? Let’s get as close to the point as possible’. One of Emma’s superpowers was the readiness to share tools, impart lived experience and dive into the deep end to reach the desired goal with care. Not to dampen down, but rather to be able to take as many people with you as you can. What will forever remain in mine and all our hearts is your glorious smile, wicked sense of humour and unwavering drive for us all to do better by one another.’ Alistair Spalding CBE, Artistic Director and Co-Chief Executive of Sadler’s Wells said: ‘I knew Emma in many of her guises - beautiful Dancer, programmer, advocate, leader, producer and friend. She was so dedicated to the art form she loved - always thoughtful, articulate and charming. She meant so much to all the people she touched in and outside the dance world. She was also definitely the best dressed woman in the arts! I will so miss her.’ Whilst Artistic Programmer at Sadler’s Wells from 2005-2013, Emma initiated a range of programming frames for artists and audiences that continue today, whilst establishing and directing the Jerwood Choreographic Research Programme. In recent years her international work as an advisor, speaker and assessor has included Chile, China, India, South Korea and Hong Kong. Emma was also Co-Founder of Crying Out Loud and Associate Director at The Place (1997-2003). Before her programming career Emma danced for 20 years with Arlene Phillips, and Lea Anderson’s The Cholmondeleys. She co-founded Adventures in Motion Pictures (now New Adventures) with Sir Matthew Bourne. Emma was an Honorary Fellow at Trinity Laban, received a Tonic Award for Outstanding Women in the Arts in 2019, and in 2021 was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours. Formerly Chair of the Board at Siobhan Davies Studios, Emma was also a Trustee at Dartington Trust in Devon and a Trustee at Aesop (Arts & Health).

Hello @Hannah Elise and welcome to the Forum!

Such very sad news. RIP Eric. I so hope you have met up with Boris on the rainbow bridge.

BRB have put a rather nice post on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/C2c_BkTt7lv/

At the very least it was mentioned in a news item in links last Friday...