Jan McNulty

For immediate release 6 February 2024 Northern Ballet announces new season New commissions and iconic revivals will grace UK stages over the coming year A newly commissioned triple-bill An extended tour of Romeo & Juliet Revival of Christopher Gable CBE’s A Christmas Carol A new children’s ballet for spring 2025 The return of Cathy Marston’s acclaimed Jane Eyre Download high res images Northern Ballet has announced their full programme through to spring 2025. Developing new voices in dance Highlighting its commitment to elevating new voices in the sector, May 2024 will see the return of Sketches, a creative lab and performance opportunity for new choreographic talent which made a sold-out debut last year. This year, along with talent from within Northern Ballet, DeNada Dance Theatre’s Carlos Pons Guerra will have the opportunity to create and experiment at Northern Ballet’s studio. This will be followed by a new triple-bill that will première at Northern Ballet’s studio theatre in Leeds before performances at the Linbury Studio Theatre, London in 2025. The programme will include a newly commissioned original response to Romeo & Juliet by Olivier Award-winning choreographer Mthuthuzeli November. Alongside this new commission, the dancers will perform Four Last Songs, choreographed by former Artistic Director of Dutch National Ballet Rudi van Dantzig to Richard Strauss’ score. Never before performed in the UK, Four Last Songs is an ensemble piece, widely considered one of van Dantzig’s best works. The third piece in Three Short Ballets, a new commission, will be announced soon. Iconic revivals In a Company first, a run of Christopher Gable CBE and Massimo Moricone’s Romeo & Juliet, will be performed at the prestigious Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon from the 19 – 28 September. It will then visit Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre, the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury and Newcastle Theatre Royal. In November the Company will revive their festive classic A Christmas Carol, also directed by Christopher Gable CBE and choreographed by Massimo Moricone. A Christmas Carol reimagines Dickens’ timeless tale through dance, music and storytelling. The production was created during the height of Gable’s collaborations with award-winning designer Lez Brotherston OBE and features music from Carl Davies. A Christmas Carol will open at the Sheffield Lyceum Theatre on 7 November, touring to Hull New Theatre, Norwich Theatre Royal and Nottingham Theatre Royal before a final two week run at Leeds Grand Theatre from the 18 December to the 4 January. These performances will take place to recorded music. Looking ahead Spring 2025 will see the creation of a new children’s ballet, a welcome addition to the Company’s award-winning ballets for children repertoire. These short ballets are specially designed to introduce little ones to dance and live music and are based on classic tales and fables. In spring 2025 the company have announced the return of Cathy Marston’s acclaimed Jane Eyre. Based on the infamous novel by Charlotte Brontë, the ballet was last performed in 2018 and brings one of literature’s greatest heroines to life on stage as she overcomes all odds to find her happiness. Jane Eyre will tour with live music performed by Northern Ballet Sinfonia. Stories that connect In the past 12 months, Artistic Director Federico Bonelli has combined revivals of popular Northern Ballet repertoire from the Company’s rich history with new commissions, bringing varied voices to the stage. Bonelli continues to cement the Company’s 55-year history of quality contributions to the theatre landscape, making way for commissioning new full-length ballets. Romeo & Juliet, makes its long-awaited return to the stage next month at Leeds Grand Theatre. Over the last year Bonelli has led the Company in bringing this landmark production to life after sets and costumes were destroyed in 2015’s Boxing Day floods. From the painstaking restoration of Les Brotherson OBE’s intricately crafted costumes and sets, to working with original creatives to recapture the ballet’s iconic drama. To find out more and book tickets visit northernballet.com Audio Described Performances An audio described performance will be offered at most venues. Co-written by former Northern Ballet Premier Dancer Pippa Moore MBE and VocalEyes, audio descriptions provide a unique insight into Northern Ballet productions and bring performances to life for those living with visual impairments. Visit northernballet.com/accessible-performances/ to find out more. Notes to Editors TOUR DATES Sketches Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre, Leeds 9 & 10 May northernballet.com/sketches Three Short Ballets Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre, Leeds 6-14 September northernballet.com/three-short-ballets Romeo & Juliet Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon 19 – 28 September rsc.org.uk Mayflower Theatre, Southampton 3 – 5 October mayflower.org.uk Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury 9 - 12 October marlowetheatre.com Newcastle Theatre Royal 23 – 26 October theatreroyal.co.uk A Christmas Carol Sheffield Lyceum Theatre 7 – 9 November sheffieldtheatres.co.uk Hull New Theatre 12 - 16 November hulltheatres.co.uk Norwich Theatre Royal 19 – 23 November norwichtheatre.org Nottingham Theatre Royal 26 – 30 November trch.co.uk Leeds Grand Theatre 17 December – 4 January leedsheritagetheatres.com Northern Ballet Bold and innovative in its approach, Northern Ballet is one of the UK’s leading and widest touring ballet companies, dedicated to creating stories that connect. A champion for the cultural exports of the North, the Leeds-based Company is committed to bringing ballet to as many people and places as possible, under the leadership of Artistic Director Federico Bonelli. Northern Ballet’s Company of dancers performs a combination of its full-length ballets and specially created ballets for children at more than thirty venues annually. Audiences can also enjoy Northern Ballet’s work on screen through their digital dance platform. Visit digitaldance.org to discover more. Jonathan Hanks, Dominique Larose and Harry Skoupas in A Christmas Carol, photo Guy Farrow.

Links - Tuesday 06 February, 2024 Feature - Can the Southbank Centre’s new boss get us dancing for joy: Neil Fisher, Times (share token) Reviews - New York City Ballet, Rotunda, Concerto for Two Pianos, Odesa, New York: Ivy Lin, Bachtrack Nadia Vostrikov, Ballet Herald Review - Pacific Northwest Ballet, Swan Lake, Seattle: Moira Macdonald, Seattle Times Review - Norwegian National Ballet, Diamonds, Stop-Motion, Schubert, Oslo: Graham Watts, Bachtrack Review - Kim Brandstrup, Metamorphoses (double bill), Bath: Donald Hunters, Times (share token) Review - Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures, Romeo and Juliet, Los Angeles: Kevin Taft, We Live Entertainment Review - Akram Khan Company, Jungle Book Reimagined, Canberra: Michelle Potter, ... on dancing Reviews - Ockham’s Razor, Tess, London: Graham Watts, Gramilano Franco Milazzo, Broadway World Review - Manipulate Festival, Edinburgh: Mark Fisher, Guardian Preview Feature - École des Sables/Pina Bausch Foundation, The Rite of Spring, common ground[s], San Francisco & Berkeley: Áimee Ts’ao, San Francisco Classical Voice Preview/Interview - Atlanta Ballet, Coco Chanel: The Life of a Fashion Icon (Ochoa), Atlanta: Alanna Love, En Face Magazine Preview Feature - LA Dance Project, Romeo and Juliet, Sydney: Sarah Ward, Concrete Playground Preview Feature - Ballet Jörgen, Anne of Green Gables, Vancouver: Emily Lyth, Stir News - Birmingham Royal Ballet principal, César Morales, to leave the company after 16 years to join Santiago Ballet as AD: Staff, Fan Carpet News - Congratulations to the 2024 Prix de Lausanne winners!: Amy Brandt, Pointe Magazine News - Cape Town City Ballet appoints David Nixon as Artistic Producer: Stephi Wild, Broadway World

Paco Peña Flamenco Dance Company Solera Wednesday 17 – Saturday 20 April 2024 Tickets: From £15 Ticket Office: 020 7863 8000 or www.sadlerswells.com Flamenco guitarist, composer and producer Paco Peña and his company return to Sadler’s Wells Theatre with Solera from Wednesday 17 to Saturday 20 April, following its acclaimed run in 2022. Paco Peña, supported by his friend, theatre director, Jude Kelly CBE for the piece’s dramaturgy, explores artistic wisdom and the fearlessness of youth in search for new expression. The solera system, from Andalucía in Southern Spain, is a process for aging wine by fractional blending in such a way that the finished product is a mixture of ages, with the average age gradually increasing as the process continues over many years. The purpose for this is the maintenance of a reliable style and quality of the beverage over time. The word “solera” means “on the ground” in Spanish and refers to the lower level of the set of barrels used in the process; the liquid is traditionally transferred from barrel to barrel, top to bottom. Echoing this method, Peña’s spectacle presents a history of flamenco tradition – handed down from one generation to the next whilst finding its own new means of expression. Solera features young and mature artists – dancers, musicians and singers. 81-year-old guitar virtuoso Peña performs side by side Dani de Morón, a wonderful and innovative young exponent of the flamenco guitar, as well as with dancers Angel Muñoz, a long-time participator, Adriana Bilbao and Brazilian dancer Gabriel Matías, who specialised in flamenco in Madrid. True to the art form’s spirit of community, the dancers’ feet connect with the ground to combine with the sounds of percussion, guitar and song as the ensemble come together to present both traditional and original live music. Paco Peña and Jude Kelly CBE started working together twenty years ago, when they created Voces y Ecos. Other projects include A Compás! and Flamenco sin Fronteras, a study of flamenco forms at the turn of the twentieth century, when Spanish performers arriving in South America discovered a folklore reminiscent of their own musical traditions. With Solera, the duo collaborates again to tell the story of love and respect of the flamenco way of life. Paco Peña said: “The shows I present on stage always tend to follow a familiar journey: finding a meaningful idea, finding a title, in a word or two, that might contain the essence of that idea; then giving shape to it, in rehearsals with all my colleagues. And finally, with much trepidation, stepping on the stage to share it with the audience. I have to say that in all the years I have been taking that journey I have never experienced anything like the outburst of emotion from all the artists as we came off the stage on the opening night of ‘Solera’, in 2022 at Sadler’s Wells Theatre … there was not a dry cheek among us – and that was at the interval.” NOTES TO EDITORS Listing information: Wednesday 17 April – Saturday 20 April Standard - No Under 5's. Live music. Running time: 2 hours 10 minutes. One interval (20 minutes) Tickets: From £15 Ticket Office: 020 7863 8000 or www.sadlerswells.com About Paco Pena Born in the Andalucian city of Córdoba, Paco Peña began learning guitar from his brother at the age of six and made his first professional appearance at the age of 12. In the late 1960s he left Spain for London, where his recitals of flamenco music captured the public’s imagination. Paco Peña embodies both authenticity and innovation in flamenco - as guitarist, composer, dramatist, producer and artistic mentor he has transformed perceptions of this archetypal Spanish art form. In 1981 he founded the Centro Flamenco Paco Peña in Cordoba, later becoming artistic director of the Córdoba International Guitar Festival. Peña is the world’s first Professor of Flamenco Guitar, a role established in 1985 at Rotterdam Conservatory in the Netherlands. He was later awarded the Gold Medal in the Arts by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington - both bestowed by King Juan Carlos of Spain. The Paco Peña Flamenco Dance Company has taken flamenco into the realm of music-theatre, with regular seasons in London (Royal Festival Hall, Sadler’s Wells Theatre and Barbican) and festival appearances in Edinburgh, Adelaide, Amsterdam, Athens, Israel, Istanbul, Singapore and Hong Kong. In 2002 Paco Peña enjoyed the collaboration of renowned theatre director Jude Kelly in what proved to be the spectacular show Voces y Ecos, which took the audience on a journey through the history of flamenco and the most significant moments in its development – the show was hailed as the best flamenco show in years. Other ambitious projects followed with Jude Kelly’s collaboration - A Compás! - aimed at transmitting vividly to audiences the compelling nature of a range of flamenco rhythms; Flamenco sin Fronteras looked at a group of flamenco forms that emerged at the turn of the 20th century when Spanish performers arrived in South America to tour their shows and discovered a rich folklore reminiscent of their own musical traditions; today, solera is the latest production by the duo and will be performed for the first time on Sadler's Wells stage. About Jude Kelly CBE Jude Kelly has directed over 200 theatre and opera productions, is the recipient of two Olivier Awards, a BASCA Gold Badge Award for contribution to music, a Southbank Award for opera, an RPO award for her festival The Rest is Noise, Women’s Hour’s one of the 100 most powerful women in the UK in 2013, Red Magazine’s 2014 Creative Woman of the Year, CBIs 2016 First Woman Award for Tourism and Leisure and in 2017 the inaugural Veuve Clicquot Woman of the Year Social Purpose Award. She was also headhunted to join the bidding team for the 2012 London Olympics and create the programme for culture and ceremonies, she subsequently advised both Rio and Tokyo on their successful bids. Jude Kelly CBE is also CEO and Founder of The WOW Foundation. She founded WOW to celebrate the achievements of women and girls and confront global gender injustice. Starting as a three-day festival at London’s Southbank Centre in 2010, where Jude was Artistic Director for 12 years, the festival now takes place in 30 locations across six continents. In 2018 Jude established The WOW Foundation, an independent charity dedicated to building the WOW movement as a force for change. Jude has founded a range of arts institutions and has commissioned and supported the work of thousands of female artists across all genres. In 1997, she was awarded an OBE for her services to theatre and in 2015 she was made a CBE for services to the Arts. About Sadler’s Wells Sadler's Wells is a world-leading dance organisation. We strive to make and share dance that inspires us all. Our acclaimed year-round programme spans dance of every kind, from contemporary to flamenco, Bollywood to ballet, salsa to street dance and tango to tap. We commission, produce and present more dance than any other organisation in the world. Since 2005, we have helped to bring more than 200 new dance works to the stage, embracing both the popular and the unknown. Our acclaimed productions tour the world. Since 2005 we’ve produced 64 new full-length works and performed to audiences of more than two million, touring to 51 countries. Each year, over half a million people visit our three London theatres - Sadler’s Wells Theatre, Lilian Baylis Studio and Peacock Theatre. Millions more attend our touring productions nationally and internationally or explore our digital platforms, including Sadler’s Wells Digital Stage. Sadler’s Wells East In 2024 we’re opening a fourth London venue in Stratford’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Sadler’s Wells East will house a 550-seat mid-scale theatre, as well as facilities for the new Rose Choreographic School and the hip hop theatre training centre, Academy Breakin’ Convention. Sadler’s Wells East joins the rich cultural heritage of Stratford, opening in London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park as part of the East Bank development alongside the BBC, UAL’s London College of Fashion, UCL and the V&A. Sadler’s Wells East will support artist development and training, and the creation of new work. It will build the infrastructure for dance and make it accessible to more people. Sadler’s Wells East will house a flexible theatre presenting a wide variety of dance performances. Community will be at the heart of Sadler’s Wells East with a large open foyer that can be used by everyone as a meeting or performance space. There will also be dance studios and world-class dance facilities for dancemakers to train, create and rehearse productions. Supporting artists Supporting artists is at the heart of our work. We have associate artists and companies, which nurture some of the most exciting talent working in dance today. We host the National Youth Dance Company, which draws together some of the brightest young dancers from across the country. Sadler’s Wells Breakin' Convention runs professional development programmes to champion and develop the world’s best hip hop artists, as well as producing, programming and touring groundbreaking hip hop performances. Learning and community links Around 30,000 people take part in our learning and engagement programmes every year. We support schools local to our theatres in Islington and Stratford, designing experiences for children and young people to watch, explore and critically engage with the arts. We also run Company of Elders, a resident performance company of dancers aged over 60 who rehearse with renowned artists to make new work for public performances locally, nationally and internationally. Sadler’s Wells is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation. www.sadlerswells.com Stay up to date with everything Sadler’s Wells on social media Facebook: @SadlersWells Twitter: @Sadlers_Wells Instagram: @sadlers_wells YouTube: Sadler’s Wells Theatre

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Finally ... the press release: PRESS RELEASE 5 February 2024 Twitter / Facebook / Instagram /Website BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET PRINCIPAL DANCER, CÉSAR MORALES TO LEAVE THE COMPANY AFTER 16 YEARS TO JOIN SANTIAGO BALLET Birmingham Royal Ballet Principal Dancer, César Morales will depart the Company after 16 years to take up the role of Artistic Director at Santiago Ballet in March 2024. César’s final performances with the Company will take place at Birmingham Royal Ballet’s home venue of Birmingham Hippodrome. He will partner Miki Mizutani for the final time in The Sleeping Beauty at the matinee performance on Thursday 22 February followed by his final on stage appearance on the evening of Wednesday 28 February. During his time with BRB, César has received acclaim for his leading roles in Company classic titles from Sir Peter Wright including The Nutcracker (Prince), The Sleeping Beauty (Prince Florimund) and Swan Lake (Prince Siegfried). He has performed in Frederick Ashton’s Enigma Variations (Arthur Troyte Griffith), Symphonic Variations and Les Rendezvous (lead role) as well as George Balanchine’s Serenade and Theme and Variations. He also collaborated with Sir David Bintley on new productions including Beauty and the Beast (Beast), Aladdin (title role), Sylvia (Amynta), Cinderella (Prince) and 'Still Life' at the Penguin Café (Southern Cape Zebra). In 2021 he was awarded the Dancing Times Award for Best Male Dancer at the National Dance Awards. César Morales said “Thank you is the only thing I can say to all the audiences, dancers, ballet staff and all the departments in BRB, your support and love will always be appreciated by me. I am excited for the next chapter in my career, but of course, having spent the last 30 years as a dancer and 15 of those years in BRB, leading a company will be a big change for me. “I have learnt so much from the many people I have had the pleasure of working with over my 15 years at BRB. I will do everything I can to pass on my knowledge and experiences in dance to the dancers of Ballet de Santiago with honesty and continued passion for this great art form.” Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet, Carlos Acosta said; “All of us at Birmingham Royal Ballet are grateful to César for sharing such an incredible talent with us and our audiences over the past 16 years. He is a treasured part of BRB’s history and has danced a selection of the Company’s most prestigious roles during his illustrious career. “It is a bittersweet pleasure to see César return to Santiago Ballet in the role of Artistic Director where he will oversee many new generations of talented dancers.” Carmen Gloria Larenas, General Director of the Municipal Theatre of Santiago added; “After an extensive selection process, we have announced the new Artistic Director of the Santiago Ballet, a person who knows the company and the Municipal Theatre of Santiago well. His international career and achievements through his artistic merits make him an artist loved by the public and admired by the media. César Morales returns home.” A former student of the Santiago Municipal Theatre Ballet School and former member of the Santiago Ballet, César Morales began his career at Ballet de Santiago, Chile, where at the age of just 18 he was made a Principal. He then went on to join English National Ballet before beginning with Birmingham Royal Ballet in 2008. 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. The Royal Ballet Sinfonia The Royal Ballet Sinfonia is Birmingham Royal Ballet’s permanent orchestra, it is also Britain's busiest ballet orchestra. Alongside touring with Birmingham Royal Ballet The Royal Ballet Sinfonia plays frequently for The Royal Ballet and other leading ballet companies, including performances with Paris Opéra Ballet, New York City Ballet, Australian Ballet, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, the Kirov, Norwegian Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, San Francisco Ballet and La Scala Ballet.

Links - Monday 05 February, 2024 Tribute - Sir Jon Trimmer KNZM MBE, dancer: Jennifer Shennan, ... on dancing Review - Bath & London: Sarah Crompton, Observer Kim Brandstrup, Metamorphoses (double bill) AC Workroom, La Strada Review - Kim Brandstrup, Metamorphoses (double bill), Bath: Louise Levine, FT Review - Royal Ballet, Manon, London: Staff, Theatre Monkey Review - push/FOLD Dance Company & Portland Symphony Choir, Vespers, Beaverton: Daryl Browne, Oregon Arts Watch Preview - Ballet West, Swan Lake, Salt Lake City: Ashley Fredde, Feature - 99-year-old dancer at Inverness care home enjoys trip down memory lane as Scottish Ballet visit: Rachel Smart, Inverness Courier News - Australian success at Prix de Lausanne: Staff, Dance Australia Jason Blake, Limelight

I'm shocked. I know I got a subscription offer but I payed £49.80 each for 2 tickets on the front row of the stalls. I am going on a Thursday when the tickets may be cheaper than the weekend.

Goodness me Angela you’ve brought back some memories! I remember seeing The Ring in Edinburgh (I think it was commissioned by Peter Schaufuss) and we enjoyed it so much that we went to Berlin to see it. Unfortunately there were technical issues the night we had tickets for and we had to see Christopher Bruce’s utterly magnificent Cruel Garden again!

@Aruna S I love the Hippodrome! I like to sit on the front row of the stalls (row E for BRB) but if that is not your taste I would not go on the second row as you can get seriously impeded by big heads. 4 or 5 rows back is fine. The Mythos Taverna over the road from the theatre is excellent.

The stalls seem to be £250 but compared to the Eagles/Steely Dan gig at Manchester Arena in June that is cheap! I'm not cringing at all @Peanut68. One of my first experiences of a rock gig was Deep Purple at the Philharmonic Hall in Liverpool in the early 1970s so it's not exactly a first (and indeed PSB performed at the ROH several years ago).

Links - Sunday 04 February, 2024 Obituary - Chita Rivera, Broadway Star: Madison Darbyshire, FT Review - New York City Ballet, Rotunda, Concerto for Two Pianos, Odesa, New York: Mary Cargill, Danceview Times Review - Kim Brandstrup, Metamorphoses (double bill), Bath: Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper Preview - Tulsa Ballet, Strictly Gershwin (Deane), Tulsa: James D Watts Jr, Tulsa World Preview - Brooklyn Ballet, Blessings and Blues (mixed programme), New York: AA Cristi, Broadway World Preview - Texas Ballet Theater, Brilliants (mixed programme), Fort Worth & Dallas: AA Cristi, Broadway World Parent Preview - Pacific Northwest Ballet, Swan Lake: How to prepare (and engage) kids in the ballet performance, Seattle: David Turner, Seattle's Child Feature - Anthony Madu, Nigerian dancer at UK ballet school: Kieran Gair, Times (share token)

There's a news item in Links today. Thanks for all the extra detail about the Foundation @Angela

Links - Saturday 03 February, 2024 Review - New York City Ballet, Concerto for Two Pianos, Odesa & more, New York: Gia Kourlas, NY Times Review - San Francisco Ballet, Mere Mortals, San Francisco: Holly Secon, SFist Review - National Ballet of Canada, Emma Bovary, Angels’ Atlas, Ottawa: Courtney Castelino, Broadway World Review - Mark Morris Dance Group, A wooden tree, Excursions, Candleflowerdance, Castor and Pollux, Princeton NJ: Jerry Hochman, Fjord Review Reviews - Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures, Romeo and Juliet, Los Angeles: Eric A Gordon, People's World Maureen Lee Lenkee, Entertainment Review - Ockham’s Razor, Tess, London: Tamsin Flower, British Theatre Guide Preview - La Scala Ballet, triple bill, Milan: Graham Spicer, Gramilano Preview - Tulsa Ballet, Alice in Wonderland (Tindall), Tulsa: James D Watts Jr, Tulsa World Preview - Colorado Ballet, Jeckyll and Hyde (Caniparoli), Denver: Marc Shulgold, Denver Gazette Preview - Milwaukee Ballet, Genesis Choreographic Competition, Milwaukee: John Schneider, Shepherd Express Preview - Ballet Austin, Triad: Three Bold Dances, Austin: AA Cristi, Broadway World Preview - Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, double bill, Fairfax, Lincoln & Minneapolis: Kyra Laubacher, Pointe Magazine Preview Feature - Mhz, Ruins, Edinburgh: Lorna Irvine, Fjord Review Preview Feature - Naishi Wang & Jean Abreu, Deciphers, Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa: Anya Wassenberg, Ludwig Van Speech - We are sleepwalking into permanent mediocrity: Melvyn Bragg, Times Feature - Felix Molinero del Paso, The Trocks: Spencer Fordin, Santa Fe New Mexican Feature - #Instaballet, a company based in Eugene: Jean Zondervan, Oregon Arts Watch News - Béjart Ballet Lausanne dismisses AD Gil Roman: Staff, Yahoo! via AFP

Hello @AmberM and welcome to the Forum!

He said that he would not be staging any heritage works for at least 5 years when he gave a Zoom talk to friends of BRB in 2021. (He forgot to mention that that was the initial length of his contract.). This was after he had made some very uncomplimentary remarks about the company when he was the keynote speaker at the London Ballet Circle AGM in 2021. If I don't come across as an Acosta aficionado it is because of these 2 zoom talks.

Links - Friday 02 February, 2024 Obituary - Chita Rivera, Broadway Star: Joshua Chong, Toronto Star Review - AC Workshop, La Strada; Resolution Festival, London: Rupert Christiansen, Spectator Review - AC Workshop, La Strada, London: Jenny Gilbert, Arts Desk Review - Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures, Romeo and Juliet, Los Angeles: Charles McNulty, LA Times Review - Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, quad bill, New York: Susan Yung, Brooklyn Rail Review - Bodytraffic, mixed programme, Philadelphia: Merilyn Jackson, Fjord Review Reviews = Ockham’s Razor, Tess, London: Lyndsey Winship, Guardian Charlotte Kasner, Seeing Dance Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper Siobhan Murphy, Stage Scott Matthewman, Reviews Hub Review - Molissa Fenley and Company, From the Light, Between the Lamps, New York: Siobhan Burke, NY Times Review - National Ballet of China, The Red Detachment of Women, Hong Kong: Erika Na, South China Morning Post Preview - Birmingham Royal Ballet, Sleeping Beauty, Salford: Katherine Stephenson, Salford Now Preview - Joffrey Ballet, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Chicago: Candace Jordan, Chicago Star Preview - Philadelphia Ballet, Giselle, Philadelphia: Staff, Philly Voice Preview - Atlanta Ballet, Coco Chanel: The Life of a Fashion Icon, Atlanta: Sammie Purcell, Rough Draft Atlanta Preview - PHILADANCO!, quad bill, New York: Zita Allen, NY Amsterdam News Video Preview - Fort Wayne Ballet, Love Notes, Fort Wayne: Tony Betton Jr, 21 Alive News News - Birmingham Royal Ballet announces 2024/25 season: David Mead, Seeing Dance Steve Orme, British Theatre Guide News Feature - Switzerland changes the way dance is taught, one step at a time: Virginie Mangin, Swiss Info News - 7th Miami International Ballet Competition announces winners: Staff, Miami Community News Book Feature - Deborah Jowitt, Martha Graham: Errand into the Maze: Staff, Economist Feature - Tiler Peck (NYCB) won’t be dancing in her new ballet, she’ll be in the audience: Lilah Ramzi, Vogue In Conversation - Ligia Lewis, choreographer: Amit Not, Brooklyn Rail Photo Essay - In Cape Town Imbala Ballet School students rehearse ahead of gala: Karen Winter, Daily Maverick Feature - You’re free to be yourself at the Tokyo Kiki Lounge: Kat Joplin, Japan Times

NO WAY!!! They are 2 separate companies with 2 different reps that has some crossover and my guess is that it would be the BRB rep that suffers!

Hello @Jays and welcome to the Forum!

And here is the press release: PRESS RELEASE 1 February 2024 BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET ANNOUNCES 2024 - 25 SEASON ● BLACK SABBATH – THE BALLET IN ROTTERDAM JUNE 2024 PRESENTED BY HOLLAND DANCE FESTIVAL ● THE MAIN COMPANY TO PERFORM CARLOS ACOSTA’S CLASSICAL SELECTION IN ICELAND SUMMER 2024 ● AUTUMN SEASON BEGINS WITH LA FILLE MAL GARDÉE AS PART OF 24-28 ASHTON WORLDWIDE FESTIVAL ● WORLD PREMIERE OF THE THIRD PART OF THE BIRMINGHAM TRILOGY, LUNA, FEATURING AN ALL FEMALE CREATIVE TEAM ● THE NUTCRACKER RETURNS TO BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME AND THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL ● SPRING 2025 UK TOUR OF SIR DAVID BINTLEY’S CINDERELLA ● BRB2’S THIRD UK TOUR TO FEATURE AN ALL-NEW PROGRAMME FOR SPRING 2025 Today, announcing Birmingham Royal Ballet’s 2024 - 25 Season, the company’s Director Carlos Acosta said: ‘I am so happy to be able to share our plans for the future with everyone. Still riding high from the successes of the autumn/winter 2023 season, we have a lot to celebrate, but we also keep moving forward, keep challenging ourselves and keep aiming high, in terms of our goals and ambitions. Everyone at BRB has worked incredibly hard to ensure my vision for this company has been, and continues to be, realised, and I am very proud of our achievements and excited about our plans. This Season exemplifies the importance of balancing the creation of platforms for emerging talents to shine, alongside the joy we bring to the classical canon of work that the Company is so proud to perform.’ Fresh from the sell-out success in Birmingham, Plymouth and London, Black Sabbath – The Ballet has had a raft of international interest. The European premiere will be at the Luxor Theatre in Rotterdam, presented by Holland Dance Festival (13 - 15 June) and we are already in advanced talks about touring Black Sabbath - The Ballet to the USA in summer 2025. In summer 2024, the Company will make its first-ever visit to Iceland to perform Carlos Acosta’s Classical Selection in Reykjavik. The autumn season begins at Birmingham Hippodrome (25 - 28 September) where BRB presents Sir Frederick Ashton’s La Fille mal gardée, its Founder Choreographer's most popular ballet. This is the first time La Fille mal gardée has been presented by BRB under the directorship of Carlos Acosta, who, for many, is one of the definitive interpreters of Colas in this sunny, effervescent ballet. The production will tour to Plymouth Theatre Royal (10 - 13 October) and Sadler’s Wells London (24 - 25 October) and is part of the official 2024-28 Ashton Worldwide Festival. Additional BRB events programmed as part of the Festival include A Celebration of Ashton in February 2025, and a special Ashton Foundation ‘Insight’ masterclass, featuring Carlos Acosta and Sandra Madgwick coaching BRB dancers in the roles of Colas and Lise on 30 April 2024 at Elmhurst Ballet School. Also this autumn, BRB presents the World Premiere of Luna, a 2-act (full-length), abstract ballet in six movements, which forms the final part of Carlos’s Birmingham Trilogy (City of a Thousand Trades + Black Sabbath + Luna). This new work is inspired by the pioneering and socially enterprising women of Birmingham who have contributed to the shape of the city that Birmingham Royal Ballet calls home. Drawing inspiration from the book Once Upon a Time in Birmingham: Women Who Dare to Dream by Louise Palfreyman, it features an all-female, international creative team, including Choreographers Iratxe Ansa (Spain); Wubkje Kuindersma (Netherlands); Seeta Patel (UK); Arielle Smith (UK); Thais Suárez (Cuba); with music composed by Kate Whitley (UK). Costume Design is by Imaan Ashraf, Projection Design by Hayley Egan and Lighting Design by Emma Jones. The creative team will explore contemporary universal themes including matriarchal roles in society, education, female empowerment, overcoming adversity, and community. The World Premiere will be at Birmingham Hippodrome (3-5 October) before it has its London premiere at Sadler’s Wells (22-23 October). Sir Peter Wright's The Nutcracker was his gift to the City of Birmingham when Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet moved to the city in 1990 and it remains one of the world's most spectacular presentations of this festive tale. After breaking all previous box office records in the Birmingham 2023 run, this year will see the first-ever Relaxed performance at Birmingham Hippodrome, which will bring this story to life for children and young people normally unable to attend theatre productions of this scale (1pm, Tue 3 Dec). The Nutcracker’s Birmingham run begins on 22 November playing through to 14 December. The Royal Albert Hall spectacular presentation of The Nutcracker returns this year (29 - 31 December 2024). The 2025 Spring UK Tour will be Sir David Bintley’s Cinderella, one of BRB’s most popular ballets. With sumptuous sets and costumes by John MacFarlane, virtuoso dance and some of ballet's most memorable coups de theatre, Cinderella continues to thrill audiences across the world with one of the largest UK touring productions. One of BRB's most in-demand ballets, Cinderella opens at the Mayflower Southampton (6 - 8 February) before travelling to Birmingham Hippodrome (19 - 29 February), The Lowry Salford (6 - 8 March), Sunderland Empire (13 - 15 March), Bristol Hippodrome (27 - 29 March), and finally Plymouth Theatre Royal (9 - 12 April). Spring 2025 will see the third BRB2 UK tour, this time featuring an all-new programme, to be announced. BRB2 has attracted a wealth of international talent to the company already. These future stars have already made their mark within the company and, as the 2-year initiative approaches its first conclusion, all eyes are on what these talented young dancers will do next. Watch this space. Listings Information (UK only) Please note, on-sale dates vary across the season. Please check BRB’s website for details. La Fille mal gardée Choreographer Sir Frederick Ashton Composer Ferdinand Herold (Arr. John Lanchbery) Design Osbert Lancaster 25 - 28 September Birmingham HIppodrome 10 - 13 October Theatre Royal Plymouth 24 - 25 October Sadler’s Wells London Luna Choreographers Iratxe Ansa (Spain); Wubkje Kuindersma (Netherlands); Seeta Patel (UK); Arielle Smith (UK); Thais Suárez (Cuba) With music composed by Kate Whitley (UK). Costume Design Imaan Ashraf (UK) Projection Design Hayley Egan (UK) Lighting Design Emma Jones (UK) 3 - 5 October Birmingham Hippodrome 22 - 23 October Sadler’s Wells London The Nutcracker Choreography Sir Peter Wright, Lev Ivanov, Vincent Redmon Production Sir Peter Wright Composer Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky Design John Macfarlane 22 November - 14 December Birmingham Hippodrome; 3 Dec (1pm) Relaxed performance The Nutcracker Choreography Sir Peter Wright, Lev Ivanov, Vincent Redmon Additional choreography Sir David Bintley, Marion Tait Production Sir David Bintley Composer Pyotr IlyichTchaikovsky Costumes & props John Macfarlane Settings & additional props Dick Bird Lighting Peter Teigen Projection Designs 59 Productions 29 - 31 December Royal Albert Hall 2025 Cinderella Choreographer Sir David Bintley Composer Sergei Prokofiev Design John Macfarlane 6 - 8 February Mayflower Southampton 19 - 29 February Birmingham Hippodrome 6 - 8 March The Lowry Salford 13 - 15 March Sunderland Empire 27 - 29 March Bristol Hippodrome 9 - 12 April Theatre Royal Plymouth Biographies for LUNA Creative Team Choreographers Iratxe Ansa For more than 20 years, the Basque dancer Iratxe Ansa danced for some of the most important European companies. Basel Ballet, the defunct Gulbenkian Ballet in Lisbon, the National Dance Company at the time of Nacho Duato, the Opera Ballet of Lyon, as well as the Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT) all form part of her career path. When she left the NDT in 2009, she also left behind a brilliant career as a dancer. A career that started upon her graduation from the John Cranko Schule in Stuttgart, and which took her to hone her skills for outstanding European companies. She danced for legends of the twentieth century such as William Forsythe, Jiri Kylián, Nacho Duato, Mats Ek, Ohad Naharin, Wayne McGregor, and Crystal Pite, just to name a few. Nonetheless, she was still far from reaching the end of her career. Instead she was now set to begin a new chapter in her career as a freelancer. It took her across the world to work for dancers of different cultures, schools, and nationalities. She kept on dancing and creating, increasingly developing her own methodology. In this manner, she delved into matters about physicality and musicality, two principles of utmost importance in her understanding of dance, and which have helped consolidate her as a researcher of the body. In 2019 Iratxe and Igor founded METAMORPHOSIS DANCE, a dance company based in Madrid, since then they have combined directing their own company with their career as guest choreographers in European dance companies. In 2020 she was recognized for her achievements with the National Prize for Dance in Spain. Wubkje Kuindersma Wubkje Kuindersma is a freelance choreographer from The Netherlands and is Young Creative Associate with Dutch National Ballet since 2021. Human connection and gender equality are important themes in her work. The leading American publication Dance Magazine included Kuindersma in its ‘Top 25 to watch for 2019’, an annual list of dancers, choreographers and companies the magazine deems representative of the future of dance. In 2019, Kuindersma was nominated for the Prize of the Dutch Dance Days Maastricht, an award for young, promising talent. In 2016 she received the BNG Award for Excellent Talent in choreography. Her acclaimed duet “Two and Only” for Dutch National Ballet delivered Marijn Rademaker a nomination for the Prix Benois de la Danse 2018. Her choreography “Architecture of Hope” for West Australian Ballet won the West Australian Performing Arts Award for Best New Work in 2020. Music plays a vital role in Wubkje’s creations and she loves to get creative with other art forms. She often designs her own costumes and stage design for her creations. Critic's Choice Dance Europe mentioned Kuindersma's "Anatomy of Light" as one of best premieres in 2022, alongside works of Beaujean, Van Schaijk, Goecke and Clug. She currently creates her first full length story ballet “Echoes of Van Gogh” at West Australian Ballet, with premiere september 8th 2023 in Perth. Kuindersma has created new works for Dutch National Ballet and its Junior Company, Korzo&Ndt, Ballett Dortmund, das Hessisches Staatsballett, Noverre Society of Stuttgart Ballet, BalletX, West Australian Ballet, Dansk Danseteater, Ballett Landestheater Coburg, Beijing Dance Academy, the Dutch National Ballet Academy, Bundesjugendballet of John Neumeier, Codarts, Dantzaz, Philharmonie Luxembourg, Skanes Dansteater, Ballet Kiel. For more info, please visit wubkje.com Seeta Patel The award-winning choreographer and dancer Seeta Patel was born in London and began her training under the guidance of Kiran Ratna in 1990. She has since worked with a range of Bharatanatyam and contemporary dance professionals including Mavin Khoo, Padma Shri Adyar K Lakshman, Pushkala Gopal and Darshan Singh Bhuller. She has also performed and toured with a number of companies such as DV8 Physical Theatre, Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company, David Hughes Dance Company and Mavin Khoo Dance. Seeta has presented solo and ensemble works at the Southbank Centre Purcell Room, Royal Opera House, ROH2 and Sadler’s Wells such as: Cycle of Change (2005), She Was Still (2005-6), Alter Ego (2007), Shringara (2009), Last One Standing (2010) and First Light (2014). Her solo classical London debut, Shringara: Journey of Desire, was performed to a capacity audience at The Clore Upstairs, Royal Opera House (June 2009), and then toured around the UK in 2010/11. She subsequently presented solo classical works Dancing My Siva and Something Then, Something Now to sold out audiences at Sadler’s Wells and the Purcell Room (Darbar Festival). Over the past 12 years, Patel has received numerous awards and bursaries for her creative and professional development. She was awarded the Lisa Ullmann Travel Scholarship to study in India (2005) and at the New York Film Academy (2013). In 2017, she received the Washington S&R Award for her work championing Bharatanatyam in the diaspora. Seeta worked as a choreographic collaborator with the world renowned contemporary circus company, Gandini Juggling, for their production Sigma which premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2017 before touring in 2020 and subsequently won the Archangel Award, Total Theatre Award, and Asian Arts Award. In tandem with her choreographic and performing work Seeta has worked in film, TV and theatre. She produced a multi award-winning short dance film, The Art of Defining Me in 2013, which gained national and international acclaim. She was a judge, mentor and advisor for the inaugural BBC TV Young Dancer Competition and in 2016 choreographed a new play at the Theatre Royal Stratford East entitled The House of In Between. Seeta’s contemporary work in collaboration with the Australian choreographer and performer Lina Limosani is the one-woman show, Not Today's Yesterday which takes a dramatic look at the whitewashing of history around the world. The show was a recipient of the Adelaide Artist Fringe Fund and premiered successfully at the Adelaide Fringe Festival in 2018 where it won Best Dance, and the Peace Foundation Award. The production toured around the UK in 2018 and 2019, including the Edinburgh Fringe as part of the British Council showcase. During the tour Seeta curated a series of lively and interesting post-show talks in association with a range of activists, historians and artists. The work went on to tour internationally including Australia, India, Italy and Egypt. Most recently, Seeta Patel’s critically acclaimed Bharatanatyam version of the iconic ballet, The Rite of Spring, toured the UK through 2019-2021, winning the 2020 Eastern Eye Arts, Culture and Theatre Award in the Dance Category and being nominated for best stage production by the Asian Media Group in 2019. The work is now developed with an extended cast and full orchestra and premiered to critical acclaim at Sadler’s Well in March 2023. The constantly evolving world of South Asian Dance is developing as an integral part of the international dance landscape and Seeta Patel is a vital part of this growing business; she mentors and supports up-and-coming dancers and produces high quality work which entertains and engages an increasing audience both in the UK and abroad. Arielle Smith Havana-born Arielle is an Olivier Award award-winning choreographer who crosses dance theatre and film. Her Olivier was awarded for her creation Jolly Folly for The English National Ballet. She has since been celebrated in The Stage 25 list as one of 25 individuals to become the future stars of the UK theatre industry, having also been named on The Guardian’s ones to watch for 2022. Arielle’s theatre credits include Carmen for San Francisco Ballet; Unexpected Twist (Northampton/UK Tour); Orfeo (Garsington); Jack and the Beanstalk (Lyric Hammersmith), directed by John Caird and Blackmail (Mercury Theatre), directed by Anthony Banks. She has a number of classical commissions and theatre projects in development. She has choreographed for some of the largest ballet companies around the world, including Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures where she was Associate Choreographer on his Romeo & Juliet. Other credits include Lots.Of.Varied.Expectations and Mañana Iguana. Thais Suarez Thais graduated from Modern, Contemporary, and Folkloric Dance from the National School of Arts and later from the University of the Arts (ISA) with the highest qualifications. She began and developed her Dance career in the internationally renowned company, Danza Contemporanea de Cuba (DCC), where she spent almost a decade as a principal dancer. She has played leading roles by choreographers such as Mats Ek, Itzik Galili, Jan Linkens, Juan Kruz Diaz de Garaio, Fleur Darkin, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Rafael Bonachela, Theo Clinkard, Angels Margarit, Billy Cowie, George Céspedes, Julio Cesar Iglesias, among others. It has been celebrated by the public and critics of the most important stages in the world, namely Sadler’s Wells, Opera de Monte Carlo, Teatro Real (Madrid), Maison de la Dance (Lyon), Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (Washington D.C.), National Auditorium (Mexico City), and deserving of several national and foreign awards and recognitions. In July 2018, she decided to separate from DCC and found, together with her partner Norge Cedeño, OtroLado Dance Company. From there they developed an ascending choreographic career that has led them to collaborate with important international companies such as Gauthier Dance, Aterballeto, Acosta Danza, Malpaso, and many others and together turn the young Cuban company into one of the most unique and impressive voices of the Cuban contemporary dance. Thais Suárez, with her creative singularity and her unique physical and interpretative quality, is recognized both by the criteria of artists, specialised critics, and the general audience, as one of the most incredible artists of Cuban Contemporary Dance in recent years. Kate Whitely Kate Whitley is a composer and pianist. She runs The Multi-Story Orchestra, which performs in car parks around the UK: “forget fusty concert halls, the future of music is emerging in a municipal car park” (The Times). She writes music for orchestras, choirs and instrumentalists. Her music has been broadcast on Radio 3 and performed as part of the BBC Proms. Her pieces for choir and orchestra include Alive to words by poet Holly McNish, which won a 2015 British Composers Award and was described as “a remarkable feat” (The Telegraph), and I am I say to words by Sabrina Mahfouz: “a tremendous work” (The Times). Her piece Speak out to words by Nobel prize winner Malala Yousafzai was commissioned by the BBC for International Women’s Day 2017 in support of the campaign for better education for girls: ‘a powerful statement, full of kinetic energy’ (Wales Arts Review) and has been performed by orchestras around the world. In 2018 she wrote Sky Dances for the London Symphony Orchestra, which was performed by an orchestra of over 100 in Trafalgar Square conducted by Sir Simon Rattle. Winning a 2018 Critics Circle Award, she has been described as a composer with “a strong, distinctive voice who, without compromising, communicates directly to a wide audience, within the concert hall and beyond”. Kate is a 2018 Bortletti-Buitoni Trust Special Award Winner and a 2013 Sky Academy Futures Fund winner. She was 2013-4 Music Fellow at Rambert Dance Company and 2015 New Music Programmer at Kettles Yard Art Gallery. She is a 2021 Clore Leadership Fellow. Iman Ashraf - Costume Designer Imaan Ashraf is a London based Costume Designer and Stylist. She is a recent graduate of MA Costume Design for Performing from the London College of Fashion with a BA in Liberal Arts (History major) from King's College London. Her recent work focuses on the experiences of women during points of historical conflict as well as the intersections of nature and the human body. Hayley Egan - Projection and Video Design Hayley is a Video Designer for theatre, opera and live events. Her previous work includes; Cinders! (Scottish Ballet); Boy Parts (Soho Theatre); The Sound of Music and Mom, How Did You Meet The Beatles? (Chichester Festival Theatre); Tomorrow Gala (Old Vic), Pijin (Theatre Iolo); Ruination (Lost Dog); Coppelia (Associate, Scottish Ballet); Everyday (Deafinitely Theatre); The Scandal at Mayerling (Scottish Ballet); Triple Bill: Witch (Royal Academy of Music); A Tale of Two Cities (Associate, Lost Dog); The Boy with Two Hearts (WMC, National Theatre); You’re Safe Til 2024 (Barbican); The Child in The Snow (Wilton's Music Hall); The Language of Kindness (Wayward Productions); I’ll Take You To Mrs Cole! (Complicité Associates); I’m a Phoenix, Bitch! (Associate, Battersea Arts Centre); Grief Is The Thing With Feathers (Associate, Galway International Arts Festival). Carmen (Associate, Scottish Opera); The Handmaid's Tale (Associate, Royal Danish Opera); Litvinenko (Associate, Grange Park Opera); Don Giovanni (Associate, Greek National Opera); Nixon in China (Associate, Scottish Opera); Freedom Season (Welsh National Opera); Orlando (Associate, Vienna State Opera); The Yellow Wallpaper (Channel 4 Random Acts). Emma Jones - Lighting Design Emma is a Lighting Designer based in Scotland. Emma works across many creative mediums and has worked extensively with companies including Scottish Opera, Scottish Dance Theatre, The National Theatre of Scotland, Danza Contemporanea de Cuba, Charlotte McLean Dance, The Royal Lyceum Edinburgh, Joan Cleville Dance, The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, shotput dance-theatre, Dundee Rep Theatre, Derby Theatre and The Citizens Theatre Glasgow. Having a particular passion for dance Emma has designed the lighting for over 16 newly commissioned works for Scottish Dance Theatre, working with both established and emerging choreographers including Damien Jalet, Anton Lachky, Botis Seva and Henri Oguike In 2020 became an associate artist with Shotput Dance-Theatre Company. 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 175 shows a year nationally and internationally. The Royal Ballet Sinfonia is Birmingham Royal Ballet’s permanent orchestra, it is also Britain's busiest ballet orchestra. The Sinfonia also plays frequently for The Royal Ballet and other leading ballet companies, including performances with Paris Opéra Ballet, New York City Ballet, Australian Ballet, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, the Kirov, Norwegian Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, and La Scala Ballet. www.brb.org.uk

Full announcement when I get home!!! FILLE FILLE FILLE

Links - Thursday 01 February, 2024 Obituaries - Chita Rivera, Broadway Star: Michael Covey, Guardian Peter Marks, Washington Post Tributes: Michael Paulson & Emmanuel Morgan, NY Times Review - Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures, Edward Scissorhands, Milton Keynes: Katy Roberts, Reviews Hub Review - Music from the Sole, I didn’t come to stay, New York: Siobhan Burke, NY Times Review - Nihon Buyo in the 21st century: From Kabuki dance to Boléro, New York: Gia Kourlas, NY Times Preview - New York City Ballet, Let go and be free (Tiler Peck), New York: Stefan Dias, Bakersfield.com Preview Feature - Justin Peck, Illinoise, Chicago: Courtney Keepers, Chicago Sun Times Preview - Dance Theatre of Harlem, triple bill, Charlotte: Lisa Vernon Sparks, Charlotte Observer Preview Q&A - Dwight Rhoden, Complexions Contemporary Ballet talks about Stardust, Chicago: Andrew Davis, Windy City Times Preview - Kansas City Ballet, Underground, Kansas City: Jillian Cheney, Religion Unplugged News - Melissa Hamilton (Royal Ballet) & Michael Christou launch Hamilton Christou Productions: Stephi Wild, Broadway World Graham Spicer, Gramilano News - Ballet Manila reveals 2024 season: Kristofer Purnell, Philstar Feature - San Francisco Ballet’s Mere Mortals breaks barriers: Garth Gimball, SF Examiner Feature - Targeting dance injury at source: David Burton, Arts Hub Australia Documentary Preview - Madu, Nigerian teen leaves home for UK ballet school: Benjamin VanHoose, People

Press Release Wednesday 31 January 2024 Business and ballet combine as internationally recognised star of The Royal Ballet, Melissa Hamilton, and renowned businessman, Michael Christou, launch Hamilton Christou Productions · Husband and wife duo bring ballet and business worlds together · First live productions to be staged in Singapore and Belfast · Community subscription platform to break down the barriers of ballet Internationally recognised star of The Royal Ballet, Melissa Hamilton, and renowned businessman and property developer, Michael Christou, today announce the launch of Hamilton Christou Productions. Founded by the husband-and-wife duo to create an inclusive global community of ballet and dance enthusiasts, Hamilton Christou Productionsbrings the business and ballet worlds together to present and produce outstanding live performances on some of the world’s preeminent stages. Working in collaboration with dancers, choreographers, and investors, its productions will be enhanced with the best creative minds of our time. To nurture upcoming future talent, Hamilton Christou Productions will offer mentoring opportunities and deliver a range of masterclasses. Alongside this a free member subscription service will also be launched to demystify the world of ballet, giving an exclusive insight into what it’s like to be a professional dancer. For its inaugural performances, the Company presents Melissa Hamilton’s International Ballet Stars Gala at the Esplanade Theatre, Singapore on the 23 and 24 March 2024, featuring Melissa and stars of The Royal Ballet, Hamburg Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet and Singapore Ballet. The Company’s first UK performances take place on the 26 and 27 October at the Grand Opera House in Melissa’s hometown of Belfast withMelissa Hamilton’s Grand Ballet Gala. For these performances Melissa will be joined by fellow Royal Ballet dancers alongside established and rising stars of the international ballet world. Of Hamilton Christou Productions, Melissa Hamilton said: “I am truly passionate about presenting the very best ballet has to offer to audiences around the world while also giving a platform to showcase the stars of tomorrow. I am very excited to embark on this new venture with Michael, and to enliven the ballet world with fresh ideas and come together to share the joy of dance and creativity.” Michael Christou added: “By bringing our worlds together we will not only help to forge creativity in the business world but also collaborate with new partners to present exceptional ballet performances on an international stage.” Melissa Hamilton has been a dancer with The Royal Ballet for 17 years. During that time she has performed Principal roles in a variety of ballets including Manon, Romeo & Juliet, Mayerling, Raven Girl, Nutcracker and Onegin. Roles created on her include Wayne McGregor’s Woolf Works, The Dante Project and Untitled 20203, David Dawson’s The Human Season and Christopher Wheeldon’s Trespass. She is a guest Principal with Semperoper Ballett, Dresden, and has appeared as a guest artist with La Scala Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, New National Theatre Tokyo and Polish National Ballet. Her awards include YAGP Grand Prix, Gold Medal at Seoul International Ballet competition and the Critics’ Circle National Dance Award for Outstanding Female Performance. Michael Christou is a London based businessman and property developer. He found the globally acclaimed property development company and luxury design house, 1.61 London in 2010 with his brother. The company has an ever-expanding portfolio of luxurious international and London based developments. 1.61 London’s awards include being listed on the World’s Leading Design Names in 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022, and winner of London’s SBID (The Society of British and International Interior Design) awards in 2020. More information about Hamilton Christou Productions future performances to be announced shortly. Listings information Melissa Hamilton’s International Ballet Stars Gala Esplanade Theatre, Singapore 23 March 2024 at 8pm 24 March 2024 at 3pm Tickets from $32 Melissa Hamilton’s Grand Ballet Gala Grand Opera House, Belfast 26 October 2024 at 2.30pm and 7.30pm 27 October 2024 at 3pm Tickets from £36.50 For further information and tickets see www.hamiltonchristouproductions.com

I'd be amazed if you were wrong given what the Eagles are charging for an arena date in Manchester in June. It makes the ballet prices at ROH look positively cheap!

Hello @Katy and welcome to the Forum!

Hello @Lissieloo and welcome to the Forum!