Jan McNulty

Some of the memes on FB and twitter are hilarious but probably too political to be published here.

I believe it is quite an old ad but the timing of its resurrection is appalling in the extreme.

12 October 2020 English National Ballet returns to the stage English National Ballet returns to the stage with performances of Nutcracker Delights at the London Coliseum this Christmas and, as previously announced, Reunion: An Evening with English National Ballet at Sadler’s Wells in November. During the festive period, English National Ballet will present Nutcracker Delights at the London Coliseum (03 December 2020 – 03 January 2021). This special version of the Christmas classic sees the Company perform a selection of the ballet’s most popular moments and iconic scenes accompanied by Tchaikovsky’s famous score played live by musicians from English National Ballet Philharmonic. Tamara Rojo CBE, English National Ballet’s Artistic Director said: “English National Ballet has performed a version of The Nutcracker every year since we were founded in 1950 and I’m so pleased that, despite the challenges faced, we have been able to find a way for the tradition to live on, in this, our 70th Anniversary year. It’s more important than ever that we are able to bring audiences some festive joy this Christmas.” Reunion: An Evening with English National Ballet sees the Company present five world premieres at Sadler’s Wells, London, from 19-21 November 2020. Originally commissioned as creations for camera as part of English National Ballet’s upcoming digital season and now also adapted for the stage, the new works have been choreographed by some of the most exciting dance makers working today: Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Russell Maliphant, Yuri Possokhov, Arielle Smith, and Stina Quagebeur. Tamara Rojo continued: “After what will be nearly 9 months without performing in theatres, I am thrilled that English National Ballet is going to be back on stage with a live audience this winter. It’s been wonderful to see our studios back in action for the creation of these five exciting new works and we can’t wait to share them with our audiences.” Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui’s Laid in Earth is a “torn apart” quartet. It is set to Purcell’s famous aria from Dido and Aeneas – sung live by mezzo soprano Flora McIntosh, as well as new electronic music by Olga Wojciechowska. Russell Maliphant creates ever shifting choreography and uses light as an integral partner in the creative process. He collaborates on this project with video artist Panagiotis Tomaras and with commissioned sound design by Dana Fouras. A former principal dancer with the Bolshoi Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet and San Francisco Ballet, world-renowned choreographer Yuri Possokhov works with a UK company for the first time. His piece for four dancers, Senseless Kindness, is based on Vasily Grossman’s great novel, Life and Fate, about a Russian family caught in the Second World War and is set to Shostakovich’s Piano Trio No1. In Take Five Blues, ENB’s Associate Choreographer, Stina Quagebeur, responds to two of her favourite pieces of music, Bach’s Vivace and Paul Desmond’s jazz standard, Take Five. Arielle Smith’s Jolly Folly is fast-paced, surprising, and energetic and is driven by the Klazz Brothers’ latin-infused covers of Tchaikovsky, Strauss and Mozart. The music for Laid in Earth, Take Five Blues and Senseless Kindness is performed live by musicians of English National Ballet Philharmonic. English National Ballet’s previously scheduled performances for Autumn/Winter 2020-2021 have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Nutcracker Delights replaces cancelled performances of Nutcracker at the London Coliseum. The world premieres of Creature by Akram Khan and Raymonda by Tamara Rojo after Marius Petipa have been postponed to 2021. Those who had purchased tickets for these performances are being contacted directly by the relevant box office. All rehearsals and performances are in strict compliance with the UK Government COVID-19 guidance. -ENDS- Notes to Editors English National Ballet is an Associate Company of Sadler’s Wells. English National Ballet is a National Portfolio Organisation supported by Arts Council England. Listings: Performance details are subject to change, please see www.ballet.org.uk for the latest information. Reunion: An Evening with English National Ballet Sadler’s Wells, London Thursday 19 – Saturday 21 November 2020 www.ballet.org.uk/reunion General on-sale: Thursday 15 October 2020 This performance runs for approximately 80 minutes with no interval. Nutcracker Delights London Coliseum Thursday 03 December 2020 – Sunday 03 January 2021 www.ballet.org.uk/nutcracker-delights General on-sale: Wednesday 28 October 2020 This performance runs for approximately 75 minutes with no interval. About English National Ballet English National Ballet has a long and distinguished history. Founded in 1950 as London Festival Ballet by the great English Dancers Alicia Markova and Anton Dolin, it has been at the forefront of ballet’s growth and evolution ever since. English National Ballet brings world class ballet to the widest possible audience through performances across the UK and on eminent international stages including The Bolshoi Theatre and Palais Garnier; its distinguished orchestra, English National Ballet Philharmonic; and being a UK leader in creative learning and engagement practice, building innovative partnerships to deliver flagship programmes such as English National Ballet’s Dance for Parkinson’s. Under the artistic directorship of Tamara Rojo CBE, English National Ballet has introduced ground-breaking new works to the Company’s repertoire whilst continuing to honour the tradition of great classical ballet, gaining acclaim for artistic excellence and creativity. 2019 saw English National Ballet enter a new chapter in its history with a move into a purpose-built state-of-the-art home in East London which brings a renewed commitment to, and freedom for, creativity, ambition, and connection to more people, near and far, than ever before. www.ballet.org.uk About Arts Council England Arts Council England is the national development body for arts and culture across England, working to enrich people’s lives. We support a range of activities across the arts, museums and libraries – from theatre to visual art, reading to dance, music to literature, and crafts to collections. Great art and culture inspires us, brings us together and teaches us about ourselves and the world around us. In short, it makes life better. Between 2018 and 2022, we will invest £1.45 billion of public money from government and an estimated £860 million from the National Lottery to help create these experiences for as many people as possible across the country. www.artscouncil.org.uk

The two companies I follow (Northern Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet) have very diverse groups of dancers and that is what I particularly like about them.

On Thursday, I published a link to a newly issued BluRay - a documentary about Rudolf Nureyev called I Am a Dancer, which was originally shown in 1972: http://thedigitalbits.com/item/i-am-a-dancer-film-movement-2020-bd

The only other people I could see on a quick perusal: CBE: Richard William Gleave - ballroom dancer for services to dance BEM: Kathleen Anne Forsythe - for services to the Northamptonshire Festival of Dance Congratulations to them both.

Lovely news today. Congratulations to Dame Siobhan Davies. Here's the full list. The first part of the list is for honours awarded to people for their work during the C-19 pandemic. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/925349/Queen_s_Birthday_Honours_List_2020.pdf

I'm a dance-watcher and I don't have any family or friends who are dancers. As an outsider looking in it seems that people see the Royal Ballet School and the Royal Ballet as the holy grail ... but is that the right choice for your child? As far as I am aware all the well known vocational schools provide an education for your children that sets them up in so many ways for their adult lives and that some schools seem a better fit than others for the needs of particular children. As a moderator I read the vast majority of the posts made on the forum and I can remember many people in years gone by saying that they had been to look at/audition for this school or that but that ultimately it didn't feel right for their child. It is obvious that there are far more graduating students than there are places available in companies and people need to be realistic about that. The nearest I have personally come to knowing a dancer is the daughter of an ex-colleague who went at 11 to study specifically for a career in ballet. She realised pretty soon that ballet was not what she wanted to do as a career and she went to a musical theatre college and subsequently had a successful and enjoyable career in entertainment on the cruise ships.

The conductor was Jonathan Lo, who became Music Director at Northern Ballet last year. I first saw him as a guest conductor with BRB and have also seen him conduct RB. He conducted two performances of Fille on one day for BRB 2 years ago and what impressed me most was that the 2 casts were very different and he was able to adapt for both of them without ever compromising the music. If you ever hear him giving a talk he is incredibly passionate and erudite about music. Here's his biography: https://northernballet.com/biography/jonathan-lo Just going back to the performance, it was lovely watching it last night and knowing that friends were watching at the same time. Obviously it's not as good as sitting together in a theatre but it's one step closer.

What can I say. It was such an emotional evening to actually watch live ballet, albeit on my laptop, and hear a LIVE audience really loving it. I was quite overcome. I thought the format of the evening worked really well as an introduction back to live ballet and it was worth every penny of the £16 for a full 3 hour performance. I loved the whole evening from the overture (looking back to the first performance of the Royal Ballet at Covent Garden) to the joyous, glorious, wonderful and outstanding ending performance of Elite Syncopations (quite amazing for me to describe Elite like that as it is not a favourite of mine). There was a great mix of the familiar and the not so familiar and the evening just worked beautifully. We were treated to fabulous, heartfelt, emotional performances throughout. But what on earth were some of the presenters wearing? The opening Hofesh Shechter snippet from Untouchable really set me up for the evening with its drama and full stage of dancers. My personal highlights of the evening were the utterly sublime performance of the reconciliation duet from The Dream danced by Laura Morera and Alex Campbell and the Fanny Elsler pdd from Fille as so joyously danced by Anna Rose O'Sullivan and Marcelino Sambé. I was absolutely carried away by the audience clapping along! It was so great to hear a live audience enjoying themselves so much. Anyway and to sum up, in case you hadn't realised, I LOVED THE WHOLE evening. A heartfelt thanks from me to the Royal Ballet.

Links - Saturday 10 October, 2020 Live/Streamed Review - Royal Ballet, Back on Stage, London: Debra Craine, The Times Feature - Yasmine Naghdi, Royal Ballet: Zoe Paskett, Standard Feature - Natalia Osipova, Royal Ballet: Oksana Khadarina, Dance Magazine Feature - Francesca Hayward, Royal Ballet: Alyson Lowe, Vogue Feature - Francesca Hayward & Cesar Corrales, Royal Ballet: Jennifer Ruby, Mail News Feature - Royal Ballet returns to the stage: BBC Cinema P/review - Bolshoi Ballet, Romeo & Juliet: Aliya Al-Hassan, Broadway World Streaming Review - Jordan James Bridge/Danial de Andrade/Gay Clarke & Dancers, Locked down, Locked in, But living: Sara Veale, Fjord Review Live/Streaming Preview - An Evening with English National Ballet, London: Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper Exhibition Review - Michael Clark: Cosmic Dancer: David Mead, Seeing Dance Live Preview - Alexander Whitley Company, Overflow, London: Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper Feature - Ian Casady, Houston Ballet, moves from dancer to ballet master: Olivia Flores Alvarez, Houstonia Video Feature - Tiler Peck, NYCB, to appear with Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra: Yahoo News via KERO Feature - Daniel Owoseni Ajala, founder of Leap of Dance Academy in Lagos: Courtney Celeste Spears, Dance Magazine

I've just come across this on FB: https://www.facebook.com/olivia.pickford.33

Links - Friday 09 October, 2020 Streaming Review - Royal Ballet, Dances at a Gathering: Michelle Potter, ... on dancing Feature - Francesca Hayward, Royal Ballet: Annabel Davidson, Vanity Fair News - Sadler’s Wells announces socially distanced season for Autumn 2020: News Desk, Broadway World Live Review - Ballet Preljocaj, Swan Lake, Clermont-Ferrand: Roslyn Sulcas, NY Times Streaming Review - Jordan James Bridge/Danial de Andrade/Gay Clarke & Dancers, Locked down, Locked in, But living: Siobhan Murphy, DanceTabs Feature - Maina Gielgud on staging Giselle at one of Portugal’s top ballet schools: Toba Singer, Pointe Magazine Streaming News - Tiler Peck curates A New Stage: News Desk, Broadway World Video Feature - Meet Lauren Post of American Ballet Theatre: Broadway World Feature - On Black Death and Fundraising: Sydnie L Mosley, Brooklyn Rail Live Review - House of Sand, Dance, Dance, Have Feeling, Wellington: Melissa Bee, NZ Theatreview Interview - Shamel Pitts & Itai Zwecker: Jonah Goldman Kay, Brooklyn Rail Blu-Ray Review - Rudolf Nureyev - I am a dancer: Dennis Seuling, The Digital Bits

Here's an earlier thread: Various schools have been discussed over the years at both lower and upper levels. You should be able to find some of them if you search. How fees and feasible entrance will be after we are finally out of Europe in January is anyone's guess.

And the press release: Press release: Thursday 8 October 2020 Sadler’s Wells announces a special socially distanced season for Autumn 2020 Today Sadler’s Wells is excited to announce a special new season of live dance and digital content for Autumn 2020, including further performances for socially distanced audiences at Sadler’s Wells Theatre and new details for online programme, Digital Stage In Focus: Live dance continues at Sadler’s Wells this autumn with more performances for socially distanced audiences announced, including Christmas dates, and performances from a stellar line-up of Sadler’s Wells associate companies and artists, including English National Ballet, Alexander Whitley Dance Company, Breakin’ Convention and Ballo Arthur Pita English National Ballet returns to Sadler’s Wells for its first performances since lockdown with a specially commissioned programme of world premieres featuring choreography by Arielle Smith, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Russell Maliphant, Yuri Possokhov and Stina Quagebeur Alexander Whitley Dance Company’s new work Overflow receives its London premiere in November, following earlier cancellations due to the Coronavirus pandemic Breakin’ Convention returns to Sadler’s Wells with Social DisDancing, featuring new performances from Boy Blue, AIM and Jamaal O’Driscoll Ballo Arthur Pita’s magical The Little Match Girl returns for the festive season, staged in Sadler’s Wells Theatre for the first-time following Christmas performances in the Lilian Baylis Studio Tickets for all performances announced today are available via priority booking from Monday 12 October and on public sale from Thursday 15 October Digital Stage In Focus continues online featuring Sadler’s Wells collaborations with world-leading dance companies ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company and Candoco Dance Company, with full details of bespoke content for digital audiences and participants announced today More digital offerings announced include a new documentary charting the National Youth Dance Company’s special Sadler’s Wells residency and Sadler’s Wells first Virtual Gala Sadler’s Wells Associate Company English National Ballet returns in November with An Evening with English National Ballet, a programme of world premieres from five of today’s most exciting contemporary choreographers, Arielle Smith, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Russell Maliphant, Yuri Possokhov and Stina Quagebeur. Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui’s Laid in Earth is a “torn apart” quartet. It is set to Purcell’s famous aria from Dido and Aeneas – sung live by mezzo soprano Flora McIntosh, as well as new electronic music composed by Olga Wojciechowska. Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist, Russell Maliphant creates ever shifting choreography and uses light as an integral partner in the creative process. He collaborates on this project with video artist Panagiotis Tomaras and with commissioned sound design by Dana Fouras. A former principal dancer with the Bolshoi Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet and San Francisco Ballet, world-renowned choreographer Yuri Possokhov works with a UK company for the first time. His piece for four dancers, 7, is based on Vasily Grossman’s great novel, Life and Fate, about a Russian family caught in the Second World War and is set to Shostakovich’s Piano Trio No1 which is performed live by musicians of English National Ballet Philharmonic. In Take Five Blues, Stina Quagebeur’s choreography responds to two of her favourite pieces of music, Bach’s Vivace and Paul Desmond’s jazz standard, Take Five – both performed live in arrangement's by English National Ballet Music Director Gavin Sutherland. Arielle Smith’s Jolly Folly is fast-paced, surprising, and energetic, driven by Latin and jazz-infused covers of Tchaikovsky, Strauss and Mozart by the Klazz Brothers’. English National Ballet give four performances from Thursday 19 - Saturday 21 November. Sadler’s Wells New Wave Associate Alexander Whitley and his company return to the main stage with performances of new work Overflow from Friday 27 - Saturday 28 November, receiving its London premiere, following the cancellation of its original run in April 2020 as part of Sadler’s Wells Digital Edition due to national lockdown. Known for his adventurous use of technology, Whitley’s Overflow considers how our desires, fantasies and vulnerabilities are powerfully influenced by social platforms and explores what lurks beneath our compulsions to check, share and like. Featuring a dazzling kinetic light sculpture by Children of the Light, costumes from award-winning designer Ana Rajcevic and an original score from London-based producer Rival Consoles, whose music features in the Netflix series Black Mirror, Overflow delves into what it means to be human in the era of big data. Breakin’ Convention takeover Sadler’s Wells Theatre in December, presenting its first live events since lockdown and the cancellation of the 2020 Festival. Hosted by Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist and Breakin’ Convention Artistic Director Jonzi D, Social DisDancing is a mini-festival of new work showcasing the best of hip hop dance. The evening features performances from AIM, the high-energy all female popping crew; a London premiere for Jamaal O’Driscoll, featuring b-boy Marius in a duet exploring duality and mental clarity; and a world premiere from renowned East London company and Breakin’ Convention favourites, Boy Blue. The event will also feature film screenings, including a showing of Jonzi D and jessica Care moore’s recent work, the powerful Our Bodies Back, a riveting dance film that speaks out against anti-Black racism and honours the lived experiences of Black women past and present. Breakin’ Convention Social DisDancing runs Friday 11 - Saturday 12 December 2020. Christmas returns to Sadler’s Wells with performances of Ballo Arthur Pita’s magical family favourite The Little Match Girl, following five hugely successful Christmas seasons in the Lilian Baylis Studio. Based on Hans Christian Andersen’s classic story, director and choreographer Arthur Pita presents a beautiful reimagining of The Little Match Girl through dance, song and Frank Moon’s atmospheric music performed live on stage. On an icy cold Christmas eve in an imaginary Italian town, the little match girl wanders the streets with just one final match to keep her warm. Along her journey she encounters kindness and cruelty, in a timeless fable about family, friendship and hope. The Little March Girl runs across the festive season from Thursday 17 - Sunday 27 December, this time in Sadler’s Wells Theatre to allow social distancing for audiences to take place. Tickets for all live performances announced today are available via priority booking from Monday 12 October and on public sale from Thursday 15 October. These events follow Sadler’s Wells’ first public socially distanced performances since lockdown, presented by Birmingham Royal Ballet at the end of October. Performances of Lazuli Sky, a new programme inspired by socially distancing and the first commissioned by Carlos Acosta in his new role as Artistic Director, run from Thursday 29 to Saturday 31 October 2020, in Sadler’s Wells Theatre. Further information about all performances and ticket sales are available from sadlerswells.com. In order to help artists, audiences and staff members to feel safe and enjoy these performances, Sadler’s Well has introduced a series of new safety measures and are closely following all UK Government guidance in presenting these events. Ticket bookers will be sent full information about all coronavirus safety measures in advance of the performance, so that they may plan accordingly and feel as secure as possible during their visit. These guidelines are also available on Sadler’s Wells website via the following link. If these performances are unable to be presented due to changes to UK Government coronavirus restrictions, customers will be contacted as soon as possible and given the option to receive a full refund. Sadler's Wells, alongside all companies performing in upcoming events, have also followed recommended UK government protocols in order ensure the safety of all artists and crew involved by creating performances in a covid-secure environment. In addition to live performances, Sadler’s Wells also extends its digital offering, with further details of Digital Stage In Focus announced today. This new series, featuring Sadler’s Wells in collaboration with three world-renowned dance companies, began in September with Sadler’s Wells x Hofesh Shechter Company, a hugely successful partnership that drew more than 1.4 million views globally. Each collaboration features a digital screening of a full-length performance made available for seven days; a Get Into Dance Workshop, which is a 30-minute introductory level session devised by each company in its own distinct dance style; and a bespoke piece of digital content created especially for this series. Digital Stage In Focus is free for all audiences with content released via the Sadler’s Wells website, Facebook page, Instagram and YouTube channels. The next digital takeover, Sadler’s Wells x ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company, takes place from Monday 19 October – Friday 30 October: The collaboration begins with a Get Into Dance Workshop hosted by Bradley Charles, Artistic Director of ZooNation Youth Company, which is available to access via the Sadler’s Wells YouTube channel and Facebook page from Monday 19 October. Bradley will lead an introductory level dance workshop in Locking, a funk style used in a wide range of ZooNation's work, including Some Like It Hip Hop aimed at all ages. The series continues with a previously announced streaming of dance smash-hit Some Like It Hip Hop available to watch for seven days on Sadler’s Wells Facebook Page and YouTube channel from Thursday 22 October, 7:00pm BST. Audiences can also enjoy a brand-new companion film exploring the making of Some Like It Hip Hop featuring interviews with members of the company and creative team who made the production. The final element of the residency is a new dance tutorial led by Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist and ZooNation Artistic Director Kate Prince. The workshop will teach participants the iconic choreography to ‘Teardrop Breakdown’, a section of choreography from Kate’s critically acclaimed production Into The Hoods, which the company performed live at Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday celebrations. The Teardrop Breakdown features the music of DJ Walde and will be available for audiences to watch via the Sadler’s Wells YouTube channel and IGTV from Monday 26 October. Audiences will be invited to film themselves taking part and share via social media channels. The final takeover, Sadler’s Wells x Candoco Dance Company, runs from Monday 23 November – Friday 4 December: The collaboration begins with a Get Into Dance Workshop, hosted by company members Joel Brown and Olivia Edginton, who will introduce viewers to Candoco’s style and technique, available to stream from Monday 23 November. The series continues with a previously announced streaming of the company’s powerful dance work Let's Talk About Dis, created by Sadler’s Wells New Wave Associate Hetain Patel, which will be available to watch for seven days on Sadler’s Wells’ Facebook Page and YouTube channel from Thursday 26 November, 7:00pm BST. Finally, Sadler’s Wells Digital Stage and Candoco present a special new digital commission in collaboration with the Alternative Limb Project, founded by Sophie de Oliveira Barata and using the unique medium of prosthetics to create highly stylised wearable art pieces. Together they will present a dance film, co-created by Candoco’s Artistic Director Charlotte Darbyshire, Sophie de Oliveira Barata and dancer Welly O’Brien, exploring the concept and changing perception of time and featuring a bespoke alternative limb created especially for Welly by Sophie and her specialist team. This unique limb is carved from cherry wood and features a working cuckoo clock and pendulum, creating both a nostalgic and contemporary feel. The film is available to watch via the Sadler’s Wells YouTube channel and Facebook page from Monday 30 November. As part of Sadler’s Wells Digital Stage, audiences can also enjoy a new documentary film which follows the special National Youth Dance Company (NYDC) residency that took place at Sadler’s Wells in August. NYDC were half way through their creative process with Guest Artistic Director Russell Maliphant when the UK went into lockdown as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Their April residency, premiere and national tour had to be cancelled. This documentary film captures the unique residency which took place at the end of August through strict social distancing measures, in which the 39 dancers returned to Sadler’s Wells to rehearse, re-work and share extracts from the originally conceived work in progress to friends and family on the Sadler's Wells stage. The NYDC documentary will be available on Sadler’s Wells Digital Stage later this month. On Saturday 5 December from 7:30pm – 8:30pm Sadler’s Wells presents its first Global Gala, a specially curated online showcase of performances and messages from our global family of artists and ambassadors to celebrate and support dance. This hour-long programme will be free to access online with the opportunity for audience members to donate to Sadler’s Wells. All funds raised through the programme will be matched and will contribute to the reopening of our theatres and the return of artists and audiences to our physical spaces. Further information, including the artists, programme and how to watch, will be released soon. Sadler’s Wells Artistic Director and CEO, Alistair Spalding said: "We are so pleased to present this wide-ranging new programme of socially distanced performances and digital dance across this autumn and Christmas season. We've worked tirelessly with colleagues and partners across the sector to offer audiences world-class dance in new and innovative ways. Getting to the stage where we can welcome audiences, artists and colleagues back to our theatre feels like a huge achievement, in light of the continuing pandemic, and I'm cautiously optimistic that these socially distant performances are just the first steps on the path of reopening fully. Performance opportunities, like the ones we are announcing today, are critical for dancers and choreographers at all stages of their careers. It's vital that we at Sadler’s Wells keep innovating so that we can create opportunities for our community of artists, companies and colleagues during and after the pandemic so that we can all continue to serve our global audiences. Above all, we remain committed making and sharing dance on stage and online, with flexibility, determination and urgency." Images can be downloaded via the Sadler’s Wells media library or via this link. - ENDS - NOTES TO EDITORS Performance Listings English National Ballet An Evening with English National Ballet Sadler’s Wells, EC1R 4TN Performances Thu 19 October – Sat 21 November at 7:30pm, Sat 21 November at 2:30pm Press Night: Thursday 19 November, 7:30pm Tickets: £15-£40 Ticket Office: www.sadlerswells.com Alexander Whitley Dance Company Overflow Sadler’s Wells, EC1R 4TN Performances: Fri 27 November - Sat 28 November at 7.30pm, Sat 28 November at 2:30pm Press night: Friday 27 November at 7:30pm Tickets: £20-£25 Ticket Office: www.sadlerswells.com Breakin’ Convention Social DisDancing Sadler’s Wells, EC1R 4TN Performances: Fri 11 December – Sat 12 December at 7:30pm, Sat 12 December at 2:30pm Press night: Friday 11 December, 7:30pm Tickets: £15-£40 Ticket Office: www.sadlerswells.com Ballo Arthur Pita’s The Little Match Girl Sadler’s Wells, EC1R 4TN Performances: Thu 17 December at 3pm and 7pm, Fri 18 December at 1pm and 5pm, Sat 19 December at 11am and 3pm, Sun 20 December at 11am and 3pm, Tue 22 December at 11am and 3pm, Wed 23 December at 11am and 3pm, Sat 26 December at 11am and 3pm, Sun 27 December at 11am and 3pm. Relaxed performances: Fri 18 December at 1pm, Tue 22 December at 11am, Wed 23 December at 11am Press night: Thursday 17 December, 7pm Tickets: £18-£24 Ticket Office: www.sadlerswells.com Arthur Pita’s The Little Match Girl is commissioned by DanceEast Tickets for all socially distanced performances are available from Monday 12 October when priority booking opens, with public booking available from Thursday 15 October: Monday 12 October: booking open for Sadler’s Wells Patrons Tuesday 13 October: booking open for Sadler’s Wells Rehearsal Members Wednesday 14 October: booking open for Sadler’s Wells Members Thursday 15 October: booking open for public sale. Tickets are available at www.sadlerswells.com. Further information about priority booking and members benefits can be found at https://www.sadlerswells.com/support-us/members/. Digital Stage In Focus Digital Stage In Focus is free for all and can be accessed via Sadler’s Wells website, Facebook page, YouTube and Instagram channels. All content is captioned, and full-length performances are audio described. Sadler’s Wells x ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company Monday 19 October – Friday 30 October Some Like It Hip Hop available on the Sadler’s Wells Facebook page and YouTube channel from Thursday 22 October at 7pm BST and available for 7 days thereafter, with audio described version available. ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company’s Get Into Dance Workshop will be available on the Sadler’s Wells Facebook page and YouTube channel from Monday 19 October Teardrop Dance Tutorial will be available on the Sadler’s Wells YouTube channel and IGTV from Monday 26 October Some Like It Hip Hop is a ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company and Sadler’s Wells production, supported by Arts Council England, with original support from Curve Leicester and Wales Millennium Centre. Sadler’s Wells x Candoco Monday 23 November – Friday 4 December Let’s Talk About Dis available on the Sadler’s Wells Facebook page and YouTube channel from Thursday 26 November at 7pm BST and available for 7 days thereafter, with audio described version available. Candoco Dance Company's Get Into Dance Workshop will be available on the Sadler’s Wells Facebook page and YouTube channel from Monday 23 November. The digital commission co-produced by Sadler’s Wells and Candoco Dance Company, in association with Alternative Limb Project will be available on the Sadler’s Wells Facebook page and YouTube channel from Monday 30 November. Let’s Talk About Dis is funded by Cockayne Foundation, Grants for the Arts and the London Community Foundation and co-commissioned by ArtsDepot. NYDC documentary film October 2020 The NYDC documentary film will be available to watch via the Sadler's Wells website. Sadler’s Wells Global Gala Saturday 5 December, 7:30pm – 8:30pm Free to access online Further information including the artists, programme and how to watch will be released soon. Sadler’s Wells About Sadler’s Wells Digital Stage Though our theatres remain dark, we will continue to connect with audiences through our Digital Stage. Since 27 March, our online programme of performances and workshops for people to watch at home has been enjoyed by audiences all over the world, with more than 5 million video views globally. All previously released workshops remain available online, including the full Company of Elders series - specially aimed at over 60s though anyone is welcome to join in - and ten themed family workshops for children aged 2 – 6 years old. All workshops are available to follow as playlists on Sadler’s Wells YouTube channel. Other dance films and documentaries featured on Digital Stage are made by Sadler’s Wells in partnership with others including BBC Arts, BBC Films, Academy Films, Artangel, Financial Times, and Clearstory Productions. Details of further new content for Digital Stage audiences will be announced soon with programme updates available on our website and social media channels. About Sadler’s Wells Sadler's Wells is a world-leading dance organisation, committed to producing, commissioning and presenting new works and to bringing the best domestic and international dance to UK and worldwide audiences. Under the Artistic Directorship of Alistair Spalding, the theatre’s acclaimed year-round programme spans dance of every kind, from contemporary to flamenco, Bollywood to ballet, salsa to street dance and tango to tap. Audiences of over half a million come to Sadler’s Wells’ three London theatres each year, with many more enjoying its touring productions at venues across the UK and around the world and accessing its content through its Digital Stage. Sadler's Wells commissions, produces and presents more dance than any other theatre in the world, embracing the popular and the unknown. Since 2005, it has helped to bring over 180 new dance works to the stage, many of them involving its 16 Associate Artists, three Resident Companies and four Associate Companies – the most exciting talents working in dance today. Sadler’s Wells own productions have toured to some of the most prestigious theatres and festivals around the world, such as the Sydney Opera House, the Lincoln Center’s White Light Festival in New York, and the National Centre for Performing Arts in Beijing. Sadler’s Wells also nurtures the next generation of talent through a range of artist development initiatives including its New Wave Associates programmes, its Wild Card initiative and the National Youth Dance Company. A further 30,000 individuals take part in its learning and engagement programmes each year. During the Covid-19 crisis, Sadler’s Wells has continued to connect with global audiences through its Digital Stage, an online programme of performances and workshops for people to watch at home. Since 27 March 2020, the programme has been enjoyed by audiences all over the world, generating over 2.7 million video views globally. Sadler’s Wells is an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation and currently receives approximately 10% of its revenue from Arts Council England. www.sadlerswells.com

I've just seen on Facebook that more tickets have been released for the performances at Leeds Playhouse.

Hello Zeebashak and welcome to the Forum! Although we do have adult dancers who post on the Forum many of our members in the Doing Dance section are parents of dancing children. There is a section within the Acceptable Use Policy which covers research but would also tie in with your aims: "Contacting members for research We have a large constituency of dancers on the Forum so people may come here to find guinea pigs for their academic research. It is best that people seeking subjects should go through the dance schools so that bona fides can be checked, rather than soliciting help here.Nonetheless, should you wish to post here, be aware that to take account of concerns about exploitation, particularly of children, we will remove postings unless it is made clear that it is over-18s who are being canvassed. If thinking of replying you should realise that we have no way of checking posters’ credentials and therefore advise caution before responding." If anyone who is under the age of 18 wants to respond to your request you should ensure that they have parental permission before you enter into discussion with them.

Please note that Cinderella is also touring to Southampton, The Lowry and Plymouth before the performances open in Birmingham. Details are on the website: https://www.brb.org.uk/whats-on/event/cinderella

While I'm thrilled to bits and, of course, have booked I was a bit surprised that the seating plan is the full theatre with no social distancing at all. I have queried what will happen if we are still (heaven forfend) having to socially distance in April next year. I absolutely love SDB's traditional Cinderella and can't wait to see it again.

I was a bit surprised by this streaming. The way it was touted on social media it sounded more like performances rather than coaching sessions. Nevertheless I enjoyed the stream very much (when the problems had been resolved) and have actually watched it a couple of times. It was interesting to see Carlos in "coaching action" with the younger dancers and it was good to watch the younger members of the company showing off their skills. I think my favourite piece with the pdd from Concerto with Tessa Hogge and Lennert Steegen. I absolutely love everything about that section of Concerto and I thought that Tessa and Lennert were absolutely charming. I am biased towards liking Lennert because he is absolutely THE BEST cymbal player I have seen in Hobson's Choice! Lennert certainly appeared in the role at every performance in Birmingham last year. So BRB provided just over an hour of sheer pleasure and I thank them for that!

English National Ballet’s Dance for Parkinson’s programme goes digital English National Ballet are moving the next term of the Company’s flagship engagement programme Dance for Parkinson’sonline this Autumn in order to continue to provide classes during the Covid-19 pandemic. Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, the programme centres around high-quality dance lessons designed for people living with Parkinson’s and is a great opportunity for those who take part to come together and experience the joy of dancing to live music, socialising and meeting new people as they become part of the ENB Parkinson’s family. Usually the classes are held in person at English National Ballet’s home in Canning Town, East London and in association with five hubs and affiliated partners across the country, but all classes had to be paused earlier this year due to Covid-19. Following the success of an online edition of a Dance for Parkinson’s class during lockdown, ENB are moving the class community online with participants who would usually attend classes at English National Ballet’s studios and at the Royal Albert Hall, joining together to take weekly classes from their homes this Autumn. The term of eight classes begins this weekend (Saturday 10 October). Each pre-recorded class is led by ENB Associate Dance Artist Kate Hartley-Stevens and draws inspiration from English National Ballet’s classical and contemporary repertoire. Each of these weekly sessions will also give the participants an opportunity to socialise on a group Zoom call, as they usually would following a class, and hear from members of English National Ballet about life behind the scenes of the dance company. English National Ballet's Engagement Director, Fleur Derbyshire-Fox, said: “We are really looking forward to starting our first online term of Dance for Parkinson’s this week. The classes are so full of joy, and although we are not able to physically come together in one space at the moment, we’re delighted to be able to bring the classes to the participants in this way. At ENB we are looking at all the ways we can keep our outreach work going across our offerings. This is a very difficult year for everybody so if we can bring a bit of joy and light to people’s lives through dance and the work that we do, then we’ll continue to find a way.” Research has shown that dancing can enhance fluidity of movement, develop postural stability and flexibility of the spine amongst other benefits to people living with Parkinson’s. For further information on English National Ballet’s Dance for Parkinson’s programme visit www.ballet.org.uk/project/dance-for-parkinsons/ ENB’s affiliated hub partner National Dance Company Wales and hub partner DanceEast are also running online Dance for Parkinson’s classes for their dance communities. -ENDS- English National Ballet is a National Portfolio Organisation supported by Arts Council England. Notes to Editors About English National Ballet English National Ballet has a long and distinguished history. Founded in 1950 as London Festival Ballet by the great English Dancers Alicia Markova and Anton Dolin, it has been at the forefront of ballet’s growth and evolution ever since. English National Ballet brings world class ballet to the widest possible audience through performances across the UK and on eminent international stages including The Bolshoi Theatre and Palais Garnier; its distinguished orchestra, English National Ballet Philharmonic; and being a UK leader in creative learning and engagement practice, building innovative partnerships to deliver flagship programmes such as English National Ballet’s Dance for Parkinson’s. Under the artistic directorship of Tamara Rojo CBE, English National Ballet has introduced ground-breaking new works to the Company’s repertoire whilst continuing to honour the tradition of great classical ballet, gaining acclaim for artistic excellence and creativity. 2019 saw English National Ballet enter a new chapter in its history with a move into a purpose-built state-of-the-art home in East London which brings a renewed commitment to, and freedom for, creativity, ambition, and connection to more people, near and far, than ever before. www.ballet.org.uk About Arts Council England Arts Council England is the national development body for arts and culture across England, working to enrich people’s lives. We support a range of activities across the arts, museums and libraries – from theatre to visual art, reading to dance, music to literature, and crafts to collections. Great art and culture inspires us, brings us together and teaches us about ourselves and the world around us. In short, it makes life better. Between 2018 and 2022, we will invest £1.45 billion of public money from government and an estimated £860 million from the National Lottery to help create these experiences for as many people as possible across the country. www.artscouncil.org.uk National Dance Company Wales National Dance Company Wales makes brilliant dance with and for all kinds of people in all kinds of places, from Welsh town halls and community spaces to international stages and festivals. We dance indoors, outdoors and online. As a repertory company, we create work by a range of choreographers to reflect different perspectives and find new ways of dancing. With innovation, creativity, imagination and care, we help Wales and its communities to flourish. Because we believe in the power of dance, we share our passion for the artform. We create new possibilities of what dance can be so that more people can make, watch, participate in and learn about dance in Wales and across the world.

Links - Thursday 08 October, 2020 Feature - Edward Watson, Royal Ballet: Lyndsey Winship, Guardian Streaming Review - New York City Ballet, Modern Innovations mixed programme: David Mead, Seeing Dance Exhibition Feature - Michael Clark: Cosmic Dancer, London: Emily May, Stage News/Preview - World Ballet Day 2020 announced: Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper News - A digital Ailey season celebrates Revelations at 60: Peter Libbey, NY Times Feature - In India, a dance haven shuts out the world: Marina Harss, NY Times News - Opera North and Northern Ballet return home to Leeds Grand Theatre: Andrew Hutchinson, Yorkshire Evening Post News - Elmhurst Ballet School students help the environment in new sustainable uniform: News Desk, Broadway World

BALLET STUDENTS CATCH THE PERFECT UNIFORM As Elmhurst Ballet School students are training daily towards their career in dance, they are also helping the environment in a new uniform made of sustainable fabrics that originate from ocean waste and abandoned fishing nets. Elmhurst Ballet School is based in Edgbaston, Birmingham and is a world-renowned centre of excellence in association with Birmingham Royal Ballet. It prepares talented young dancers aged between 11 and 19 to take their places on the world stage. Late in 2019, Elmhurst and dancewear supplier Dancing Boutique met to discuss making changes to its dance uniform for almost 200 students across its Lower and Upper Schools. Excited by the challenge, Dancing Boutique, who also provide uniforms for the Elmhurst Young Dancers weekend programme, turned to British designer, producer, and retailer Dansez for their Healthy Seas initiative and eco-friendly fabric to help create something special for the Birmingham school. Designs featuring the sustainable fabrics were submitted, samples produced and after Elmhurst’s approval, Dansez went into production in early 2020. Dansez, often cited as the benchmark in quality and design for British made dance, ballet and fitness clothes, is an ethical and planet friendly business. In 2018, with the aim to significantly reduce the impact of dancewear fashion on the environment, Dansez became a partner of the Healthy Seas initiative and the first dancewear producer to use sustainable fabrics originating from ocean waste. The regenerated fabrics come from the 640,000 tons of ghost fishing nets found on and around shipwrecks and reefs. Highly important places for marine wildlife, millions of animals, including dolphins, seals, turtles and birds suffer because of entanglement in the nets, leading to serious injuries or death. Dansez financially contributes towards the recovery of the ocean waste through specialist diving expeditions around the world, carried out by over 170 volunteer Healthy Seas’ divers. Through a unique purification process, over 510 tons of the recovered nylon fishing nets have been regenerated with other nylon waste to become ECONYL® Fibre. ECONYL, created by Aquafil, a leader in the synthetic fibres industry, has been used for Elmhurst’s new uniform. Kate Curtis, owner of Dancing Boutique, said: “We have a passion for quality, design and style and work with both leading UK and international brands, as well as many smaller manufacturers who can supply unique designs or materials that we know dancers will love. We felt Dancing Boutique’s values very much aligned with those of Elmhurst and Dansez. It has been a real pleasure working on this project and we hope the dancers and the school love the finished product.” Samantha Carney, Managing Director of Dansez, said: “At Dansez it is paramount we design and produce beautiful clothes that all dancers will enjoy wearing. Dance clothes should be a joy to wear, to train and perform in. We pride ourselves on the fit and the finished product feeling so good that dancers should hardly know they are wearing them. We are delighted to work with Dancing Boutique and Elmhurst to design a new uniform that features these wonderful sustainable fabrics. Together we have made an environmental contribution that ensures the Elmhurst uniform is part of a circular economy, where waste is brought back to life in such a beautiful art form as ballet.” Jessica Wheeler, Principal of Elmhurst Ballet School, added: “It has been a few years since we updated the uniform and we wanted to introduce more colours in the palette so each year group had their own identity in class. The sustainable aspect is part of a wider commitment to significantly play our part in creating a better environment. We have upgraded all lighting to energy-saving LED and our caterers Holroyd Howe have launched their Future Proof Food initiative at school. We have engaged a world leading provider of recycling services and encouraged students to think about a sustainable future through a student climate council. With this and the stunning new uniforms we hope our students have a successful career in dance and a greener future too.” Photo credit of Year 12 students in their new sustainable uniforms: Alice Gibbins

Links - Wednesday 07 October, 2020 Feature - Kevin O’Hare, Director Royal Ballet: Hope Coke, Tatler Exhibition Reviews - Michael Clark: Cosmic Dancer, London: Mark Monahan, Telegraph Claire Armistead, Guardian Interview - Kate Coyne (Michael Clark Company Associate Director): Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper News - Jacob’s Pillow expands virtual programs and welcomes artists back: Staff, iBerkshires News - Celebrated dancer Brenda Last OBE to teach online for the first time: News Desk, Broadway World Feature - Paris Opera Ballet ponders blackface as it tackles ballet’s race problem: France24 via AFP Feature - Grimethorpe Colliery Band’s link to dance collaboration: Staff, 4barsrest

PRESS RELEASE For immediate release — 6/10/2020 Cleo Nordi on the cover of the bbodance magazine, The Dancer in September 1928 / Brenda Last at her OBE investiture / Isabella Gasparini © Royal Opera House After 50 years of studio teaching, Brenda Last OBE will deliver her first online masterclass! After more than 50 years of teaching in studios around the world, Brenda Last OBE, a former Principal of Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet in London (now Birmingham Royal Ballet), will deliver her first-ever online masterclass this October. Miss Last created this masterclass because, in her words, "I saw the poster of Cleo Nordi in the foyer at bbodance on the front of The Dancer magazine and thought, that ties in well to a film I have of her coaching me on the 'Pizzicato' Solo from Sylvia. I thought I could teach that to a Royal Ballet dancer in the bbodance studio and then we can Zoom the class out to the world. We have to look to the past to make the future better!" The theme of the masterclass is passing on Ballet Repertoire through one-on-one tuition. Miss Last will coach Royal Ballet Soloist, Isabella Gasparini, in the 'Pizzicato' Solo that she learned early in her career from Cleo Nordi, a Pavlova Company Soloist. Unusual for the time, Miss Last's coaching with Miss Nordi was partially captured on film. After 50 years of teaching, Miss Last is once again on the forefront of technology used in dance, but this time on a much wider scale. The masterclass will be live-streamed in a COVID-secure manner, with minimum staff, from the headquarters of bbodance, a 90-year-old international dance awarding organisation of whom Miss Last is Patron. The masterclass is open to all dance students, teachers, and lovers of the art form and will be especially interesting to students of Dance and Ballet History. A celebrated British soubrette and a pillar of the bbodance community for more than 60 years, Miss Last has inspired countless students and instilled in them a lifelong love of dance. Miss Gasparini will be joining her with the kind permission of The Royal Ballet Director, Kevin O'Hare. The masterclass will be accompanied on the piano by Miss Last's husband, musician Stephen Lade. The launch of this masterclass comes shortly after bbodance's recent announcement that, to support its students and teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic, it has moved its tuition completely online for the first time in its 90-year history. The offering includes a full week of intensive online classes during half term. bbodance celebrated its 90th anniversary this spring, also in an online format. About Brenda Last OBE Born in London in 1938, Brenda Last, ARAD, F bbodance, OBE trained with highly regarded teachers such as Vera Volkova and at the Royal Ballet School. In 1957 she was one of the founder members of Western Theatre Ballet, which later became Scottish Ballet. Miss Last joined The Royal Ballet In 1963 and became Principal two years later, dancing all the major roles and appearing in Frederick Ashton’s film, The Tales Of Beatrix Potter. Miss Last was subsequently appointed Ballet Mistress and Répétiteur to the Company. Between 1977 and 1980, Miss Last was Artistic Director of Norwegian National Ballet. Returning to London, Miss Last taught throughout the world for the Royal Academy of Dance and gave classes to the English National, Scottish, Royal New Zealand and Australian Ballet Companies. Miss Last subsequently joined the faculty of the London Contemporary Dance School, where the first degrees in dance in Europe were awarded, and worked extensively with the Noriko Kobayashi Ballet in Tokyo, where she mounted works from The Royal Ballet’s repertoire. Brenda Last is a Patron and Fellow of bbodance; she was a Trustee of The Royal Ballet Benevolent Fund for 30 years and has been an Advisor for the Arts Council of Great Britain. In 2012, Miss Last was awarded an OBE in The Queen's Birthday Honours List for her services to Dance. In February 2017, she received the Jane Attenborough One Dance UK Industry Award. About bbodance Founded in 1930 by Edouard Espinosa and formerly known as the British Ballet Organization (BBO), bbodance is an international dance awarding organisation with a large membership in the UK and Australasia. bbodance provides Ofqual-recognised syllabi in Musical Theatre, Jazz, Contemporary, Classical Ballet, Modern, and Tap, as well as comprehensive teacher training and inspiring events. bbodance Patrons include Strictly Come Dancing Judge, Craig Revel Horwood, former Artistic Director of Rambert, Mark Baldwin OBE, and BRB Principal, Brandon Lawrence, a former bbodance Scholar.