Jan McNulty

Links - Saturday, February 21, 2015 Obituary – John Hart, Royal Ballet dancer, AD Ballet West: Kathy Adams, Salt Lake Tribune Reviews – Martha Graham Dance Company, programmes of new and old works, New York: Deborah Jowitt, Arts Journal Martha Sherman, Danceview Times Review – Birmingham Royal Ballet, Moving Stateside, Birmingham: Kerry Assinder, Birmingham Mail Preview – Sarasota Ballet, Tribute to Nureyev, Sarasota: Carrie Seidman, Sarasota Herald Tribune Review – Kyle Abraham, Pavement, San Francisco: Allan Ulrich, SF Chronicle Review – Washington Ballet, Sleepy Hollow, Washington: Sarah Kaufman, Washington Post Review – Ballet Rakatan, Havana Rakatan, New York: Gia Kourlas, NY Times Feature – Black Choreographers Festival, Bay Area: Irene Hsaio, SF Weekly Review – Will Rawls and Kaitlyn Gilliland, Dance Dialogue, New York: Deborah Jowitt, NY Times Feature – Lemi Ponifasio, I AM, Auckland: Stephen Jewell, NZ Herald Preview – Antony Hamilton & Alisdair Mcindoe, Meeting, Melbourne: Philippa Hawker, Sydney Morning Herald Review – Carol Henning, Blood on the Veil, New York: Sondra Forsyth, Broadway World Featurette - Where we live: The Art of Dance, Bay Area: Jami C Smith, Mercury News

Sad news indeed.

I think the Lennon ballet (which I can't believe I forgot about) is called The Dream is Over. And of course let's not forget such masterpieces as Sgt Early's Dream, Ghost Dances, Hush ... the list goes on!

I don't know how long you are going for B3 but when not at the ballet I love the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek (one of my top 3 museums) and the hot houses at the Botanic Gardens. I think it is too early in the year for a boat trip on the canals but Copenhagen is a lovely city to wander around! I am seriously jealous of your trip.

I saw it many times with the original cast who were truly breath-taking. ENB did IIRC a 2 week season at Sadler's Wells comprising a week of Christopher Bruce's Cruel Garden with Koen Onzia as The Poet, Matz Skoog as the Moon and Martin James as the Bull (wow oh wow - what a cast that was!) and a mixed programme which included the premiere of Swan Song. I was at the Saturday matinee, not on the front row, and I will never forget that performance. The production was televised with the original cast by, I think, Channel 4 and, most unusually for me, I found it just as powerful on the tv. It was filmed in a studio, rather than a filmed performance. I did see at least one other cast with ENB that included Simon Cooper, who really grew into this role during his Rambert years. I saw many permutations of Rambert casts over the years it was performed. There is one that, for me, matched the original cast - Thomasin Gulgec (prisoner) with Alex Whitley and Eryck Brahmania. As Two Pigeons says on the "new Swan Lake for RB thread" we were so lucky with the very exciting rep that Peter Schaufuss brought to the Company as AD. His arrival as AD came just after I had discovered "ballet watching" and it is only as I look back over the past 30 years that I realise just how lucky I was to be watching the company then with its wonderful roster of dancers and such an amazing rep. Just to remind readers, I had started watching contemporary dance in the mid-1970s and I did not start enjoying watching ballet until 1984. Because of this I thought I had died and gone to heaven when Peter Schaufuss brought Christopher Bruce in as an Associate choreographer. I well remember Land (which Rambert have also performed), The World Again and a glorious version of Symphony in 3 Movements as well as Swan Song and the revived Cruel Garden (which had been made for Rambert). My specs have steamed up with the emotion of glorious memories so I will stop now!

I know a certain Canadian lady who was there!!! Did you enjoy it Katherine???

The Makarova Swan Lake premiered in 1987 (autumn).

Actually Alison, it never even went on sale. It was pulled from the Spring tour because of poor ticket sales on the Autumn tour, not because of poor Liverpool sales. Who knows, it could have sold out in Liverpool!!!

The Makarova production premiered in Bradford and Sir Frederick Ashton was still very much alive as Ms Makarova persuaded him to join her on stage during the curtain calls. It was a very exciting evening and that was the icing on the cake! Maybe he had passed away before the London premiere.

Hello TillieJ and welcome out of the lurking shadows. Sorry to hear you had such a negative experience, but thanks for sharing. I hope you will continue to join in now that you have broken the posting ice!

Thanks for the link PJW - very useful and interesting.

If you google "Financial Times Onegin" a link for the review shows up. You should be able to access it that way: https://www.google.co.uk/?gws_rd=ssl#q=financial+times+onegin

Press Release from Northern Ballet: Yorkshire-born ballet star Xander Parish to perform at Northern Ballet’s Sapphire Gala Northern Ballet is delighted to announce that Xander Parish, Second Soloist with The Mariinsky Ballet, will join the line-up of international ballet stars at Northern Ballet’s 45th anniversary Sapphire Gala. Yorkshire-born Xander joined The Mariinsky Ballet at the age of 23 and is the Company’s first and only British dancer. He will perform a solo at the Sapphire Gala on 14 March 2015 at Leeds Grand Theatre where guest artists from The Royal Ballet, The Australian Ballet, The Hamburg Ballet and Phoenix Dance Theatre will also join Northern Ballet on stage. Hailing from East Yorkshire, Xander trained in Hull before attending the Royal Ballet Lower and Upper Schools. While at Upper School he won second prize at the Young British Dancer of the Year Award and a silver medal at the Genée International Ballet Competition. On graduating, he joined The Royal Ballet before being invited to join The Mariinsky Ballet in 2009. With The Mariinsky Ballet he has toured internationally performing a varied repertoire and was the recipient of the Best Young Male Dancer Award at the 2014 Taglioni European Ballet Awards and won the award for Outstanding Male Dancer (Classical) at the 2014 National Dance Awards. David Nixon said: ‘Xander is an immense talent and a rising star on the international stage and we are thrilled that he will be joining us at our Sapphire Gala. This is a unique opportunity for audiences in the region to see one of Yorkshire’s own perform in his home county. I would like to thank him and The Mariinsky Ballet for giving up his time to help Northern Ballet mark this important milestone in our history.’ Tickets for the Sapphire Gala are now on sale at the Leeds Grand Theatre Box Office on 0844 848 2700 orleedsgrandtheatre.com and are priced from £25-£75, including a complimentary commemorative programme. Northern Ballet will also host a special fundraising dinner in the prestigious Howard Assembly Rooms following the performance. The dinner will be a special opportunity to support one of the UK’s most loved ballet companies. The Sapphire Gala Fundraising Dinner package includes a pre-performance reception with champagne and canapés, premium dress circle tickets for the performance, an indulgent three course meal with wine, a luxury gift bag for each guest and the chance to participate in the Gala auction, with a host of exclusive items available. The dinner package for a table of 10 guests is available at £2,500. Individual tickets for the dinner are available although these are limited. To book a table or to find out more about the ways in which you could support the Gala please contact Abi Walton, Development Manager: Corporates and Individuals at abi.walton@northernballet.com. *Casting is subject to change without notice. -ENDS-

Links - Wednesday, February, 18 2015 News – English National Ballet, 2015/16 Season: DanceTabs Review – Royal Ballet, Onegin (Golding/Osipova), London: Clement Crisp, FT Feature – Tamara Rojo: Judith Mackrell, Guardian Review – Dresden Semperoper Ballet, Tristan and Isolde, Dresden: Roslyn Sulcas, NY Times Review – Martha Graham Dance Company, Satyric Festival Song, Embattled Garden, Lamentation Variations, Rust, Chronicle, New York: Marianne Adams, Danceview Times Review – Ballet Arizona, Napoli, Phoenix: Herbert Paine, Broadway World Review – Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, After the Rain, Revelations, Atlanta: Robert Myers, Broadway World Interview – Hubert Essakow, Choreographer and curator of the 1898 Dance Festival: DanceTabs Blog post – Can dance be edited?: Judith Mackrell, Guardian Feature – Ashley Page: Kate Molleson, Herald Scotland Review – Joffrey Ballet, Unique Voices, Chicago: Rachel Popa, Roosevelt Torch Review – Ballet Next, Baroque’d programme, New York: Lauren Wingenroth, Broadway World Review – Douglas Dunn and Dancers, Aidos, New York: Martha Sherman, Danceview Times Interview – Marisa Gruneberg: Barnett Serchuk, Broadway World Review – Gala Flamenca, London: Judith Mackrell, Guardian Preview – Contra-Tiempo, Full Still Hungry, Miami: Jordan Levin, Miami Herald

I think because past experience has shown that of the classical ballets brought to Liverpool only Swan Lake. Nutcracker and Coppelia sell well (unless it is a Russian company bringing them!). And with head hung in shame I say that as a Scouser!

I've got to admit that I was absolutely lost for words when I read that Corsaire is coming here. I shall, of course, be going!

I hate missing the curtain calls but just occasionally I have had to leave as the curtain dropped to run for the train.

The press release from ENB in full: English National Ballet 15/16 Season · She Said, a new triple bill of female choreography at Sadler’s Wells, featuring world premieres from Aszure Barton, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa and Yabin Wang. · Lest We Forget returns with performances at Sadler’s Wells, Milton Keynes and Manchester · Le Corsaire returns with performances at the London Coliseum and Liverpool · Rudolf Nureyev’s Romeo & Juliet embarks on a national tour · Swan Lake in-the-round at the Royal Albert Hall · Following its most successful Winter season on record, English National Ballet’s Nutcracker returns to the London Coliseum English National Ballet, winner of Outstanding Company at the Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards, today announces its 2015/2016 season. In April 2016, English National Ballet presents She Said, a new triple bill dedicated to female choreography at Sadler’s Wells. The programme includes three world premieres from, Aszure Barton, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, and Yabin Wang. Of She Said Tamara Rojo, Artistic Director of English National Ballet said: I have wanted to present an evening dedicated to female choreographers for some time now, and I am thrilled to be working with these incredibly talented women, who are some of the most exciting creative voices working in dance today. I have been following Aszure, Annabelle and Yabin’s careers for a while and I am delighted that they are each going to create new work for English National Ballet. Barton’s credits include some of the world’s best dance companies and artists, including Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Sydney Dance Company. Lopez Ochoa has created work for a number of companies around the world. Her version of A Streetcar Named Desire for Scottish Ballet won the South Bank Sky Arts Award for Best New Production, the Critic’s Circle National Dance Award for Best Classical Choreography, and was nominated for an Olivier Award. Wang has created a number of works for her own Company, Yabin & her Friends, as well as internationally renowned choreographers including Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, who said of Wang, “I am not only amazed by her versatility as an accomplished young dancer, choreographer and producer, but I am also impressed by her creative ideas and unrelenting pursuit of arts.” Originally commissioned to commemorate the centenary of the First World War, Lest We Forget returns to London with performances at Sadler’s Wells (8 - 12 September), and tours to Milton Keynes (20 October), and Manchester (24 November). Featuring works from three British choreographers; Akram Khan’s Dust, winner of Best Modern Choreography at the Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards, looks at the empowerment of women in war and how women became the main workforce in the country; Russell Maliphant’s Second Breath is about the sacrifice of men in war; and No Man’s Land by Liam Scarlett, explores relationships in war and the loss and longing felt by women left behind by their partners. Last year just under 50,000 people saw an English National Ballet performance on its Autumn tour. This year alongside Lest We Forget, the Company’s Autumn 2015 national tour includes Rudolf Nureyev’s award-winningRomeo & Juliet, which tours to Bristol (14 - 17 October), Milton Keynes (22 – 23 October), Southampton (28 - 31 October), and Manchester (26 - 28 November). Of the Autumn tour, Tamara Rojo, Artistic Director of English National Ballet said: “Taking world-class ballet to audiences outside of London is something I think is truly important, and I am very proud that this season we will present both full scale ballets and new works. We cannot wait to take Lest We Forget, our award-winning triple bill created to commemorate the centenary of the First World War, to audiences in Milton Keynes and Manchester; as well as our critically acclaimed production Le Corsaire, and Rudolf Nureyev’s beautiful Romeo & Juliet, to audiences up and down the country. English National Ballet’s Le Corsaire, makes a welcome return to the stage with performances in Liverpool (18 - 21 November) and at the London Coliseum (13 - 24 January 2016). The only UK Company to perform the full work, English National Ballet will release Le Corsaire on DVD with pre-order from 11am on Tuesday 17 March 2016, and to purchase from Monday 30 March 2016. Following English National Ballet’s most successful Winter season on record, where over 105,000 peoplecame to see Nutcracker and Swan Lake reaching a capacity of 94%, Nutcracker returns to the London Coliseum (16 December - 10 January), continuing the Company’s tradition of presenting a Nutcrackerproduction each year since its inception. Raymond Gubbay and the Royal Albert Hall present Derek Deane’s Swan Lake in-the-round at the Royal Albert Hall from the 1 - 12 June 2016. Set to Tchaikovsky’s classic score, played live by English National Ballet Philharmonic, this spectacular staging - the largest production of its kind in the world - features over 120 performers including 60 swans taking to the stage. English National Ballet is committed to making ballet accessible to everyone. In partnership with the English National Ballet School, the My First Ballet series takes a popular ballet title and reworks it for an audience as young as three. Next season My First Ballet: Sleeping Beauty, choreographed by George Williamson, English National Ballet’s Associate Artist and graduate of the English National Ballet School, will premiere at the Peacock Theatre in London before going on a national tour. In March 2016 Emerging Dancer returns for its seventh year. The competition remains vital to the development of English National Ballet’s younger dancers as the competing dancers perform in front of a panel of eminent judges. The winner is announced at the end of the evening together with the recipient of the People’s Choice Award, which is voted for by members of the public. Last year English National Ballet announced plans to increase its international touring, which continues into next season with performances in Madrid and Barcelona. Upon invitation from the Paris Opera Ballet, the Company will also take Le Corsaire to the Palais Garnier in June 2016. On sale dates: Lest We Forget General Public: Tuesday 17 February 2015 Romeo & Juliet; Le Corsaire; and Nutcracker English National Ballet Members: Tuesday 17 February 2015 General Public: Monday 23 February 2015 Swan Lake in-the-round General Public: Thursday 26 February 2015 Le Corsaire on DVD Pre-order: Tuesday 17 February 2016 To buy: Monday 30 March 2016 www.ballet.org.uk/ownlecorsaire Emerging Dancer TBA My First Ballet: Sleeping Beauty TBA She Said November 2015 For further information, interview requests and images please contact Robert James, PR Manager atrobert.james@ballet.org.uk or call 020 7590 2933. For further information about English National Ballet and to book tickets visit www.ballet.org.uk. Please note performance details are subject to change. Full details of the 15/16 season: Lest We Forget Tuesday 8 September - Tuesday 24 November 2015 National Tour **** “a brave and brilliant move from artistic director Tamara Rojo” Evening Standard Following a critically acclaimed run at the Barbican in 2014, English National Ballet takes Lest We Forget on a national tour to Sadler’s Wells (8 - 12 September), Milton Keynes Theatre (20 October), and the Palace Theatre, Manchester (24 November). A poignant reflection on World War 1, Lest We Forget features three works by British choreographers expressing the experiences of those who fought in the war, and those who stayed behind. Dust, by Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist Akram Khan, looks at the empowerment of women in war and how women became the main workforce in the country; Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist Russell Maliphant’s Second Breath is about the sacrifice of men in war; and No Man’s Land by Liam Scarlett, explores relationships in war and the loss and longing felt by women left behind by their partners. Romeo & Juliet Wednesday 14 October - Saturday 28 November 2015 National Tour ***** “This is the most deeply romantic of all versions, and the most tragic.” Daily Express English National Ballet takes Rudolf Nureyev’s award-winning Romeo & Juliet on a national tour to the Bristol Hippodrome (14 - 17 October), Milton Keynes Theatre (22 - 24 October), The Mayflower Theatre, Southampton (28 - 31 October), and the Palace Theatre, Manchester (26 - 28 November). The world’s greatest love story, Romeo & Juliet features inventive, passionate choreography set to Prokofiev’s score performed live by English National Ballet Philharmonic. Amidst the grandeur of the Capulet’s ball, the star-crossed lovers meet, unleashing a fateful sequence of events, from the romantic balcony scene to their tragic final embrace. Full of action, humour and drama, Rudolf Nureyev’s award-winning production of Romeo & Juliet was originally created for English National Ballet in 1977 to celebrate the Queen’s Silver Jubilee. The Company has since performed it worldwide to critical acclaim. Le Corsaire Wednesday 18 November 2015 - Sunday 24 January 2016 National Tour ***** “ENB’s Corsaire…is a roaring success.” Financial Times Following its five-star premiere in 2013, English National Ballet’s production of Le Corsaire returns with performances at the Liverpool Empire (18 - 21 November), and a two week run at the London Coliseum (13 - 24 January). Le Corsaire, follows the escapades of Conrad, a pirate, who journeys across high seas to save his harem girl, Medora. It is a swashbuckling fantasy tale of captive maidens and cutthroats, love and betrayal, and deception and conspiracy, culminating in one of the most breath-taking spectacles in ballet. The first UK Company to perform the complete work, English National Ballet’s production features sets and costumes by Hollywood film designer Bob Ringwood, whose film credits include Batman, Alien 3, and Troy. Nutcracker Wednesday 16 December 2015 - Sunday 10 January 2016 London Coliseum Nutcracker returns to the London Coliseum this Christmas. First performed in 2010 to celebrate English National Ballet’s 60th anniversary, Wayne Eagling’s version has since been seen by over 370,000 people. Featuring over 100 dancers and musicians, Nutcracker is set in a world of Edwardian elegance taking audiences on a journey with Clara, her Nutcracker doll and the magician Drosselmeyer, set to Tchaikovsky’s soaring score performed by English National Ballet Philharmonic. This is English National Ballet’s 11th production of Nutcracker since it performed its first full length production in 1950, its founding year. Since then, English National Ballet has established the tradition of performing Nutcracker at Christmas every year. Emerging Dancer Monday 14 March 2016 Venue TBA English National Ballet’s annual Emerging Dancer competition enters its seventh year, recognising rising dance talent and excellence within the company. A group of promising dancers perform in front of an eminent panel of judges, before one receives the 2016 Emerging Dancer Award. The winner is announced at the end of the evening together with the recipient of the People’s Choice Award, which is voted for by members of the public. Emerging Dancer is generously supported by Talbot Hughes McKillop, the restructuring experts. My First Ballet: Sleeping Beauty Wednesday 16 March - Sunday 29 May 2016 National Tour Making ballet accessible to an audience as young as three, the My First Ballet series, a joint venture between English National Ballet and English National Ballet School, continues with a new production of My First Ballet: Sleeping Beauty. Choreographed by George Williamson, English National Ballet’s Associate Artist and former member of the English National Ballet School, My First Ballet: Sleeping Beauty opens at the Peacock Theatre in London’s West End, My First Ballet: Sleeping Beauty then embarks on a national tour, visiting seven venues around the country. She Said Tuesday 12 April - Sunday 17 April 2016 Sadler’s Wells With a focus on female choreography, She Said sees new works from three internationally renowned choreographers: Aszure Barton, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, and Yabin Wang Between them, Barton, Lopez Ochoa and Wang’s credits include some of the world’s best dance companies and artists, from Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Sydney Dance Company (Barton), to Scottish Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, Ballet Nacional de Cuba and Pacific Northwest Ballet (Lopez Ochoa), and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui (Wang). More details of the programme to be announced shortly. Swan Lake in-the-round Wednesday 1 - Sunday 12 June 2016 Royal Albert Hall Raymond Gubbay and the Royal Albert Hall present Derek Deane’s Swan Lake in-the-round at the Royal Albert Hall. The largest production of its kind, it features over 120 dancers, and has delighted audiences around the world since its premiere in 1997. With Tchaikovsky’s classic score played by the English National Ballet Philharmonic, this production features acrobats, jugglers and 60 swans gliding across the stage within the splendour of the Royal Albert Hall. Notes to Editors LISTINGS INFORMATION FOR THE 15/16 SEASON Lest We Forget Sadler’s Wells, London 8 – 12 September 2015 Box Office: 0844 412 4300 or www.ballet.org.uk/lestweforget Tickets: £12 - £45 Romeo & Juliet Bristol Hippodrome 14 – 17 October 2015 Box Office: 0844 871 3012 or www.ballet.org.uk/romeoandjuliet Tickets: £9 - £45 Lest We Forget Milton Keynes Theatre 20 October 2015 Box Office: 0844 871 7652 or www.ballet.org.uk/lestweforget Tickets: £9 - £35 Romeo & Juliet Milton Keynes Theatre 22 – 24 October 2015 Box Office: 0844 871 7652 or www.ballet.org.uk/romeoandjuliet Tickets: £9 - £45 Romeo & Juliet The Mayflower Theatre, Southampton 28 - 31 October 2015 Box Office: 023 8071 1811 or www.ballet.org.uk/romeoandjuliet Tickets: £10.75 - £48.50 Le Corsaire Liverpool Empire 18 – 21 November 2015 Box Office: 0844 871 3017 or www.ballet.org.uk/lecorsaire Tickets: £9 - £40 Lest We Forget Palace Theatre, Manchester 24 November Box Office: 0844 871 3019 or www.ballet.org.uk/lestweforget Tickets: £9 - £35 Romeo & Juliet Palace Theatre, Manchester 26 – 28 November 2015 Box Office: 0844 871 3019 or www.ballet.org.uk/romeoandjuliet Tickets: £9 - £40 Nutcracker London Coliseum 16 December 2015 – 10 January 2016 Box Office: 020 7845 9300 or www.ballet.org.uk/nutcracker Tickets: £14 - £79 Le Corsaire London Coliseum 13 – 24 January 2016 Box Office: 020 7845 9300 or www.ballet.org.uk/lecorsaire Tickets: £14 - £79 Emerging Dancer Venue and tickets TBA My First Ballet: Sleeping Beauty Peacock Theatre, London 24 March – 3 April 2016 On sale Spring 2015 She Said Sadler’s Wells, London 12 – 17 April 2016 On sale Autumn 2015 My First Ballet: Sleeping Beauty The Orchard, Dartford 16 & 17 April 2016 On sale Spring 2015 My First Ballet: Sleeping Beauty New Theatre, Oxford 30 April & 1 May 201 On sale Spring 2015 My First Ballet: Sleeping Beauty Bristol Hippodrome 21 & 22 May 2016 On sale Spring 2015 My First Ballet: Sleeping Beauty New Victoria Theatre, Woking 28 & 29 May 2016 On sale Spring 2015 More venues and dates for My First Ballet: Sleeping Beauty to be announced shortly Swan Lake in-the-round Royal Albert Hall, London 1 – 12 June 2016 Box Office: 0845 401 5045 or www.ballet.org.uk/swanlake Tickets: £19.50 - £70 About English National Ballet English National Ballet brings world-class classical ballet to the widest possible audience - delighting them with the traditional and inspiring them with the new. We aspire to be the United Kingdom’s most exciting and creative ballet company. www.ballet.org.uk Winner of Outstanding Company at Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards 2014 Modern Masters opens on 10 Mar until 15 Mar at Sadler’s Wells. Emerging Dancer is on 23 Mar at Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre. My First Ballet: Swan Lake opens on 2 Apr until 23 May and tours throughout the UK.Choreographics opens on 18 Jun until 20 June at the Lilian Baylis Studio, Sadler's Wells. Details about these productions, Principal casting, our forthcoming season and to book tickets visit www.ballet.org.uk. You can also follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/enballet [@ENBallet], Instagram at www.instagram.com/englishnationalballet, Facebook at www.facebook.com/EnglishNationalBallet and YouTube at www.youtube.com/enballet

I've just found this Stage article via twitter. While not ballet specific it makes a good case for cheaper seats: http://www.thestage.co.uk/opinion/shenton/2015/02/welcome-to-the-cheap-seats-if-you-can-find-one/?utm_content=buffer9583a&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Good luck MAB!

Here's a feature on the BRB Mackays: http://www.milngavieherald.co.uk/news/local-headlines/from-the-local-church-hall-to-the-royal-ballet-1-3691426

UK PREMIERE Alain Platel, Fabrizio Cassol, Rodriguez Vangama & Serge Kakudji COUP FATAL Sadler’s Wells, EC1R Thursday 4 – Saturday 6 June Performances: Thur - Sat at 7.30pm Tickets: £12 - £27 Ticket Office: 0844 412 4300 or www.sadlerswells.com Sadler’s Wells hosts the UK premiere of Alain Platel, Fabrizio Cassol, Rodriguez Vangama and Serge Kakudji’s Coup Fatal from Thursday 4 – Saturday 6 June 2015. Coup Fatal features Congolese counter-tenor Serge Kakudji, with an orchestra of 12 musicians from Kinshasa integrating Baroque phrases with traditional and popular Congolese music, rock and jazz. Inspired by the grand gestures of the rakish ‘sapeurs’ - the dandies of Kinshasa - Coup Fatal’soriginal music is enriched with the diversity of the musicians, and with the vocals of Serge Kakudji, a whole new contemporary world is created, both in music and image. With an energetic and entertaining edge, Coup Fatal features guitar player Rodriguez Vangama and musical direction by Brussels composer Fabrizio Cassol, while director Alain Platel and dancer Romain Guion seek to give the piece its theatrical form. The set is designed in collaboration with artist Freddy Tsimba, who creates vast, disturbing sculptures using cartridge cases which he collects in Congolese war zones. Director Alain Platel was born in 1956, in Ghent. He trained as a remedial educationalist and is an autodidact director. In 1984 he set up a small group with friends and relatives and together produced a range of works including Emma (1998), Bonjour Madame (1993), La Tristeza Complice(1995), Iets op Bach (1998) with les ballets C de la B, and collaborations with Arne SierensMoeder en Kind (1995), Bernadetje (1996) and Allemaal Indiaan (1999). After Wolf (2003), Platel’s choir project for the opening of the new KVS marked the start of close collaboration with composer Fabrizio Cassol. Their first collaboration was vsprs (2006); in 2008 they worked together for pitié! where they first met Serge Kakudji. Coup Fatal reunites the trio once again. Platel’s other works include Nine Finger (2007), Out of Context – for Pina andGardenia (2010). His biggest project C(H)ŒURS in 2012 was created on demand of opera director Gerard Mortier and with dancers and the choir, examines how dangerously beautiful a group can be. He also entered the arena of the dance film together with British director Sophie Fiennes, Because I Sing(2001), Ramallah!Ramallah!Ramallah! (2005), VSPRS Show and Tell (2007) and solo de balletten en ci en lá (2006). An Artistic platform for a variety of choreographers, les ballets C de la B enables artists from various disciplines and backgrounds to take part in the creative process, upholding its motto ‘this dance is for the world and the world is for everyone’. A free post-show talk (BSL-interpreted) will take place on Thursday 4 June, on stage Notes to Editors: Listings information Alain Platel, Fabrizio Cassol, Rodriguez Vangama & Serge Kakudji Coup Fatal Sadler’s Wells, EC1R Thursday 4 – Saturday 6 June 2015 Free post-show talk (BSL interpreted): Thursday 4 June, on stage Performances: Thur – Sat at 7.30pm Tickets: £12 - £27 Ticket office: 0844 412 4300 / www.sadlerswells.com About Sadler’s Wells Sadler's Wells is a world leader in contemporary dance, committed to producing, commissioning and presenting new works and to bringing the very best international and UK dance to London 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. Since 2005 it has helped to bring over 90 new dance works to the stage and its international award-winning commissions and collaborative productions regularly tour the world. Sadler’s Wells supports 16 appointed world class Associate Artists and 3 Resident Companies and nurtures the next generation of talent through its National Youth Dance Company, Summer University programme, Wild Card initiative and its New Wave Associates. Located in Islington in north London, the current theatre is the sixth to have stood on the site since it was first built by Richard Sadler in 1683. The venue has played an illustrious role in the history of theatre ever since, with The Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet and English National Opera all having started at Sadler’s Wells. Sadler’s Wells is an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation and currently receives approximately 9% of its revenue from Arts Council England.

Hello Tattielashes and welcome out of the lurking shadows! I can't answer your question but I am sure other members will be able to help. Do let us know how you get on, now that you have broken the posting ice.

Kenny has been a wonderful ambassador for Northern Ballet and has always been a great support for the Friends. I have enjoyed his performances in too many roles to mention them all but in recent years Wadjet (in Cleopatra) and Tom (in Gatsby) spring to mind. For me, I finally realised what a consumate artiste he had become with his creation of Sydney Carton in Cathy Marston's Tale of Two Cities - he was utterly breath-taking and heart-breaking. His Heathcliff in the last revival of Wuthering Heights was quite simply outstanding. He brought something really special to the role and I wept for him. As I hated every last word of the book, which I did for O level and never felt any empathy with any of the characters this was no mean feat! Kenny will be missed by all his fans but I am sure he will have a very successful future as a choreographer and anything else he turns his hand too. Good luck Kenny!

Kenneth Tindall bows out after 14 years with Northern Ballet Northern Ballet’s Premier Dancer, Kenneth Tindall, is to retire from Northern Ballet after 14 years with the Company. One of Britain’s emerging choreographic talents, award-winning Kenneth is moving on to a career as a Freelance Choreographer after gaining recognition for his work with Northern Ballet and other artists. His farewell performance will be as Heathcliff in Claude-Michel Schönberg and David Nixon OBE’s Wuthering Heights at Milton Keynes Theatre at 7.30pm on Saturday 2 May 2015. Performing opposite Kenneth as Heathcliff’s love interest, Cathy, will be Julie Charlet, formerly a First Soloist with Northern Ballet who left in 2013 to join Ballet du Capitole in Toulouse. Julie will return as a Guest Artist especially for Kenneth’s farewell performance. Kenneth originally joined Northern Ballet in 2000 after training at the Central School of Ballet. After a year each with The Israel Ballet and K Ballet, he re-joined Northern Ballet in 2003 working his way up to the rank of Premier Dancer under the directorship of David Nixon OBE. He has performed many leading roles during his career, often dancing alongside his wife, Northern Ballet’s Leading Soloist Hannah Bateman. Some of his most recognisable roles have included Wadjet, a role created on him, in Cleopatra, Dracula in Dracula, Claudius in Hamlet and Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights along with many others. In addition to performing with the Company, Kenneth has also been working as a choreographer since taking part in Northern Ballet’s choreographic workshop in 2011 which resulted in his first piece for the Company, Project #1. Kenneth has since created two further works for Northern Ballet, including Luminous Junc·ture, which was recently performed to sell-out audiences at the Royal Opera House’s Linbury Studio Theatre, and The Architect which premièred in Leeds in June 2014 and will see its London première in May 2015. Kenneth is currently creating a new piece for Northern Ballet which will be premièred at the Company’s 45th anniversary Sapphire Gala at Leeds Grand Theatre on 14 March 2015. Winner of the Bundesjugendballett Production Prize at the 26th Choreography Competition in Hannover and nominated for Best Young Choreographer at the 2014 Taglioni European Ballet Awards, Kenneth’s choreographic work has also seem him collaborate with a variety of people from composers to fashion designers and visual artists, including Linder Sterling. His work has been performed at art fairs and galleries, including the 2014 Frieze Art Fair and Tate St Ives, as well as at Sadler’s Wells and David Lynch’s private club. Northern Ballet’s Artistic Director, David Nixon OBE said: ‘Kenneth has been able to fulfil his potential as a dancer at Northern Ballet performing in a variety of roles. I am very pleased that the creative environment at Northern Ballet has been the catalyst for his promising career as a choreographer. We thank Kenneth for his many contributions to the Company and wish him well with his future journey.’ Kenneth Tindall said: ‘This decision has been a really difficult one to make but I’ve been blessed to have achieved everything that I wanted to as a dancer and now I am excited to move on to the next phase of my career. A dancer’s journey is a hard one and you don’t get there by yourself so I want to say a massive thank you to everyone I’ve ever worked with. Northern Ballet is a special company with incredible people and the bonds we have forged will last forever. It’s been a pleasure and an honour and, though I look forward to moving on to a new challenge, Northern Ballet will always have a special place in my heart.’ Northern Ballet will perform Wuthering Heights at Milton Keynes Theatre from 28 Apr – 2 May 2015, tickets for all performances, including Kenneth’s farewell performance, can be booked at atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes or by calling 0844 871 7652. Tickets for the Sapphire Gala are on sale at leedsgrandtheatre.com or by calling 0844 848 2700. Audiences can see Kenneth Tindall’s The Architect as part of Northern Ballet’s Mixed Programme which will be performed in Leeds and London in May 2015. For more information, visit northernballet.com/mp2015. -ENDS- Notes to Editors For more details of Northern Ballet's tour, on sale dates and booking information, please visit northernballet.com/whatson. Voted Best Company at the 2014 Taglioni European Ballet Awards, Northern Ballet is one of the UK’s five large ballet companies. Based in Leeds it performs throughout the UK as well as overseas. Northern Ballet’s productions mix classical dance and theatre, embracing popular culture and taking inspiration from literature, opera, or giving a unique interpretation of popular classical ballets. Northern Ballet is the busiest touring ballet company in the UK and is typically on the road for around 32 weeks of the year. The Company of 46 dancers tours a combination of full-length new work and established repertoire to cities throughout the UK and is the only large scale ballet company to do so. Northern Ballet will introduce a new strand of touring in 2015, widening the Company’s already extensive reach. The new mid-scale tour will see the Company perform in nine additional venues. Northern Ballet tours widely with its ballets for children, the first three of which were adapted for TV by CBeebies, and also performs a mixed programme showcasing the versatility of its dancers. Visit northernballet.com for more information on the Company and tour. Production images and information are available via the online media centre. For more information on Kenneth Tindall visit kennethtindall.co.uk. Listings Sapphire Gala Leeds Grand Theatre 14 Mar 2015 leedsgrandtheatre.com Box Office 0844 848 2700 On sale now Mixed Programme (incl. The Architect) Leeds, Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre 6 – 9 May 2015 theatreleeds.com Box Office 0113 220 8008 On sale now London, Linbury Studio Theatre 12 – 14 May 2015 roh.org.uk Box Office 0207 304 4000 On sale now Wuthering Heights at Milton Keynes Milton Keynes Theatre 28 Apr – 2 May 2015 atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes Box Office 0844 871 7652 On sale now