Jan McNulty

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Northern Ballet Media Release For Immediate Release 4 July 2012 Northern Ballet shortlisted at White Rose Awards Northern Ballet has been shortlisted for the Arts and Culture Award at Welcome to Yorkshire’s White Rose Awards, the biggest tourism awards in the UK. The award celebrates organisations which engage with new audiences and make a valuable contribution to the local economy. Nominated alongside Northern Ballet for the Arts and Culture Award are the Alhambra Theatre, Bradford, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, The Hepworth Wakefield, The Mercer Art Gallery, Harrogate and Ferens Art Gallery. Winners of each category will not only scoop one of these prestigious accolades, but they are also entered into the national tourism awards next year. Mark Skipper, Chief Executive at Northern Ballet, said: ‘Northern Ballet is a proud ambassador for Yorkshire. We represent Yorkshire’s rich heritage regularly in our national and international tours. Our home in the centre of Leeds allows us the opportunity to bring people of all abilities closer to dance in all its forms. I am delighted that we are being recognised by the White Rose Awards. We have been nominated in an extremely strong category and I am thrilled that Yorkshire is producing such exciting arts and culture at the moment.’ The winners will be announced at an award ceremony at Elland Road’s Centenary Pavilion on Monday 1 October 2012. -ENDS-

It is, IMHO, one long story chopped into three parts. I think the writing style improves slightly and there are some interesting twists in the second and third parts.

Fiz, that is also the explanation on Wiki. I had never heard of fan fiction before and am still not sure I see the point. I thought Twilight was about vampires and 50S most definitely is not!

Fiz, you must let us know when your book is published. I am sure lots of us will want to read it.

I've been enjoying reading everyone else's thoughts about this triple bill. Please keep them coming. For myself, I loved the programme. My first viewing of the Grand Tour was on midscale in Truro. It looked very different on the bigger stage and the music also sounded different with the full-sized orchestra. I must be showing my age but I was aware of most of the characters; the only exceptions being Theda Bara and Gertrude Stein's companion. I really enjoyed the three performances that I saw; it may be a slight piece but there is plenty to enjoy and it is a good evening starter. The company have well settled into its quirkiness and we saw some fabulous performances. Both Victoria Marr and Jade Heuson as the American tourist display a fine sense of both comedy and pathos. I will only ever consider going on a cruise if Steven Monteith or Tom Rogers is the Chief Steward! Iain Mackay is HILARIOUS as Douglas Fairbank and both Callie Roberts and Samara Downs are scintillatingly vampish as Theda Bara (who according to Wiki is the first celebrity described as a vamp!). Faster is an exhilerating roller-coaster of a ride. David Bintley has been very clever indeed in his portrayal of a number of Olympic sports. Carole-Ann Millar as a fencer and runner is jaw-droppingly awesome. I loved the section for the synchronised swimmers and the section where Ambra Vallo seems to start as a high jumper and turns into a gymnast with the help of Jamie Bond and William Bracewell. This is a fantastic display of the dancers strength and grace and it should be included in the Olympics openin and/or closing ceremonies. I love The Dream and I loved the three performances I saw. Nao and Chi just inhabited the roles of Titania and Oberon on Friday evening - for me it was a blissful performance. Natasha Oughtred and William Bracewell were terrific on Saturday afternoon. William Bracewell is surely one to watch, he's already strong with a breath-taking elegance of line and he can act. Natasha is a gorgeous interpreter of Ashton. I don't think I have ever seen such a bouncy impish Puck as Tzu Chao Chou; everyone around me was gasping in amazement at his speed and precision in the scherzo. James Barton, in another cast, is glorious as Puck. Three great performances of a fantastic programme to end my BRB-watching season. Thanks to everyone at BRB for what has been a fantastic season. Roll on the autumn!

I saw the matinee of Early Adventures in Nottingham last week. It was well worth the dreadful journey! The Playhouse is an attractive small theatre and it really suited the works. I adored Spitfire. Ian is correct above, it is mostly the music from the Don Q pdd and I felt that it was a deconstructed version of that pdd (my friend thought I was strange!). We both thought it was really witty and I LOVED the fish dive. Many of the poses and movements reminded me of the pdd. I can but echo Ian's comments on Town and Country. Matthew Bourne has been very clever and included lots of homage, including in Country to Fille - not only with a clog dance but also I found the back cloth reminiscent of the front cloth from Fille. Infernal Galop was a rousing finale to an afternoon of wit and silliness in equal measure.

Thanks for posting Tim - I've merged in the earlier thread too.

I finished Gatsby - it took me less than 8 hours so I think I'll give the play a miss. I'm interested to see how it is going to be turned into a ballet.....

Tim - I hope you are going to post some thoughts on BRB yesterday. I can't get through Dickens; the only one I ever managed was Christmas Carol. There are just tooooooooooo many words. I managed the first nine pages of Far from the Madding Crowd about 10 times before I decided the book wasn't for me! I love the ballet though! I had problems with HUnchback of Notre Dame till a friend gave me an abridged version that had most of the architectural details taken out. The abridged version (still over 400 pages long) was a scintillating and very moving read.

Congratulations to all the promotees on their well-deserved promotions. Good luck to Georgina, Martin and Christie for their future careers.

Northern Ballet Media Release For Immediate Release 29 June 2012 Northern Ballet welcomes ten new dancers for next season Northern Ballet welcomes ten new dancers to the Company for the autumn season and bids a sad farewell to three popular dancers, well-known to Northern Ballet audiences. Five additions to the corps de ballet include Jessica Cohen from California and a graduate of the English National Ballet School, Isaac Lee-Baker and Sean Bates, both graduates of the Royal Ballet School, along with Luisa Rocco from Royal Swedish Ballet and Mark Dennis, a graduate of West Australian Ballet. The Company will take on five apprentices including Mariana Rodrigues from the Royal Ballet School, Olivia Holland and Joseph Taylor, both graduates of Elmhurst School for Dance, and Shanti Mouget from Royal Ballet School of Flanders. Northern Ballet will also welcome Matthew Topliss, a former Northern Ballet Academy student who graduated from Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in partnership with Scottish Ballet this summer. At the end of the summer season three dancers have left the Company to pursue other careers. Premier Dancer Georgina May danced numerous lead roles in her ten years with Northern Ballet and created the roles of Ophelia in Hamlet and Aurora in A Sleeping Beauty Tale, both by David Nixon OBE. Soloist Martin Bell and Coryphèe Christie Duncan, who were married in 2011, joined the Company in 2003 and 2004 respectively. Martin’s many roles included Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Valmont in Dangerous Liaisons and Captain Hook in Peter Pan. Christie roles included Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Clara in The Nutcracker and Nurse in Romeo & Juliet. As the Company reconvenes in late July after the summer break it will comprise a total of 42 dancers. This is the largest the Company will have ever been. The increase is size is due in part to the departure of higher paid dancers at the top end of the Company allowing for more employment at the lower end; the introduction of short term contracts and the successful Sponsor a Dancer Campaign that Northern Ballet launched in October 2011 in response to cuts in public funding of the arts. The campaign – which aimed to retain the Company’s complement of 40 dancers – has garnered huge support and has raised nearly £150k including pledges since its launch. David Nixon said, ‘As always we are sad to say goodbye to dancers who have been with us for so long and who have been an integral part of Northern Ballet, not just to those who work here but to our audiences all around the country. I would like to thank Georgina, Martin and Christie for all they have done for the Company and wish them every success in the future. ‘This year we are in a unique position to welcome ten new dancers and we very much look forward to having them on board. The cuts in public funding remain a challenge so we can no longer offer all dancers long-term contracts but we will continue to work hard to retain a full company and deliver the very high standard of work for which we’re known and loved.’ Promotions within the Company include Hannah Bateman to Leading Soloist, Tobias Batley to Premier Dancer, Michela Paolacci and Ashley Dixon to First Soloist, Dreda Blow to Soloist and Isabella Gasparini and Giuilano Contandini to Coryphée. Teresa Saavedra Bordes, Abigail Prudames and Kevin Poeung have become 1st Year Corps. Darren Goldsmith will be dancing in the newly created role of Principal Character Artist. Jessica Morgan, Rachel Gillespie, Ben Mitchell, Thomas Aragones and Graham Kotowich have all moved from 4th Year Corps to 5th Year Corps and Antoinette Brooks-Daw has been promoted from 3rd Year Corps to 4th Year Corps. Joshua Barwick and Matthew Broadbent have both become 2nd Year Corps. -ENDS-

5* review for BRB's Summer Celebration. Can't wait for tomorrow now! http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/dance/9363134/Summer-Celebration-Birmingham-Royal-Ballet-Birmingham-Hippodrome-review.html

I know I have already posted the link above, but please read Paul Parish' deeply moving tribute at post number 18: http://balletalert.invisionzone.com/index.php?/topic/35730-john-percival/page__st__15

The Garnier is a horse-shoe shape auditorium so I would try and avoid the side boxes. I would also try and avoid the rear seats in the boxes although these would likely be the cheaper ones. I'm afraid I've only ever been in the more expensive seats. When we saw RDB there in January, I won't admit to how much the ticket was, I had a big head in front of me in the stalls. Fortunately for me the gentleman sitting next to me spotted an empty seat next to a friend so I was then able to sit in his seat. If a performance is heavily sold, there are also fold-down seats which fill the centre aisle. I do not know how these come to be sold or if they are cheaper. Sorry not to be more helpful.

Northern Ballet Media Release For immediate release 27 June 2012 Northern Ballet awarded funding for 3 year programme of ballets for children Northern Ballet has been awarding funding from Arts Council England’s Strategic Touring fund to create a three-year programme of small scale family productions and to tour each to 15 venues across the North of England. Accompanied by an audience engagement programme, the productions will be created to inspire and engage children and families who may not usually access the arts. The award of £385,407, the largest award made to any applicant in this funding round, was announced this week. Northern Ballet’s new production of Ugly Duckling has already been funded by Leeds Inspired to be performed in Leeds communities and will be accompanied by education activities at duck ponds across Leeds over the summer. The performance will tour around the region before coming to the Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre at Northern Ballet’s home in Leeds on 29 October for 14 performances. Now, with the extra funding from the Strategic Tour Fund, Northern Ballet will be able to extend the tour of Ugly Duckling to a further 15 venues across the North of England next Spring and to create two further ballets for similar tours over the next two years. Based on the classic Hans Christian Andersen fairytale, Ugly Duckling is the story of a lonely duckling who doesn’t fit in with her friends. Throughout the ballet, the duckling learns about herself and those around her and when she learns to love who she is she turns into a beautiful swan and begins a happy new life. The ballet is being choreographed by Northern Ballet dancers Dreda Blow and Sebastian Loe. The colourful production for children aged four and up will feature a host of animal characters including cats, frogs and a fox. The performance time will be 40 minutes in length and the music performed will range from classical compositions to the theme tunes of popular children’s cartoons. This is the first time Northern Ballet will produce a ballet for young children and the aim is to engage families in theatre, art and music in a fun, lively and approachable way. The two further ballets, titles of which will be announced shortly, will be similar in length and format and will provide a perfect introduction to live performance, music and dance. Northern Ballet’s Director of Learning, Selina McGonagle, said: ‘It’s at the heart of Northern Ballet’s mission that we create great art for everyone. We regularly challenge preconceptions about dance and ballet in particular by developing new work based on familiar stories and by taking inspiration from popular culture. Northern Ballet already has a terrific series of family ballets such as Beauty & the Beast, Peter Pan and The Nutcracker. We’re thrilled to have been awarded this money to create and tour a new series of ballets for very small children for the first time, and to develop a specific programme of related engagement activities especially for them.’ -ENDS- Ugly Duckling is an audience outreach project funded by Leeds City Council as part of Leeds Inspired, a Leeds City Council initiative which supports arts, sport and heritage events around the region and offers grants to individuals and organisations for cultural projects. Leeds Inspired is supported by a group of partners including West Yorkshire Playhouse, SAA-UK, Cultivate, Leeds Young Authors, Leeds Initiative, Leeds Met Gallery, Phoenix Dance and Duke Studios. http://www.leedsinspired.co.uk Tour Listings Ugly Duckling Yeadon Town Hall Sat 20 October, 3pm Hunslet Club Sun 21 October, 2.30pm and 4pm Riley Theatre, Northern School of Contemporary Dance Sat 27 October, 2.30pm and 4pm Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre Mon 29 October – Fri 2 November Performances: Daily at 11am, 1pm and 3pm (except Thursday 1 November when there is no 3pm performance) Tickets at all venues will cost £4 - £5 Box Office 0113 220 8008 or theatreleeds.com

Another reviewer likes BRB's FFTMC: http://lichfieldlive.co.uk/2012/06/26/review-far-from-the-madding-crowd-birmingham-hippodrome/

Northern Ballet Media Release For immediate release 27 June 2012 Northern Ballet announces season of mermaids, butterflies, fairies and fiends Northern Ballet starts a new season in its home city of Leeds with the UK première of David Nixon’s Ondine, which will be performed at West Yorkshire Playhouse from 8 to 15 September. This is a rare treat for classical ballet fans as the heartbreaking story is seldom performed outside of London. Artistic Director, David Nixon OBE, originally adapted this traditional favourite for Ballet du Rhin in 2005. It tells the story of a doomed romance between a beautiful mermaid and a handsome nobleman. Despite being raised by humans, Ondine retains the mysticism of her kind. When she falls deeply in love with a mortal, Brand, she is transformed from a water nymph to a woman. In time Brand grows fearful of the otherworldly creature he has married and finds himself drawn to a previous love, but he knows that should he break their bond a watery grave will seek him out. The production features the original music of Hans Werner Henze. The stunning sets and costumes are created by Jérôme Kaplan. The season continues with another chance to see David Nixon’s Madame Butterfly, at Sheffield Lyceum Theatre from 18 to 22 September, Manchester Palace Theatre from 25 to 29 September and Nottingham Theatre Royal from 9 to 13 October. Madame Butterfly was Nixon’s debut work for Northern Ballet, when he joined as Artistic Director in 2001. Innocence, love and betrayal unfold in the picturesque gardens of a Japanese house, when Butterfly is deserted by handsome American, Lieutenant Pinkerton. East meets west in this tragic tale, which blends classical ballet with Japanese-style dancing and Puccini’s beautiful score, played live by the Northern Ballet Sinfonia, is interspersed with traditional Japanese music. Following a hugely successful spring tour, Beauty & the Beast, will be performed at a further six venues including Norwich Theatre Royal from 2 to 6 October, Bradford Alhambra Theatre from 24 to 27 October, Woking New Victoria Theatre from 30 October to 3 November, Canterbury Marlowe Theatre from 6 to 10 November, Aylesbury Waterside Theatre from 13 to 17 November and Bath Theatre Royal from 27 November to 1 December. Beauty & the Beast tells the story of a young prince who is magically transformed into a beast and cursed to live alone in his castle until the enchantment is broken by the sacrifice of true love. Audiences will be transported into an enchanting world of colour, inhabited by fairies, goblins and sprites, with an elaborate mirrored set from Duncan Hayler and haute couture-style costumes designed by David Nixon. The show is accompanied by an infectious score from Saint-Säens, Bizet, Debussy and Glazunov, played live by the Northern Ballet Sinfonia. Finally, Northern Ballet returns home to Leeds for Christmas with The Nutcracker – a festive institution and one of Northern Ballet’s most popular ballets. The production will be performed at Leeds Grand Theatre from 18 to 30 December. It tells the story of Clara’s Christmas Eve adventure as she is swept away by her Nutcracker Prince to a magical winter wonderland of dancing snowflakes and the famous Sugar Plum Fairy. The production is performed to Tchaikovsky’s enduring score played live by Northern Ballet Sinfonia. Northern Ballet is one of the UK’s favourite ballet companies and has carved a unique place in the cultural landscape. Renowned for its full-length narrative productions which embrace popular culture and take inspiration from literature, opera, or give a unique interpretation of classical ballets, the Leeds-based company is committed to extensive and regular touring throughout the UK and overseas, developing new audiences for dance. - ENDS - Production Credits & Tour Listings Ondine Production Credits Direction and Choreography by David Nixon OBE Costume and Set Design by Jerôme Kaplan Lighting Design by Oliver Oudiou Music by Hans Werner Henze Projection Design by Tanguy Alanou Leeds West Yorkshire Playhouse Sat 8 – Sat 15 September Box Office 0113 213 7700 wyp.org.uk Madame Butterfly Production credits Choreography and Design Concept by David Nixon OBE Music by Giacomo Puccini With Orchestration by John Longstaff Lighting Design by Peter Mumford Scenic Design realised by Ali Allen Sheffield Lyceum Theatre Tue 18 – Sat 22 September Box Office 0114 249 6060 sheffieldttheatres.co.uk Manchester Palace Theatre Tue 25 – Sat 29 September Box Office 0844 871 3019 manchesterpalace.org.uk Nottingham Theatre Royal Tue 9 – Sat 13 October Box Office 0115 989 5555 trch.co.uk Beauty & the Beast Production Credits Choreography and Direction by David Nixon OBE Set Design by Duncan Hayler Lighting Design by Tim Mitchell Costume Design by David Nixon assisted by Julie Anderson Music by Georges Bizet, Claude Debussy, Camille Saint-Säens and Alexander Glazunov Norwich Theatre Royal Tue 2 – Sat 6 October Box Office 01603 630 000 theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk Bradford Alhambra Theatre Wed 24 – Sat 27 October Box Office 01274 432 000 bradford-theatres.co.uk Woking New Victoria Theatre Tue 30 October – Sat 3 November Box Office 0844 871 7645 ambassadortickets.com/woking Canterbury Marlowe Theatre Tue 6 – Sat 10 November Box Office 01227 787 787 marlowetheatre.com Aylesbury Waterside Theatre Tue 13 – Sat 17 November Box Office 0844 871 7607 ambassadortickets.com/aylesbury Bath Theatre Royal Tue 27 November – Sat 1 December Box Office 01225 448 844 theatreroyal.org.uk The Nutcracker Production Credits Choreography, Direction and Costumer Design by David Nixon OBE Set Design by Charles Cusick Smith Lighting Design by Mark Jonathan Costume Design Assistant Christopher Giles Music by Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky Leeds Grand Theatre Tue 18 – Sun 30 December Box Office0844 848 2700 leedsgrandtheatre.com

SALT, SALT AND MORE SALT!

At a recent talk the dancer being interviewed said they had been offered both RBS and Elmhurst (pre move to Birmingham) and chose Elmhurst because felt it was a better fit for their talents. The dancer has never regretted this.

But we mustn't rest on our laurels. The amount raised so far is fantastic but won't last forever. The campaign continues: http://northernballet.com/?q=sponsor-a-dancer

A feature on the New English Ballet Theatre: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/you/article-2161039/Future-stars-given-step-revolutionary-new-ballet-company.html

I also saw both casts and wouldn't have described one as better than the other. They were different. I would echo Sue S' comments about the exquisite duet for Fanny Robin and a farmhand(?). It is so gentle and beautiful and Maureya and James were breath-taking in it. A sublime moment but I hadn't mentioned it in my posting.

Northern Ballet Media Release For Immediate Release 25 June 2012 Northern Ballet Premier Dancer wins at Choreography Competition in Hanover Northern Ballet’s Premier Dancer Kenneth Tindall has won the Bundesjugendballett Production Prize at the 26th Choreography Competition in Hanover for his debut piece Project #1. The Production Prize will allow Kenneth to create a new work for Germany’s national youth ballet based in Hamburg. Kenneth Tindall said, ‘The last two days have been an amazing experience, I would have never dreamed that Project #1 could have taken me this far. The standard of the competition was incredibly high and to be a part of it was overwhelming. Winning the Production Prize, the chance to choreograph for another company, is such an honour. I want to thank my dancers, Al West, David Nixon and Mark Skipper who have supported me throughout this process.’ Originally created for a Northern Ballet Choreographic Workshop performance in the summer of 2011, Project #1 was then extended to form part of Perpetual Motion which was performed at the Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre in Leeds earlier this year. The piece was developed by looking at each dancer’s way of moving and producing choreography which showcased their unique style. Artistic Director David Nixon OBE said, ‘I am thrilled that Kenny has achieved such incredible success with his first piece of choreography at such a prestigious competition. I am incredibly proud that such high quality work is coming from within Northern Ballet and is being recognised internationally.’ -ENDS-

Feature on Northern Ballet's Sponsor a Dancer campaign: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-18578124