Jamiel Devernay-Laurence

BALLET NIGHTS presents NEW VOICES at the legendary MINISTRY OF SOUND
a ground-breaking presentation of dance at the world renowned club
Friday May 31st 7pm

Tickets:  £30-£60 www.balletnights.com/newvoices 
Ballet Nights New Voices trailer: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/RLrGOBPxyqg

BALLET NIGHTS NEW VOICES lineup:

Joshua Junker
Pett|Clausen-Knight
James Cousins Company
Jamiel Laurence Creation
Felicity Chadwick
Hannah Ekholm and Faye Stoeser
Kennedy Junior Muntanga and Guy Salim
Watson & Woodvine
Manon Servage Company
Seirian Griffiths
Liam Woodvine and Alex Fadayiro
AND YOUR HOST FOR THE EVENING: MC JAMIEL DEVERNAY-LAURENCE

Doors: 6pm Performances: 7pm to 8.30pm
All tickets include access to the after-party with DJ Danny Avila 10pm to 5am
Venue: Ministry of Sound, 103 Gaunt Street, London SE1 6DP

The turbo-charged production house that is BALLET NIGHTS plans to break down yet more barriers in the world of innovative dance presentation to new audiences.  On Friday May 31st London’s iconic MINISTRY OF SOUND will open its mighty doors at 6.30pm to host BALLET NIGHTS NEW VOICES in a ground-breaking fusion of dance and music.  

The one-hour show promises to be simultaneously thrilling and massively entertaining.  More than TEN exciting contemporary pieces will be performed by a stellar lineup of world-class dancers in the club’s main bar and dance floor and, what’s more, ticket holders will be invited to stay for the club’s main night.

Masterminded by Ballet Nights’ visionary Artistic Director Jamiel Devernay-Laurence in association with the club’s dynamic team - Rachael Scollen/Head of Events, Oscar Zammit/Technical and Production Manager, Chelsea Herbert/Senior Graphic Designer and Alice Rose/Content Creator – BALLET NIGHTS NEW VOICES will open club night in a way that’s never been seen before at the globally renowned MINISTRY OF SOUND.

Says Jamiel Devernay-Laurence, Artistic Director Ballet Nights:
“The team at Ministry of Sound have been very supportive of what the Ballet Nights ecology has set out to achieve from day 1, and as soon as our teams collided, ideas began to explode out in all directions!
This first show marks the beginning of a new stream for the Ballet Nights brand, and a renewed mission to establish a choreographic platform for those voices heard less, seen less and represented less in the struggling independent dance sector.
“With many of our VIP patrons already directly supporting and commissioning new works by exciting new voices like Jordan James Bridge for our main stage shows, this is an opportunity for the worlds of arts philanthropy, investment and cultural development to come together.  Ministry of Sound is not only legendary it also provides an incredible venue for us to present NEW VOICES in a unique way to our audiences, new audiences, clubbers, early nighters and everyone in between!  I can’t wait for us to stage BALLET NIGHTS NEW VOICES at the MINISTRY OF SOUND.”

Says Chelsea Herbert, Senior Designer Ministry of Sound:
“Bringing Ballet Nights to Ministry of Sound is more than just a melding of music and movement; it's a celebration of our shared passion for pushing boundaries and embracing the unexpected. With 30 years of dance history and a commitment to doing things differently, this partnership promises to deliver an electrifying blend of tradition and innovation on our iconic dance floor.”

PROGRAMME:

‘324a’ created and performed by JOSHUA JUNKER, First Artist of the Royal Ballet
One choreographer’s experience of facing the challenges of creating new work while in lockdown in 2020 – the piece is named after Joshua’s home address

‘Nerve Wire’ created and performed by PETT|CLAUSEN-KNIGHT
Feel the fear and anxiety in the recently remastered work from the internationally acclaimed duo.

‘Jealousy’ created and performed by JAMES COUSINS COMPANY with music by Ben Frost
An imagined affair plays out with two lovers deeply intertwined. Jealousy of the voyeuristic gaze fuels their intense dependency. 

‘Spirit of the Machine’ excerpt from ‘Read-Only Memory’ by JAMIEL LAURENCE CREATION
Danced by Liam Woodvine & Alex Fadayiro
How a dystopian society could use memory as a form of punishment – forcing those of us who do not conform into reliving our most painful memories.

‘Insomnia’ choreographed by NICHOLAS SHOESMITH
Performed by FELICITY CHADWICK
The restless state of mind when you’re trying to switch off your thoughts motoring on in your sleepless head…

‘Splice’ created by EKLEIDO
Danced by HANNAH EKHOLM & FAYE STOESER
Music by Floating Points
An exploration of connection between two bodies as they configure themselves between restriction and possibility, solving a physical puzzle.

‘One’ choreographed by KENNEDY JUNIOR MUNTANGA
Live Music by Guy Salim
One Musician. One Dancer. One Purpose

‘Your Ghost’ created and performed by WATSON & WOODVINE
A haunting story in which a young woman confronts the ghost of a past relationship, her movements a canvas for audiences to project their own life journeys onto.

‘Gathering Rhythms’ created and performed by MANON SERVAGE, SOPHIE QUAY, ZACH PARKIN
From the embrace of one true essence, to the convergence of many striving towards unity

SHOW OPENER & DJ SET
SEIRIAN GRIFFITHS
A gravity-defying mover unleashes his power!  

MC JAMIEL DEVERNAY-LAURENCE
BALLET NIGHTS FOUNDER and ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
will be your host for the evening

Press information and review tickets: judy.lipsey@lipseypr.com
 

Cant wait until June... JOIN OUR YOUTUBE PREMIERE! 

Tomorrow at 6pm

TICKETS NOW LIVE: https://www.balletnights.com/

Ballet Nights returns for another unmissable programme  in the ballet calendar featuring world-class dancers, emerging artists, modern masterpieces, new creations, legacy works, and live music up close and personal at Lanterns Studio Theatre, Canary Wharf, London E14.

Our June programme celebrates Modern Voices in Ballet, continuing the new tradition of uniquely compèred evenings of Classical Ballet, Neo Classical & Contemporary Dance presented up close and without compromise.

FEATURING:

SANGEUN LEE & GARETH HAW

Stars of The English National Ballet

In a BRAND NEW BALLET NIGHTS comission by JORDAN JAMES BRIDGE

MAYARA MAGRI & MATTHEW BALL

Stars of the Royal Ballet Company

and much much more....!

See award nominees PETT|CLAUSEN-KNIGHT up close next week at Ballet Nights Spotlight!

Thank you for your Kind Words!!

For those not yet on our mailing list, we just dropped our next event - Ballet Nights New Voices at the Ministry of Sound -> Next week we present the national dance critics circle award nominees Pett|Clausen-Knight as a full evening SPOTLIGHT , and then we will be dropping our big cast announcement for Ballet Nights 005 first at Fridays Show Live!

Hope to see you there!

Jamiel

VIDEO LIVE!

9 minutes ago, Pointeperfect said:

It’s not stadium ticket prices funding this but TV rights. I’m sure selling out a stadium plus merchandise sales is not a small amount of money but it is far exceeded by money from TV

I am 100% in agreement.

Ballet Nights is focused on the culture of the star, and building a following for each artist on our roster. That is where our Youtube Channel comes in, and why we profile each artists in a Behind The Scenes at great expense to provide the artists with the platform they deserve.

Going back to my analysis of Drive to Survive, the driver's to camera interviews are what 'drives' (sorry couldn't resist!) new audience to their preferred contender.

You can check out our channel here, and highlights include an exclusive BTS with David Dawson, Reece & Yasmine, Musa Motha, Steven McRae and more:

www.youtube.com/@BalletNights

2 hours ago, Jan McNulty said:

Do you know if Imago will be touring the UK at all @Jamiel Devernay-Laurence?  Sadly I can't make the London dates.

At the moment we are focused on the UK premiere in London, and it will be the demand and response to that show that would dictate another outing in that uniquely Ballet Nights format - however the 2 guys are VERY resourceful, and I believe that they are overlooked by the currently ecology which makes no space for them the way it used to for future greats like an Akram or a Hofesh.

Time will tell!

PS. we have a lower ticket price show coming soon, which you can support by coming along!

IMAGO by PettClausen-Knight has a UK premiere, and will take place on 26/27 April

Use the Code OURSTORY for 15% off!

www.BalletNights.com

18 hours ago, Emeralds said:

In the newspaper articles where LCB's  Christopher Marney was interviewed, he's stated that London City Ballet are not receiving any government (=taxpayer) subsidy at all. They do have a private sponsor who is currently giving them funding to hire dancers, stage ballets, rent studio space etc etc.  

 

Sadler's Wells Theatre itself is partly subsidised by the taxpayer (Arts Council, Islington tax payers etc) hence might be able to offer cheaper rates than a non-subsidised theatre space. In addition, they also have donations that enable them to sponsor some new or fledgling groups they have chosen to support. I don't know what the size of this support is - eg if it's only £500 then obviously that's of limited help but still better than nothing; if it's £5000 or more that's obviously helpful for the company. 

 

That said, I believe most of the theatres visited by small companies such as VFB are subsidised to some degree. However the theatre management can choose to charge companies high rates to rent if they wish to of course.

 

Companies like VFB have actually always been in precarious situations and truth be told it doesn't take much nowadays for smaller companies like Northern Ballet, Scottish Ballet or BRB to be pushed into that situation also, seeing what Arts Council England have done to ENO- despite its critically acclaimed productions, numerous awards, and reputation in the opera world for training and giving rising British talent their big breaks. I just forfeited a chance to attend the Manon double show day this weekend to support BRB and NB financially instead, as the thought of more ballet companies being pushed to the brink was unthinkable.

 

Ultimately, though, any company (unless it is the size of RB or the Paris Opera or La Scala) nowadays needs leadership that is resourceful, diligent and creative to survive - artists as well. 

 

12 hours ago, FionaM said:

@Jamiel Devernay-Laurence thank you for your explanation of true vs fair value.  
 

I remember having a similar discussion here in 2021 about the Kobborg/Cojocaru/Polunin R&J at RAH when some here expressed surprise at those ticket prices.  Some wished to wait for discounts (which didn’t happen as the show was sold out despite COVID playing up.)   The true cost of that show would have been even higher if there had been a live orchestra.  Further highlighting the subsidy (from govt and sponsors) that is inherent in ROH and Sadlers Wells shows.

 

I hadn’t made the link that those subsidies make it prohibitive for new troupes to perform without similar financial support, as they cannot price tickets at their true cost.  
 

Perhaps we the audience are going to have to recalibrate how much we are prepared to spend on performing arts now that prices are rising (and yet are still subsidised at the main dance venues).  We have a choice, either spend as before (but go less often, or choose cheaper seats if possible), OR, decide to spend more as a percentage of income.  Yikes!   Some are already having to spend less due to the current economic climate.  

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A the end of the day the entire sector will have to face these questions at some point, as BRB will be with some of their support being pulled and as ENO have had to pivot on quite quickly.

Without taking any positions politically, I would also point out that it highly unlikely that a Starmer government would either freeze or increate ACE funding, and if anything the outlook is the other way entirely.

New Adventures have proven the exception to the rule, running a successful commercial model in dance, and Matthew Bourne remains the inspiring figure to the next generation of dance entrepreneurs, and to me!

On 01/03/2024 at 22:55, Pas de Quatre said:

As far as I know VFB weren't receiving any funding, and survived purely on income from tickets sales.

This highlights one of our daily conversation at our HQ.

Please except ROH from the following questions and discoveries on the table, as the model is completely different.

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Tickets in the UK have a face value, and a true value.

Without a subsidy on the ticket price somewhere, independent start ups and self funded companies (like mine!) are finding that their True Value ticket prices are received as high, and can't compete with other organisations dominating the landscape that can comfortably foot the bill with Tax Payer money, and present a Face Value as low as £15 for a world class dance experience.

But devaluing the Face Value does not actually help the True Value of anything in the market, and longer term damages it considerably.

Simultaneously, those venues receiving a subsidy will approach start ups and independent companies as cash cows to be milked - without guilt or a thought for what those companies could actually do to the future of their venue, for audience building and for fair competition growth in the sector.

The majority of our home dance companies and venues are building quite the opposite of a sustainable ecology, and instead opting to remain insular - resulting in a stranglehold on programming and an absence of new players - from independent choreographers to fully fledged non-gov-funded companies - having to navigate conversations where venues are not comfortable with the associated risks in staging them, are seeking to profit in ways they normally are unable to, while maintaining all the data and ticketing benefits and even going so far as to publicly label events as "Guest Events / Not an Official Programmed Event" right across the productions digital poster on their websites.

For those in Marketing this is a nightmare to counter, with new start-ups and independent companies trying to eliminate the nagging doubt that their performances are just as worthy of a platform as any.

And then there is the Access argument associated with the True Value, and this is of course where I turn to... premiere league football! Just like Classical Ballet, players have devoted their whole youth to their craft - BUT UNLIKE DANCE - graduate into a healthy ecology where there are a raft of well paying jobs from lower leagues to the top gig.

If you look at football, where a ticket can cost in excess of £160 for a plastic seat on concrete, this multi billion dollar industry not only takes care of its players, its managers and its teams, but also provides its fans access through a constant access to media, some of the best funded inclusive youth programmes in the world, and with opportunities to interact with the sport regardless of means, background or ability. When was the last time a UK school didn't come with 2 nets and a ball...? And yet how many have a Ballet Barre...?

With many Government funded bodies actively avoiding showing a profit for fear of then losing funding, there is little to no space for those who remain unfunded and are trying to build their trade the old fashioned way - with bums on seats and an invested audience who feel connected to the brand, the experience and to the artists on stage.

Dance is pricing itself out of the market, and the next generation of dance entrepreneurs are facing the consequences.

Regardless of the size of their fanbase, the loss of companies like Vienna Festival Ballet are felt by all those who had ever bought a ticket to their show, and the many people who became a part of their independently funded ecology.

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Just some thoughts!

Jamiel Devernay-Laurence

www.BalletNights.com

Dear Balletco Forum,

I am pleased to announce the launch of the Ballet Nights Spotlight platform - where we take one of our Ballet Nights fan favourites and platform them for a full evening of their work.

Launching with the UK Premiere of PETT|CLAUSEN-KNIGHT in IMAGO, my team and I are over the moon to be hosting the first London landing of this internationally acclaimed neo-classical sensation.

Tickets are now live at www.BalletNights.com and below you can also join us for the youtube premiere of the behind-the-scenes mini-documentary with James Pett and Travis Clausen-Knight.

Jamiel Devernay-Laurence

Founder & Compère

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YOUTUBE PREMIERE OF OUR BEHIND THE SCENES WITH PETT|CLAUSEN-KNIGHT

5 hours ago, Sophoife said:

We've got a few down here who'd be stellar performers...

Not a word of a lie, an Australian opportunity just crossed our desk this afternoon. 

Watch this space!

2 hours ago, Lynne L said:

Has Ballet Nights ever thought about Ballet Afternoons? For many of us who live outside of London, the costs of staying in London Hotels has become prohibative. I find it less expensive to fly to Amsterdam for their matinee performances. Have a think and see if an earlier showtime would work. 

Wishing you and the team continued success.

Hi Lynne,

This is a fantastic piece of info and good to know.

We are considering an open dress rehearsal of a yet to be announced production in April, as well as an insight event working with The London Ballet Circle.

We are also considering opening up our behind the scenes sessions as we live stream alot of these anyway.

you can see the live IG feed of Reece and Yasmines shoot here: https://www.instagram.com/p/C3I_WTcI69J/

J

In which case I will have to talk to Ross and make plans to bring the show to you...!

Behind the Scenes with our Ballet Nights 004 "Our Story Continues" Stars - Principals of The Royal Ballet Yasmine Naghdi & Reece Clarke

Witness Yasmine and Reece debut in the daring classical Pas De Deux "Spring Waters" alongside their headline performances of the iconic Romeo & Juliet Balcony Scene choreographed by Sir Kenneth MacMillan.

🎟️ Get Your Tickets now for 23rd & 24th February 2024 🎟️

www.BalletNights.com

Dear BalletCo Forum,

For those not signed up to our exclusive access mailing list over here at Ballet Nights, I enclose a link to the full set of shots by Viktor Erik Emanuel taken last Friday:

PRINCIPALS OF THE ROYAL BALLET YASMINE NAGHDI & REECE CLARKE in ROMEO & JULIET

https://www.balletnights.com/exclusiveaccessphotography

More coming soon, including our behind the scenes feature on the pair making their debut in Spring Waters at Ballet Nights This February...!

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*15% off with the code OURSTORY

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Dear BalletCo Forum Members,

On behalf of the entire team here at Ballet Nights, I would like to wish you all a very Happy New Year !!! 

We are forever grateful to those of you who attended our Autumn launch series in 2023, provided your feedback, worked with us on improvements, celebrated with the artists after the show and have been assisting us in sculpting a unique dance experience for audiences experienced and new.

I personally can't wait to be back with Ballet Nights 004 - 23rd & 24th Feb 2024 - and I look forward to announcing our exciting roster of World Stars, Emerging Voices, New Discoveries and Legacy Classics in January.

Our Story Continues!

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Jamiel Devernay Laurence

Your Compère

www.BalletNights.com

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