Press Release: Down the rabbit hole with The Chelmsford Ballet Company

[Jan McNulty]

Down the rabbit hole with The Chelmsford Ballet Company

 

 

 

The Chelmsford Ballet Company, calling the city its home for almost seventy years, will be performing its 2017 production, Alice’s Adventures, from 22–25 March at the Civic Theatre, Chelmsford.

 

As one of its most highly anticipated productions, The Chelmsford Ballet Company’s Alice’s Adventures is based on the stories of Alice in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking Glass. This spectacular production will delight both young and old, with a few twists along the way. As a fantastic introduction to ballet, the Company’s next production is ideal for those new to the art form, however familiar with the classic Alice tales.

 

From the White Rabbit and Alice to Tweedledum and Tweedledee, the company of dancers excel themselves in this classic tale, demonstrating a huge array of dancing talent. The amateur company prides itself on its professional standards, and requires dancers to audition before joining. Dancers are then eligible to audition for the annual production, which is the pride of the company, and the residents of Chelmsford.

 

Tickets for Alice’s Adventures are now on sale, for which contact the box office on 01245 606505 or visit www.chelmsford.gov.uk/alices-adventures

 

www.thechelmsfordballetcompany.co.uk

 

 

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About The Chelmsford Ballet Company 

 

In 1947, Joan Weston created the Broomfield YMCA Ballet Company in order to give the more senior students at her existing dance school the opportunity to learn and perform to the public. It was after their 1949 performance of ‘Coppélia’ at the Shire Hall that the then Mayor of Chelmsford suggested the name ‘The Chelmsford Ballet Company’, and with a small committee the Company was born. 

 

Since 1949, the Ballet Company has staged a full-scale production every year. Initially a part of the Arts Festival, and then the Cathedral Fringe Festival, they occur today as an annual event in their own right. Today the Company is led by Artistic Director Annette Potter, who is a former dancing member. Annette danced many leading roles with the company before moving on to teaching and choreography.

The Ballet Company is a way for skilled dancers from across the area to perform together and to showcase their considerable talents to appreciative and receptive audiences. Theatre-goers are constantly ‘thrilled’ with the productions, which always maintain the high standards set by Joan Weston. It has become a well-loved cornerstone of Chelmsford’s cultural calendar. 

 

The Chelmsford Ballet Company is “an amateur Company which sets professional standards for all its work, involving professionals in its productions, courses and other teaching and workshop opportunities”. The standards are such that both junior (aged 10 and Standard/Grade 2 or above) and senior (over 14) dancers must audition to become members and again each year to perform in any production. These high standards are maintained through the monthly Company classes, where the dancers are able to meet and take a class with experienced and distinguished teachers. In the 1960's a Scholarship Fund was created to help young dancers moving to professional training.

 

[Jan McNulty]

Professional dancer Andrei Iliescu rejoins The Chelmsford Ballet Company for Alice's Adventures

 

The Chelmsford Ballet Company’s upcoming production of Alice's Adventures at the Civic Theatre, Chelmsford, will see professional dancer Andrei Iliescu join the much-loved company for a second year running, this time as the White Rabbit. Having already danced the role of Prince Florimund in last year's The Sleeping Beauty, the company is excited for Iliescu to join the dancers onstage once again, to the delight of its audiences.  

Iliescu from Romania, began dancing at the National College of Arts. He competed in the prestigious Prix de Lausanne competition in Switzerland and was consequently awarded a full scholarship to attend Central School of Ballet in London. During his training Iliescu worked with renowned choreographers such as Christopher Marney of Sir Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures and patron of The Chelmsford Ballet Company, Sharon Watson of Phoenix Dance Theatre and Christopher Hampson of Scottish Ballet; Chelmsford audiences will have seen Iliescu perform in Ballet Central’s 2015 graduation tour and the critically acclaimed McQueen The Play, ahead of his work last year with The Chelmsford Ballet Company. 

Tickets for Alice’s Adventures are on sale, for which contact the box office on 01245 606505 or visit www.chelmsford.gov.uk/alices-adventures

 

www.thechelmsfordballetcompany.co.uk

--Ends—

About The Chelmsford Ballet Company

In 1947, Joan Weston created the Broomfield YMCA Ballet Company in order to give the more senior students at her existing dance school the opportunity to learn and perform to the public. It was after their 1949 performance of ‘Coppélia’ at the Shire Hall that the then Mayor of Chelmsford suggested the name ‘The Chelmsford Ballet Company’, and with a small committee the Company was born.

Since 1949, the Ballet Company has staged a full-scale production every year. Initially a part of the

Arts Festival, and then the Cathedral Fringe Festival, they occur today as an annual event in their own right. Today the Company is led by Artistic Director Annette Potter, who is a former dancing member. Annette danced many leading roles with the company before moving on to teaching and choreography.

The Ballet Company is a way for skilled dancers from across the area to perform together and to showcase their considerable talents to appreciative and receptive audiences. Theatre-goers are constantly ‘thrilled’ with the productions, which always maintain the high standards set by Joan Weston. It has become a well-loved cornerstone of Chelmsford’s cultural calendar.

The Chelmsford Ballet Company is “an amateur Company which sets professional standards for all its work, involving professionals in its productions, courses and other teaching and workshop opportunities”. The standards are such that both junior (aged 10 and Standard/Grade 2 or above) and senior (over 14) dancers must audition to become members and again each year to perform in any production. These high standards are maintained through the monthly Company classes, where the dancers are able to meet and take a class with experienced and distinguished teachers. In the 1960's a Scholarship Fund was created to help young dancers moving to professional training.