Press Release: English National Ballet presents Swan Lake in-the-round at the Royal Albert Hal

[Jan McNulty]

English National Ballet
Swan Lake in-the-round 
Royal Albert Hall 
Wednesday 17- Sunday 28 June 2020 
ballet.org.uk/swan-lake-round  

This summer (June 17-28) English National Ballet performs the critically acclaimed Swan Lake in-the-roundat the Royal Albert Hall.

 

 

Choreographed by Derek Deane and set to Tchaikovsky’s memorable score played live by English National Ballet Philharmonic, this epic in-the-round staging of Swan Lake presents ballet on a grand scale with over 120 dancers, including 60 ballerina swans who move in unison across the Hall’s arena floor. 

Swan Lake in-the round caused a sensation at its premiere in 1997. These were English National Ballet’s first in-the-round performances, marking a pivotal moment in the history of the Company, which celebrates its 70th Anniversary this year. The production has since been enjoyed by over half a million people worldwide. 

 

Tamara Rojo CBE, English National Ballet’s Artistic Director said: “This iconic production has captivated audiences across the world since it was first performed more than two decades ago. I am so pleased it is returning to the magnificent stage of the Royal Albert Hall this summer."

 

English National Ballet moved into a new purpose-built home in Canning Town, East London, in Summer 2019. The building features an innovative Production Studio which enables the Company to complete technical rehearsals before arriving at a theatre. Swan Lake will be the first in-the-round production to be rehearsed in this studio in what will be the first time English National Ballet has had the space to prepare for performances of this scale in-house. 

 

-ENDS- 

 

English National Ballet is a National Portfolio Organisation supported by Arts Council England. 

 

Notes to Editors

Listings

Swan Lake in-the-round
Royal Albert Hall
Wednesday 17 – Sunday 28 June 2020
Box office: www.ballet.org.uk/production/swan-lake-round  / www.royalalberthall.com/swanlake

 

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 Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is the world’s most famous stage. Over the past 149 years, it has hosted everyone from Albert Einstein to Arctic Monkeys, The Beatles to Beyoncé, Churchill to Chvrches (we could go on). Last year, its breath-taking auditorium presented 391 events by the world’s greatest performers – taking in rock, pop and classical music, theatre, dance, films, Cirque du Soleil and even tennis – with the magical setting and inspired artists creating amazing memories for audiences.

 

Opened in 1871 to fulfil Prince Albert’s vision of a central hall to promote the arts and sciences, the Hall is a registered charity that remains true to his founding ambitions while looking to the future. With 1.7million visitors a year, ‘the nation’s village hall’ is the world’s busiest venue, while its 1,000 events in secondary spaces help to welcome a young, diverse audience to the Hall. Research conducted by Populus in 2018 found that the Hall was the most respected venue in its field, with members of the public regarding it as more special and yet less elitist than any comparable venue.

 

Its Education & Outreach programme reaches more than 215,000 participants each year, working with schools, young people and the community, as well as other charities such as Music for Youth, as part of its extensive public benefit remit. It creates memories, changes lives and provides inspiration through music for all, regardless of age or background. www.royalalberthall.com

 

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