Press Release: English National Ballet returns to the stage

[Jan McNulty]

12 October 2020
English National Ballet returns to the stage 

English National Ballet returns to the stage with performances of Nutcracker Delights at the London Coliseum this Christmas and, as previously announced, Reunion: An Evening with English National Ballet at Sadler’s Wells in November. 

 

During the festive period, English National Ballet will present Nutcracker Delights at the London Coliseum (03 December 2020 – 03 January 2021). This special version of the Christmas classic sees the Company perform a selection of the ballet’s most popular moments and iconic scenes accompanied by Tchaikovsky’s famous score played live by musicians from English National Ballet Philharmonic. 

 

Tamara Rojo CBE, English National Ballet’s Artistic Director said: “English National Ballet has performed a version of The Nutcracker every year since we were founded in 1950 and I’m so pleased that, despite the challenges faced, we have been able to find a way for the tradition to live on, in this, our 70th Anniversary year. It’s more important than ever that we are able to bring audiences some festive joy this Christmas.”

 

Reunion: An Evening with English National Ballet sees the Company present five world premieres at Sadler’s Wells, London, from 19-21 November 2020. Originally commissioned as creations for camera as part of English National Ballet’s upcoming digital season and now also adapted for the stage, the new works have been choreographed by some of the most exciting dance makers working today: Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Russell Maliphant, Yuri Possokhov, Arielle Smith, and Stina Quagebeur. 

 

Tamara Rojo continued: “After what will be nearly 9 months without performing in theatres, I am thrilled that English National Ballet is going to be back on stage with a live audience this winter. It’s been wonderful to see our studios back in action for the creation of these five exciting new works and we can’t wait to share them with our audiences.” 

 

Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui’s Laid in Earth is a “torn apart” quartet. It is set to Purcell’s famous aria from Dido and Aeneas – sung live by mezzo soprano Flora McIntosh, as well as new electronic music by Olga Wojciechowska.

 

Russell Maliphant creates ever shifting choreography and uses light as an integral partner in the creative process. He collaborates on this project with video artist Panagiotis Tomaras and with commissioned sound design by Dana Fouras.

 

A former principal dancer with the Bolshoi Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet and San Francisco Ballet, world-renowned choreographer Yuri Possokhov works with a UK company for the first time. His piece for four dancers, Senseless Kindness, is based on Vasily Grossman’s great novel, Life and Fate, about a Russian family caught in the Second World War and is set to Shostakovich’s Piano Trio No1.

 

In Take Five Blues, ENB’s Associate Choreographer, Stina Quagebeur, responds to two of her favourite pieces of music, Bach’s Vivace and Paul Desmond’s jazz standard, Take Five.

 

Arielle Smith’s Jolly Folly is fast-paced, surprising, and energetic and is driven by the Klazz Brothers’ latin-infused covers of Tchaikovsky, Strauss and Mozart. 

 

The music for Laid in Earth, Take Five Blues and Senseless Kindness is performed live by musicians of English National Ballet Philharmonic.

 

English National Ballet’s previously scheduled performances for Autumn/Winter 2020-2021 have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Nutcracker Delights replaces cancelled performances of Nutcracker at the London Coliseum. The world premieres of Creature by Akram Khan and Raymonda by Tamara Rojo after Marius Petipa have been postponed to 2021. Those who had purchased tickets for these performances are being contacted directly by the relevant box office. 

 

All rehearsals and performances are in strict compliance with the UK Government COVID-19 guidance. 

-ENDS- 

 

Notes to Editors
 

English National Ballet is an Associate Company of Sadler’s Wells.

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

 

Listings:

Performance details are subject to change, please see www.ballet.org.uk for the latest information.

 

Reunion: An Evening with English National Ballet
Sadler’s Wells, London 
Thursday 19 – Saturday 21 November 2020
www.ballet.org.uk/reunion
General on-sale: Thursday 15 October 2020 
This performance runs for approximately 80 minutes with no interval. 

 

Nutcracker Delights 
London Coliseum 
Thursday 03 December 2020 – Sunday 03 January 2021
www.ballet.org.uk/nutcracker-delights 
General on-sale: Wednesday 28 October 2020 
This performance runs for approximately 75 minutes with no interval. 

 

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 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

[Bellini Pointe]

Good news and thank you for posting this Janet.

[Guest oncnp]

Tamara Roja From the Guardian

 

https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2020/oct/12/tamara-rojo-interview-english-national-ballet-despite-everything-its-a-very-creative-moment

[bangorballetboy]

I have my tickets for Sadler's Wells and very much looking forward to it.

[Blossom]

1 hour ago, bangorballetboy said:

I have my tickets for Sadler's Wells and very much looking forward to it.

Waiting to book this on Weds am - hoping availability is still good! 

My 'ballet buddy' emigrated over the summer, so I've decided I'm going to try to take someone new with me as often as possible to these new, shorter programmes to try to pass on the bug (that's ballet bug not Covid!!!). 

Edited October 12, 2020 by Blossom

[Living the Dream]

On 12/10/2020 at 15:54, bangorballetboy said:

I have my tickets for Sadler's Wells and very much looking forward to it.

Me too. Im watching the matinee and evening performances on the Saturday. Can’t wait.