Press Release: Northern Ballet announces second instalment of choreographic platform: Sketches

[Jan McNulty]

 

For immediate release  Thursday 29 February     Northern Ballet announces second instalment of choreographic platform: Sketches                     Northern Ballet’s Sketches returns for 2024  Seven choreographers will take part in a series of choreographic workshops  They will present the resulting works at Northern Ballet’s Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre on the 9 and 10 May                     Following the resounding success of its debut last spring, Northern Ballet proudly announces the return of Sketches, a platform that invites emerging choreographers to delve deep into the artistry of dance.   Devised by Artistic Director Federico Bonelli, Sketches enters its second year with an exploration of the timeless concept of pas de deux (duet).   This year’s line-up will include six choreographers hailing from within the ranks of the Company, alongside the esteemed Carlos Pons Guerra, Artistic Director of DeNada Dance Theatre.   Two sharings of Sketches will take place on 9 & 10 May at Northern Ballet’s Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre, Leeds. Stripping away the veneer of elaborate lighting, sets, and costumes, these performances promise an intimate and unfiltered glimpse into the creation process as the choreographers introduce each piece to the audience. “The second year of Sketches will see the choreographers explore what ‘pas de deux’ can mean, how can this staple of the ballet repertoire be pushed. What they do from that brief is up to them, as they innovate and create on their dancer colleagues. I really admire Carlos Pons Guerra and his company DeNada Dance so I’m thrilled to be able to provide him with the time, resources and space to experiment with his current ideas. It's different for us to present work in such a stripped back setting, but I think that is was makes Sketches so exciting.  By providing a platform for experimentation and creative exploration, we aim to push the boundaries of our art form while fostering meaningful connections between choreographers and audiences.”  - Federico Bonelli, Artistic Director   Join Northern Ballet for an unforgettable evening of dance at Sketches on the 9 and 10 May. Visit northernballet.com/sketches to find out more and book.               Notes to Editors   Sketches Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre, Leeds 9 & 10 May northernballet.com/sketches     Northern Ballet   Bold and innovative in its approach, Northern Ballet is one of the UK’s leading and widest touring ballet companies, dedicated to creating stories that connect.    A champion for the cultural exports of the North, the Leeds-based Company is committed to bringing ballet to as many people and places as possible, under the leadership of Artistic Director Federico Bonelli. Northern Ballet’s Company of dancers performs a combination of its full-length ballets and specially created ballets for children at more than thirty venues annually.      Audiences can also enjoy Northern Ballet’s work on screen through their digital dance platform. Visit northernballet.com/digital-dance to discover more.    Joseph Taylor in Sketches (2023), photo Kyle Baines.