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Press Release: English National Ballet 2014 Schedule


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English National Ballet Performance Schedule 2014

 

Le Corsaire

9 January – 19 January 2014, London Coliseum

11 February – 15 Feb on tour

Le Corsaire (The Pirate) is a ballet in three acts, with a libretto based on the poem The Corsair by Lord Byron. Medora, a young Greek girl, is sold to Pasha by Lankandem a slave trader. The pirate Conrad seizes Medora, takes her to his grotto and declares his love for her. Conrad's right-hand-man Birbanto, who is jealous of Conrad, tries to kill him but Medora is able to save him. Lankandem in an opportunistic moment seizes Medora and takes her back to Pasha. Conrad and his men show up in disguise at the Palace to take Medora away again. That evening Medora dances for Pasha, Conrad seizes the opportunity to take her away, killing the traitor Birbanto as Medora unmasks him. The ship on which Medora and Conrad escape sinks in a terrible storm and the two lovers die, sealing their immortal love. English National Ballet is the first UK Company to perform the complete work which showcases some of the most bravura male dancing in the ballet repertoire. Hollywood film designer Bob Ringwood (Batman, Alien 3, Star Trek Nemesis, AI and Troy) has created new sets and costumes. Staged by Anna-Marie Holmes after Petipa and Sergeyev with music by Adam, Pugni, Delibes, Drigo and Oldenbourg. Le Corsaire is generously supported by Alfa-Bank, Swarovski and Le Corsaire Appeal donors.

 

Lest We Forget

2 – 12 April 2014, Barbican Theatre

Award-winning British choreographers Akram Khan, Rusell Maliphant and Liam Scarlett create works honouring the 100th anniversary of the Great War. Completing the programme is George Williamson’s Firebird, premiered by the Company in 2012.  This is the first time that Akram Khan and Russell Maliphant have collaborated with a classical ballet company.  Firmly rooted in the classical tradition are the younger choreographers, Royal Ballet Artist in Residence Liam Scarlett and English National Ballet’s own Associate Artist George Williamson. 

 

My First Ballet: Coppélia

5 – 25 May 2014, Peacock Theatre, London and on tour

(Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury / Peacock Theatre London / Manchester Palace Theatre / Assembly Hall, Royal Tunbridge Wells / Waterside Aylesbury / Churchill Bromley)

My First Ballet: Coppélia tells the comic tale of an eccentric toymaker and his mechanical doll, in a beautifully adapted version for young audiences. The My First Ballet series brings young audiences their first taste of ballet, with captivating music and beautiful dance. After presenting My First Sleeping Beauty and My First Cinderella at the Peacock Theatre and at theatres around the country last year, ENB2 returns with its graduating dancers of outstanding potential from English National Ballet School. Léo Delibes's irresistibly melodic score is accompanied with narration to ensure that everyone enjoys this classic story. My First Ballet: Coppélia, based on Ronald Hynd’s original production, is choreographed by George Williamson, English National Ballet’s Associate Artist. My First Ballet: Coppélia is generously supported by The Leverhulme Trust. 

 

Emerging Dancer 2014

19 May 2014, Lyceum Theatre

Emerging Dancer Competition is an annual event for English National Ballet to recognise and nurture the phenomenal talent of its up-and-coming dancers. In this live final six emerging dancers perform in front of a panel of eminent judges. The Emerging Dancer Award winner is announced at the end of the evening together with the recipient of the People’s Choice Award, which is voted for by members of the public. The Emerging Dancer Competition is generously supported in its fifth year by Talbot Hughes McKillop, the restructuring experts.

 

Choreographics

22, 23 & 24 May, 2014, Barbican Pit

English National Ballet invites five company members to take the choreographic lead for a showcase that places emerging talent centre stage. Charged with devising new work in response to the Great War, the aspiring choreographers collaborate with five composers to develop original music that begins with a song and evolves into an accompanying score. Under the direction of Associate Artist George Williamson, the event also provides a platform from which young dancers shine, including the current winner of English National Ballet School’s Choreographic Competition. English National Ballet’s second programme marking the centenary of the First World War at the Barbican follows Lest We Forget.

 

Romeo & Juliet

11-22 June 2014, Royal Albert Hall

Raymond Gubbay and the Royal Albert Hall present English National Ballet at the Royal Albert Hall in June, with Derek Deane’s breath-taking in-the-round production of Romeo & Juliet. Performed by a company of 120 dancers and actors this epic staging of Shakespeare's timeless tragedy is set in-the-round. This magnificent production brings to life all the emotions of the world's greatest love story, from the majestic sweep of the masked ball to the passion and intimacy of the lovers' pas de deux. Renaissance Verona in all its decadent richness and grandeur is beautifully evoked by Roberta Guidi di Bagno’s designs. Prokofiev's evocative and memorable score is played by the full Orchestra of English National Ballet.

 

Coppélia

23 – 27 July 2014, London Coliseum

On tour 15-18 October, Southampton, 28 October-1 November, Oxford, 4-8 November, Bristol

Coppélia, is the comic tale of an eccentric toymaker and his mechanical doll. Dr Coppélius, the toymaker, has created the lifelike Coppélia doll and wishes for nothing more than to bring her to life. He imagines that his dream has finally come true, but he has merely been caught up in a lovers' tiff. Love triumphs over all in this comedy of mistaken identity and the finale is a breath-taking celebration of the lovers' marriage. Coppélia is an enchanting, effervescent family ballet, perfect for young and old alike. English National Ballet's time honoured production is choreographed by Ronald Hynd. Léo Delibes' irresistibly melodic score is played by English National Ballet's full orchestra.

 

 

 

Swan Lake

8-11 October 2014, Manchester, 11-15 November, Milton Keynes, 18-22 November, Liverpool, 7-18 January, 2015, London Coliseum

English National Ballet will take its full production of Derek Deane’s Swan Lake on tour around the country in 2014. The full production was last seen in the UK at the London Coliseum last July where it was met with sell out audiences and rave reviews. Arguably the most popular ballet ever created, Swan Lake tells the story of Prince Siegfried’s powerful love for the Swan Queen, Odette, and their battle against the evil magician, Rothbart. Derek Deane’s traditional production brings the romance and high drama of the grand Russian ballet tradition alive. Swan Lake is set to Tchaikovsky’s magnificent score, which features some of the most beautiful music in the classical ballet repertoire.

 

Nutcracker

11 December 2014 – 4 January 2015, London Coliseum

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without English National Ballet’s Nutcracker. The company has performed it every year since 1950. 2013 sees the return of Wayne Eagling’s version, created in 2010 to celebrate the Company’s 60th birthday. Set in a world of frosty Edwardian elegance designed by Peter Farmer, this captivating production takes audiences on an enchanting journey with Clara, her Nutcracker doll and the magician Drosselmeyer. English National Ballet’s dancers bring to life Tchaikovsky’s eternally popular score. Nutcracker is generously supported by Swarovski, the Garfield Weston Foundation and Nutcracker Appeal donors.

 

Ends

For further information about English National Ballet 2013/14 Performance Schedule visit www.ballet.org.uk  You can find English National Ballet on Facebook and Twitter @ENBallet

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