Jan McNulty Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 Big Ballet may have seen their last curtain call but the stage door is always open with Northern Ballet Filmed at Northern Ballet’s headquarters, Channel 4’s Big Ballet may have come to an end last night, but the door into dance remains open with Northern Ballet. The Company has been pioneering accessible ballet since it was founded nearly 45 years ago and works hard to ensure the joy of dance is available to everyone to experience. The majority of the rehearsals for the 3-part programme took place at Northern Ballet’s world-class facilities in central Leeds, where Northern Ballet worked with the programme makers to ensure the participants had the most authentic experience possible. The Northern Ballet Sinfonia also played for the Big Ballet’s final performance at St. George’s Hall in Bradford where Northern Ballet Technical was commissioned to build the set. During their time at the Company’s Quarry Hill home, the Big Ballet dancers were able to rehearse in spaces purpose- built for dance and were invited to watch Company rehearsals. Towards the end of the project Northern Ballet also assisted in directing participants towards possible future opportunities in dance. Northern Ballet was the first regional dance company to be based permanently outside of London and accessibility to dance across all platforms has been a part of the Company’s ethos since it started almost 45 years ago. Northern Ballet offers professional training and open classes for all ages and abilities, as well as audio described performances and open days. The Company is the widest touring ballet company in the UK and will tour to 35 venues during 2014 providing access to the highest standard of dance performance to audiences nationwide. Northern Ballet's Director of Learning, Selina McGonagle, said: "Northern Ballet has a long-established reputation for offering high quality dance experiences for everybody. We offer open classes and courses in dance for everyone from very young children, to adults and older people and they are very popular. Our Ability and in motion courses are aimed at people with disabilities. We welcome everybody, no matter what size or shape, to come to Northern Ballet and try dance for themselves. I'm pleased to say that some of the Big Ballet dancers have chosen to stay on at Northern Ballet and join our adult ballet classes and we encourage other people to come and give it a try." The Academy of Northern Ballet offers high quality dance training following the Ichino method, developed by renowned Ballet Mistress and ex-Prima Ballerina Yoko Ichino. The method, which benefits all open and Academy classes, takes a holistic approach to teaching, nurturing and inspiring students to become balanced and healthy dancers. The method is also adopted by the Company’s professional dancers. Northern Ballet's Artistic Director, David Nixon OBE, who was consulted by the programme makers and was involved in the filming, said: "Northern Ballet's dancers are highly trained, elite performers who have spent many years perfecting their craft. This is part of what our audiences pay to see. I absolutely support the idea that everyone should have the opportunity to dance if they wish to, and I hope the project has re-ignited a passion for one of the world’s greatest art forms in the people who took part.” For more information and to find out how you can get involved in dance with Northern Ballet visit northernballet.com, call 0113 220 8000 or email info@northernballet.com. -ENDS- Notes to EditorsNorthern Ballet is one of the UK’s five large ballet companies. Based in Leeds it performs throughout the UK as well as overseas. Northern Ballet’s productions mix classical dance and theatre, embracing popular culture and taking inspiration from literature, opera, or giving a unique interpretation of popular classical ballets. Northern Ballet is the busiest touring ballet company in the UK and is typically on the road for around 24 weeks of the year. The Company of 40 dancers tours a combination of new works and established repertoire to cities throughout the UK and is the only large scale ballet company to do so. Visit www.northernballet.com for more information on the Company and tour. Cleopatra - Tour DatesLeeds Grand Theatre Sheffield, Lyceum Theatre6 - 15 March 2014 25 – 29 March 2014Box Office 0844 848 2700 Box Office 0114 249 6000www.leedsgrandtheatre.com www.sheffieldtheatres.comOn sale now On sale now Cinderella – Tour DatesEdinburgh Festival Theatre Hull New Theatre20 – 22 March 2014 2 – 5 April 2014 Box Office 0131 529 6000 Box Office 01482 300 300 www.edtheatres.com www.hullcc.gov.uk/hullnewtheatre On sale now On sale now Cardiff New Theatre Norwich Theatre Royal8 – 12 April 2014 7 – 11 October 2014Box Office 02920 878 889 Box Office 01603 630 000 www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk On sale now On sale 1 May 2014 Newcastle Theatre Royal Belfast, Grand Opera House21 – 25 October 2014 5 – 8 November 2014Box Office 0844 811 2121 Box Office 028 9024 1919 www.theatreroyal.co.uk www.goh.co.uk On sale 24 March 2014 On sale soon Manchester Palace Theatre Sheffield, Lyceum Theatre18 – 22 November 2014 25 – 29 November 2014Box Office 0844 871 3019 Box Office 0114 249 6000www.atgtickets.com www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk On sale now On sale 22 March 2014 A Midsummer Night’s Dream - Tour DatesNorwich Theatre Royal Milton Keynes Theatre13 – 17 May 2014 20 – 24 May 2014Box Office 01603 630 000 Box Office 0844 871 7652 www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk www.atgtickets.comOn sale now On sale now Southampton, The Mayflower28 -31 May 2014Box Office 02380 711 811www.mayflower.org.ukOn sale now Mixed Programme – Tour DatesLondon, Linbury Studio Theatre (Royal Opera House) Leeds, Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre8 – 10 May 2014 18 – 21 June 2014Box Office 0207 304 4000 Box Office 0113 220 8008www.roh.org.uk www.theatreleeds.comOn sale now On sale now Three Little Pigs – Tour DatesMiddlesbrough Theatre Hull Truck Theatre11 March 2014 13 March 2014Box Office 01642 815 181 Box Office 01482 323 638www.middlesbroughtheatre.co.uk www.hulltruck.co.ukOn sale now On sale now Goole, Junction Liverpool Playhouse15 March 2014 17 March 2014Box Office 01405 763 652 Box Office 0151 709 4776www.junctiongoole.co.uk www.everymanplayhouse.comOn sale now On sale now Berwick The Maltings Barnsley Civic22 March 2014 25 March 2014Box Office 01289 330 999 Box Office 01226 327 000www.maltingsberwick.co.uk www.barnsleycivic.co.ukOn sale now On sale now Bradford, St George’s Hall Bridlington, The Spa27 March 2014 28 March 2014Box Office 01274 432 000 Box Office 01626 678 258www.bradford-theatres.co.uk www.thespabridlington.comOn sale now On sale now Doncaster, Cast Stirling, Macrobert Theatre29 March 2014 31 March 2014Box Office 01302 303 959 Box Office 01786 466 666www.castindoncaster.com www.macrobert.orgOn sale now On sale now Durham, Gala Theatre Lancaster, The Duke’s Theatre2 April 2014 4 April 2014Box Office 0300 026 6600 Box Office 01524 598 500www.galadurham.co.uk www.dukes-lancaster.orgOn sale now On sale now Blackpool, Grand Theatre Harrogate Theatre5 April 2014 8 April 2014Box Office 01253 290 190 Box Office 01423 502 116www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk www.harrogatetheatre.co.ukOn sale now On sale now Leicester Curve Theatre Barrow-in-Furness, The Forum11 – 12 April 2014 15 April 2014Box Office 0116 242 3595 Box Office 01229 820 000www.curveonline.co.uk www.theforumbarrow.co.ukOn sale now On sale now Huddersfield, Lawrence Batley Theatre Southampton, The Mayflower17 April 2014 30 May 2014Box Office 01484 430 528 Box Office 02380 711 811www.thelbt.org www.themayflower.orgOn sale now On sale now Dracula – Tour DatesLeeds, West Yorkshire Playhouse5 – 13 September 2014Box Office 0113 213 7700www.wyp.org.ukOn sale 3 March 2014 The Great Gatsby – Tour DatesWoking, New Victoria Theatre Nottingham, Theatre Royal23 – 27 September 2014 30 September – 4 October 2014Box Office 0844 871 7645 Box Office 0115 989 5555www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-victoria-theatre/ www.trch.co.ukOn sale now On sale now Canterbury, Marlowe Theatre Bradford Alhambra28 October – 1 November 2014 12 – 15 November 2014Box Office 01227 787 787 Box Office 01274 432 000www.marlowetheatre.com www.bradford-theatres.co.ukOn sale now On sale now Peter Pan – Tour DatesLeeds Grand Theatre11 – 20 December 2014Box Office 0844 848 2700www.leedsgrandtheatre.comOn sale 3 March 2014 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 Have just finished watching the last episode of Big Ballet and have just posted to express the view that I hoped some of them would continue now with normal adult ballet classes in Leeds. Great to have such wonderful studios to dance in. I didn't realise that the actual performance wasn't in Leeds though but in Bradford. Am looking forward to seeing Northern Ballet in May in London and hopefully Southampton too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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