Press Release: Northern Ballet premières enchanting new ballet for children

[Jan McNulty]

Northern Ballet premières enchanting new ballet for children
 
Northern Ballet’s much-anticipated new ballet for children, Elves & the Shoemaker, will have its World Première in Leeds this autumn before touring to 16 venues across the UK in spring 2015, including performances alongside Northern Ballet’s national tour, with further venues to be announced soon.
 
Elves & the Shoemaker, choreographed by Northern Ballet’s Ballet Master Daniel de Andrade, is the latest in Northern Ballet’s award-winning series of Short Ballets for Small People which already includes the hugely popular Ugly Duckling and Three Little Pigs. The short ballets have been seen live by more than 53,000 people and on TV by more than 300,000 people in the CBeebies TV adaptations, for which Ugly Duckling received a Children’s BAFTA. The series of ballets have been created to introduce families and young children across the UK to live dance, music and theatre. 
 
Children from St. Anthony’s Primary School in Beeston, Leeds have been involved in the creation of the ballet. Nine children were selected to take part, all of whom have had no previous exposure to dance. They attended several rehearsals at Northern Ballet’s headquarters and have worked with Ballet Master Daniel de Andrade during the creative process, giving their feedback to help shape the ballet.  They will also attend a preview performance in September where they will be invited to give their honest opinion of the finished ballet.
 
Retelling the famous Brothers Grimm story about a poor and hard-working shoemaker who receives some much-needed help from two elves, this enchanting, colourful and heart-warming production will last approximately 40 minutes. Elves & the Shoemaker will be set to an original score composed by Philip Feeney with set designs by Ali Allen. 
 
Selina McGonagle, Director of Learning at Northern Ballet, said, ‘We are delighted to be giving young children and families the opportunity to experience our latest children’s ballet. It’s really great that this time we are touring more widely across the UK giving even more audiences the chance to experience this truly magical performance.’
 
-ENDS-

Notes to Editors
 
Northern Ballet is renowned for its full-length narrative productions which embrace popular culture and take inspiration from literature, opera, or give a unique interpretation of classical ballets. The Leeds-based company is committed to touring throughout the UK and overseas, developing new audiences for dance. Northern Ballet is funded by Arts Council England and Leeds City Council.  
 
Elves & the Shoemaker is the third in Northern Ballet’s series of Short Ballets for Small People which aims to produce ballet specifically for young children and to engage families in theatre, art and music in a fun, lively and approachable way.
 
Elves & the Shoemaker 2014 Tour Listings
 
Leeds, The Riley Theatre – Northern School of Contemporary Dance                                               
(Preview performance)                                                    
Sat 13 September
2.30pm, 4pm & 5.30pm                                                                                                    
                                                                                               
Leeds, The Hunslet Club
(Preview performance)
Sun 14 September
2.30pm, 4pm & 5.30pm
 
Leeds, Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre                  
(World Première)                                                               
27 October – 1 November 2014
Performances: Daily at 11am, 1pm & 3pm except Fri 31 Oct when the performances are 11am (Relaxed Performance), 1.30pm & 3.30pm 
                               
Booking Information for all performances of Elves & the Shoemaker:
Box Office 0113 220 8008
Book online northernballet.com/elves
Tickets £5 & Children £4
 

[Jan McNulty]

There is an interview with choreographer Daniel de Andrade on the Northern Ballet website about creating Elves and the Shoemaker.

 

The Company has also issued a short film of early rehearsals.