Press Release: Season of internationally acclaimed dance at Leeds’ Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre

[Jan McNulty]

Season of internationally acclaimed dance at Leeds’ Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre
 
The Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre, Leeds has launched a new season of dance for autumn 2015. The theatre will welcome Royal New Zealand Ballet for the first time with three European premières and returning visits from renowned dance companies: Ballet Black, Phoenix Dance Theatre, James Cousins Company and Northern Ballet’s new ballet for children.

Rarely seen in the UK, Royal New Zealand Ballet make their debut in Leeds on 3 and 4 November with a mixed programme that celebrates New Zealand and Pasifika culture, ahead of the Company’s visit to London’s Linbury Studio Theatre at the Royal Opera House. Mixed Programme: A Passing Cloud will feature three European Premières with works from Javier de Frutos and leading New Zealand choreographers Andrew Simmons and Neil Ieremia, and is completed by Selon Désir by Andonis Foniadakis.

Phoenix Dance Theatre present their annual showcase featuring two exciting mixed bills of work from 30 September until 3 October. Phoenix @ Home features a blend of soaring aerial dance and contemporary choreography in Artistic Director Sharon Watson’s Melt, choreographic duo Ivgi and Greben’s Document and Darshan Singh Bhuller’s inventive Mapping. For one night only on 30 September, Phoenix Presents… brings to Leeds the work of the 2014 New Adventures Choreographer Award winners Sally Marie and John Ross alongside Caroline Finn’s darkly comic Bloom.  
 
James Cousins Company present Without Stars and There We Have Been on 14 November. A powerful double bill inspired by Haruki Murakami’s novel, Norwegian Wood, which tells a story of love, loss and friendship. James Cousins is one of the UK’s most promising choreographic talents and winner of the inaugural New Adventures Choreographer Award.

On 20 and 21 November, Ballet Black (Best Independent Company in the 2012 Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards) bring Second Coming, a gothic fairytale created by celebrated chorographer Mark Bruce (Dracula), as part of their new mixed programme. This triple bill also features Kit Holder’s To Fetch a Pail of Water? and Will Tuckett’s Depouillement.

After the success of Ugly Duckling, Three Little Pigs and Elves & the Shoemaker, all adapted for TV by CBeebies, Northern Ballet’s latest ballet for children, Tortoise & the Hare, will have its World Première at the theatre from 22 October until 26 October. Choreographed by Northern Ballet dancers Dreda Blow and Sebastian Loe (Ugly Duckling) and set to an original score by Bruno Merz. Tickets are selling fast and some performances are almost sold out so early booking is recommended.

In addition, the Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre opens its doors for a day of insight into practice and performance on 20 June for Tell Tale Steps - the culmination of Northern Ballet’s first choreographic laboratory. The day includes the chance to watch Northern Ballet’s dancers in their daily class, a debate with leading UK critics, choreographers and dancers, and a sharing of the work created over the four weeks.

Northern Ballet will also host Expressions on 15 July, a sharing which brings together inclusive dance groups from the North of England, giving talented dancers with disabilities the chance to showcase their skills.

The theatre’s autumn season offers a rare chance to see prestigious companies and works by internationally acclaimed choreographers in an intimate setting. Tickets for the autumn season at the Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre are on sale now and can be booked online at theatreleeds.com, by calling the box office on 0113 220 8008 or in person at the Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre, Northern Ballet, Quarry Hill, Leeds LS2 7PA.


Listings  

Saturday 20 June
Northern Ballet
Tell Tale Steps - Choreographic Laboratory 
Class & Panel 11.00am – 3.00pm
Tickets £8.00 & Concessions £6.00
Sharing 4.00pm
Tickets £10.00 & Concessions £8.00
Class, Panel & Sharing 11.00am – 5.30pm
Tickets £15.00 & Concessions £11.00
 
Wednesday 15 July
Hosted by Northern Ballet 
Expressions
Performances 2.00pm & 7.30pm
Tickets Free – Booking essential
 
Wednesday 30 September
Phoenix Dance Theatre
Phoenix Presents…
Performance 7.30pm
Tickets £15.00 & Concessions £10.00

Thursday 01 – Saturday 03 October
Phoenix Dance Theatre
Phoenix @ Home
Performances 7.30pm
Tickets £15.00 & Concessions £10.00

Thursday 22 – Monday 26 October
Northern Ballet
Tortoise & the Hare
Performances 11.00am, 1.00pm & 3.00pm
Sun 25 Oct 11.00am (Relaxed Performance), 1.30pm & 3.30pm
Tickets £6.00 & Children £4.50
Babe in arms (0 – 2 years) £1.00

Tuesday 03 & Wednesday 04 November
Royal New Zealand Ballet
Mixed Programme: A Passing Cloud
Performances Tue & Wed 7.30pm & Matinee Wed 2.30pm
Tickets £20.00 & Concessions £17.50

Saturday 14 November
James Cousins Company
Without Stars | There We Have Been
Performance 7.30pm
Tickets £12.50 & Concessions £10.00

Friday 20 & Saturday 21 November
Ballet Black
Mixed Programme
Performances 7.30pm
Tickets £15.00 & Concessions £12.50

Notes to Editors
The Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre is an intimate studio theatre situated inside the stunning home of Northern Ballet and Phoenix Dance Theatre on Quarry Hill, Leeds. The building was winner of the 2011 National Lottery Award for Best Arts Project. The theatre was named as the best family friendly theatre in Yorkshire in the Netmums Theatre Awards. The theatre also received Best Family Venue, Best Family Event and Best Family Welcome at the 2013 Family Arts Festival Awards. The Stanley & Audrey Burton has signed up to the Family Arts Standards and supports Child Friendly Leeds.