Northern Ballet Archives - North West End UK

13Nov

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

A Christmas Carol – Hull New Theatre

“One magical night” were the first three words of the press release describing the well-known story, A Christmas Carol, ahead of Northern Ballet’s run of the Charles Dickens’ classic at the Hull New Theatre on Tuesday evening. Those same three words aren’t praise enough to describe what we theatregoers witnessed when this amazing company took to the stage. It was sheer perfection - from the opening snowy scenes of Victorian life, to the closing joyous scene amidst the falling snow. The famous story, set in Victorian Leeds for this production, focuses on miserly money-lender Ebenezer Scrooge who is shown the error of his ways after visits from three spirits, Christmas Past, Present and Future. It’s a gloomy start, with the funeral procession of Scrooge’s business partner, Jacob ...

Northern Ballet: A Christmas Carol – Sheffield Lyceum

9Nov

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Northern Ballet: A Christmas Carol – Sheffield Lyceum

Northern Ballet’s ‘A Christmas Carol’ is infused with festive wonder and spectacle, but is ultimately haunted by ghosts of an unwillingly bygone era, suffering in real-time, solemnly foreboding a future of split community and chairs belonging, but not occupied. There is an abundance of talent on display in this show, with some excellent set pieces and performances. It works well between large and small scale, with seamless interplay between soloists and group dancers. Even its transitional qualities in and out of scenes is impressive. This piece is both large and small, but for all the right reasons, it usually feels large. The design of the show is fantastic, with an immensely adept understanding of transformative set design and utility. Wardrobe excels in many areas, with the Ghost...

Northern Ballet: Beauty & The Beast – Leeds Grand Theatre

5Jun

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Northern Ballet: Beauty & The Beast – Leeds Grand Theatre

There have been countless versions of Beauty & The Beast over the years in film and the theatre, but David Nixon’s version for Northern Ballet is a million miles away from the saccharine Disney version delving deep into the darker elements of this love story that has its origins in Ancient Greece. Northern Ballet’s former artistic director looks to Cocteau’s classic 1946 movie for his inspiration, which offers the dancers a much more challenging understanding of how if we fail to look beyond exteriors we will miss things like love, compassion and the inner demons that make us all human. Although this is a far more subtle reading of this fable it retains all the key elements as a vain prince who is cursed by his narcissism to become a beast until he can find true love when someone...

Northern Ballet take Tortoise & The Hare on tour

14Jan

By NewsdeskNo Comments

NEWS

Northern Ballet take Tortoise & The Hare on tour

Northern Ballet are taking their children’s ballet Tortoise & The Hare on the road kicking off at The Linbury theatre in London’s Royal Opera House from 27th – 29th January before embarking on an extensive UK tour. Tortoise & the Hare is a child friendly re-imagining of Aesop’s much-loved fable of a Tortoise who tired of being teased for his slowness challenges a speedy Hare to a race with unexpected results. Choreographed by former Northern Ballet dancers Dreda Blow and Sebastian Loe, Tortoise & the Hare premiered in 2015 and was the second children’s ballet by the pair. The production includes an original score composed by Bruno Merz, colourful set designs by Ali Allen and live music performed by members of the Northern Ballet Sinfonia. It’s a short ballet running ...

Northern Ballet release their first inclusive dance film

9Dec

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

NEWS

Northern Ballet release their first inclusive dance film

In a first for Northern Ballet performers from the company and dancers from their Ability course for adults with additional learning support needs have joined forces in a pioneering dance film created by director and choreographer Ben Wright. Every Little Thing is a Change was developed in a series of workshops at Northern Ballet’s headquarters in Leeds exploring how a touch, a look or a feeling can transport all of us into another world. The film premièred at Northern Ballet’s inclusive dance festival Expressions, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in July this year, and is now available online. An audio described version of the film will also be released. The short film is Northern Ballet’s next step in exploring how inclusive dance can be more closely linked...

30Nov

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

The Nutcracker – Leeds Grand Theatre

After enduring endless plays of Merry Xmas Everyone trundling round the shops you know the festive season is finally here when Northern Ballet stage their annual extravaganza. This year The Nutcracker is back, and once again you have that feeling they’ve run into the props store and gone a bit mad to produce a lavish winter wonderland. David Nixon’s colourful and stylish costumes probably caused a national shortage of sequins and taffeta. It’s a wonderfully bonkers fairy tale as a mysterious magician sends ingénue Clara off on a surreal journey where she survives a battle between giant mice and life size toy soldiers, before being magically transported to a wintery wonderland where meets her Nutcracker Prince. It’s all beautifully realised by designer Charles Cusick Smith who works h...

The Nutcracker dances his way to Leeds Grand for a feast of dance

14Oct

By NewsdeskNo Comments

NEWS

The Nutcracker dances his way to Leeds Grand for a feast of dance

Northern Ballet’s acclaimed version of The Nutcracker returns home to Leeds Grand Theatre this November after its hugely successful run last year. It’s the classic tale of Clara and her wooden Nutcracker doll that is much more than it seems. As the clock strikes midnight Clara finds herself being whisked away on a magical adventure through a winter wonderland filled with dancing snowflakes and a whole host of colourful characters. Photo: Kyle Baines The Nutcracker is the perfect introduction to classical ballet that has something for everyone, from the iconic dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy to an epic battle between the Nutcracker Prince and the villainous Mouse King. The ballet is set to Tchaikovsky's iconic music that is played live by the Northern Ballet Sinfonia. ...

Northern Ballet’s festive spectacular The Nutcracker is back again this winter

3Oct

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

NEWS

Northern Ballet’s festive spectacular The Nutcracker is back again this winter

Northern Ballet are back this winter with their traditional festive spectacular The Nutcraker as one child’s Christmas magical dreams come true. The company will open at Woking New Victoria Theatre on Thursday 10th November and tour to Nottingham Theatre Royal, Norwich Theatre Royal and Hull New Theatre before arriving at Leeds Grand Theatre for their now traditional three week run over the Christmas period. In the midst of a festive party, as the fire crackles and the pile of presents grows ever higher, Clara is caught up in the warmth and excitement of Christmas and becomes enthralled by her new Nutcracker doll. But, as the clock strikes midnight, her Nutcracker proves to be no ordinary toy. After saving her Nutcracker from the wily Mouse King, Clara is whiske...

Northern Ballet launch autumn season with a world premiere at Leeds Playhouse

6Sep

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

NEWS

Northern Ballet launch autumn season with a world premiere at Leeds Playhouse

Northern Ballet launch their autumn season with the world première of three exhilarating new dance pieces under the banner Made in Leeds: Three Short Ballets at Leeds Playhouse from 10th – 17th September. Yorkshire audiences will be the first to see new works from award-winning choreographers Mthuthuzeli November, Stina Quagebeur and Dickson Mbi performed by Northern Ballet’s world-class dancers. Olivier award-winning Mthuthuzeli November’s Wailers is described as "a work that gives thanks to life. To its struggles, beauty and its people. Those with us and no longer with us. It is a prayer for guidance." Stina Quagebeur, Associate Choreographer with English National Ballet, presents Nostalgia billed as "an exploration of that familiar state of longing, poignancy and piercing...

Federico Bonelli is Northern Ballet’s new Artistic Director

21Feb

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

NEWS

Federico Bonelli is Northern Ballet’s new Artistic Director

Royal Ballet principal dancer Federico Bonelli is Northern Ballet’s new Artistic Director succeeding long serving predecessor David Nixon. Bonelli has danced the Royal Ballet’s leading roles since joining in 2003 after training at the Turin Dance Academy and dancing with Zürich Ballet and Dutch National Ballet. In 2019 he graduated from the Clore Leadership Programme and he is a non-executive director and member of the Board of Parents and Carers in Performing Arts. He has curated the programme for The Royal Ballet activities in Doncaster as part of the Doncaster Creates festival, prior to its pandemic postponement and has coached Royal Ballet repertory, helping to nurture and develop the high standards of the company’s dancers. Federico Bonelli Bonelli who tak...