English National Ballet 2014/2015 Season
- English National Ballet presents Modern Masters: Icons of 20th Century Choreography at Sadler’s Wells in March 2015.
- Modern Masters includes works by Forsythe, Neumeier and Kylián.
- Guest Artists Ivan Vasiliev and Alban Lendorf perform in Swan Lake at the London Coliseum in January 2015.
- Ivan Vasiliev’s debut as Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake
- New members make their Company debuts including Principal Alejandro Virelles.
- Two new regional hubs for English National Ballet’s Dance for Parkinson’s programme.
- My First Ballet series continues with a brand new version of Swan Lake that embarks on a six week UK tour.
- Large scale international tour to take place in Summer 2015
From the 10 – 15 March 2015 English National Ballet presents Modern Masters: Icons of 20th Century Choreography, a new triple bill at Sadler’s Wells. The evening’s programme includes works from two choreographers new to the Company’s repertoire, William Forsythe’s In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated and Spring and Fall by John Neumeier. The triple bill also includes Jiří Kylián’s Petite Mort, first performed by the Company in Ecstasy and Death in 2013.
Of Modern Masters Artistic Director of English National Ballet, Tamara Rojo says: “After the success of last year’s productions Le Corsaire and Lest We Forget, I am delighted to present Modern Masters, a new triple bill, at Sadler’s Wells, which offers the perfect home for this programme. English National Ballet is committed to presenting the very best of both traditional and contemporary ballet to audiences across the UK, bringing these works to Sadler’s Wells continues this commitment and offers us the opportunity to reach new audiences.
I am excited to see the Company perform these works by some of the most influential choreographers. As Artistic Director I am always looking at our dancer’s development and this programme offers them both the challenge and opportunity to develop artistically.”
Continuing to bring the very best talent from around the world to a UK audience, this season sees English National Ballet welcome Guest Artists Ivan Vasiliev and Alban Lendorf, performing with the Company in Derek Deane’sSwan Lake at the London Coliseum from the 7 – 18 January 2015.
Vasiliev and Lendorf perform in the role of Prince Siegfried alongside Alina Cojocaru and Tamara Rojo respectively, in the role of Odette/Odile (Full Principal casting details for Swan Lake at the London Coliseum below). This is the first time that Vasiliev has performed the role of Prince Siegfried.
Of Vasiliev and Lendorf, Tamara Rojo says: “It is a reflection of English National Ballet’s reputation that we are able to attract outstanding talent from around the world to perform with the Company. I can’t wait to see Ivan partner with Alina and I look forward to performing alongside Alban again in Swan Lake.”
One of the most celebrated ballet dancers at the moment, Vasiliev has performed with numerous prestigious companies around the world including American Ballet Theatre (Principal), Bolshoi Ballet and Mariinsky Ballet. Vasiliev took London audiences by storm when he last performed with English National Ballet in Roland Petit’s Le Jeune Homme et la Mort in 2011.
Principal with The Royal Danish Ballet, Alban Lendorf has won numerous awards for his performances including the Benois de la Danse Award for his role of Armand Duval in Lady of the Camellias with The Royal Danish Ballet. ’One of the world’s most exceptional dancers’’ (The New York Times), Lendorf first performed as a Guest Artist with English National Ballet in Etudes in 2013 and recently as Franz in Ronald Hynd’s Coppélia in July 2014.
This season also sees new Principal Alejandro Virelles join English National Ballet from Boston Ballet. He will perform the lead roles in Swan Lake and Nutcracker on tour and at the London Coliseum.
Of joining the Company, Virelles says; “I grew up admiring Tamara Rojo as an artist and I am very excited to work with her at English National Ballet. Being a Principal with the Company has come at the perfect time in my career and I believe Tamara will have many great things to offer me as she is such an incredible talent.”
Also joining the Company this season is Precious Adams, who recently finished her training at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy and was a double prize winner at the Prix de Lausanne 2014; Yoko Callegari from Boston Ballet; Adriana Lizardi from Ballet National de l’Opera de Bordeaux; Sarah Kundi from Ballet Black and Isabelle Brouwers and Jinhao Zhang who join from English National Ballet School.
Continuing to develop its work with Dance for Parkinson’s, English National Ballet expands its regional class programmes to include DanceEast in Ipswich and National Dance Company Wales in Cardiff. They join existing partners Oxford, in partnership with Oxford City Council and Liverpool, in partnership with Merseyside Dance Initiative.
Remaining vital to the development of English National Ballet’s younger dancers, the 2015 Emerging Dancercompetition will be held at the Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall on the 23 March 2015. Last year’s winner of the Emerging Dancer Award, Junor Souza, has since been promoted to First Soloist and will perform Principal roles in Swan Lake and Nutcracker this season.
From the 18 – 20 June 2015 English National Ballet’s platform for emerging dance makers, Choreographics will take place at the Lilian Baylis Studio at Sadler’s Wells. Choreographics offers dancers in the Company the opportunity to create their own work and develop as choreographers as well as performers, collaborating with award-winning choreographer Russell Maliphant, an Associate Artist of the theatre.
Continuing its commitment to UK touring and presenting world-class ballet to the widest possible audience, English National Ballet takes its critically acclaimed production of Coppélia to Southampton, Oxford and Bristol; and ahead of its run at the London Coliseum in January 2015 Derek Deane’s Swan Lake tours to Manchester, Milton Keynes and Liverpool.
Making ballet accessible to audiences as young as three years old, this season sees the continuation of the popularMy First Ballet… series with My First Ballet: Swan Lake. The production runs at the Peacock Theatre, London from the 2 – 12 April followed by a six week UK tour including two new venues the Lighthouse, Poole and Curve Theatre, Leicester.
Alongside its UK tour programme in Summer 2015 English National Ballet embarks on a large scale international tour, taking world-class British ballet to new audiences around the world and reflecting this country’s rich and diverse cultural identity. The Company tours to Beijing, Singapore, Madrid, Barcelona, Mexico City and Bogota.
On Sale Dates:
My First Ballet: Swan Lake
Members: Friday 19 September 2014
General Public: Wednesday 24 September 2014
My First Ballet: Swan Lake at Curve Theatre, Leicester
Members: Monday 29 September 2014
General Public: Thursday 1 October 2014
Emerging Dancer
October 2014
My First Ballet: Swan Lake at the Peacock Theatre, London
Monday 10 November 2014
Modern Masters: Icons of 20th Century Choreography
Monday 10 November 2014
Choreographics
Monday 10 November 2014
Full season details below:
Dance for Parkinson’s Programmes
From October 2014 English National Ballet adds two new regional hubs to its Dance for Parkinson’s programme; DanceEast in Ipswich and National Dance Company Wales in Cardiff. They join existing regional programmes in Oxford, in partnership with Oxford City Council and Liverpool, in partnership with Merseyside Dance Initiative.
English National Ballet started working with people with Parkinson’s in 2010, the first major dance company in the UK to do so, since then it has become a leader for Dance for Parkinson’s. Its national Dance for Parkinson’s programme offers people with Parkinson’s, their carers, friends and family members the opportunity to engage in high quality artistic dance activity, inspired by the Company’s repertoire, within a professional dance studio.
Extending its outreach programme to these new hubs is integral to English National Ballet’s commitment to raising the public profile of Dance for Parkinson’s, giving access to, and advocating the benefits of dance and cultural activities for people with Parkinson’s.
Music@Malling
HK Gruber – Frankenstein!!
Tuesday 23 – Thursday 25 September 2015
Revelation St. Mary’s, Ashford, Kent
Chamber Domaine, English National Ballet and Matthew Sharp collaborate to perform schools concerts including performances of HK Gruber’s iconic Frankenstein!!
Narrated by Matthew Sharp, who was recently praised in The Daily Telegraph for his “astonishingly comprehensive virtuosity“, the concerts are a culmination of workshops across Kent that engage hundreds of children with music and ballet, providing access to leading international performers. The collaborating schools for these two performances are from Ashford.
HK Gruber is one of the world’s leading contemporary composers and these performances feature new choreography by English National Ballet First Soloist, Fabian Reimar for dancer, Daniele Silingardi and local school children.
Swan Lake
Wednesday 8 October 2014 – Sunday 18 January 2015
UK Tour
English National Ballet takes its full production of Derek Deane’s critically acclaimed Swan Lake on a UK tour to Manchester (8-11 Oct), Milton Keynes (11-15 Nov), Liverpool (18- 22 Nov) and the London Coliseum (7-18 Jan).
Arguably one of the most popular ballets created, Swan Lake tells the story of Prince Siegfried’s love for the Swan Queen, Odette, and their battle against the evil magician, Rothbart. This popular production brings the romance and high drama of the Russian ballet tradition alive, and features Tchaikovsky’s score played by the Orchestra of English National Ballet. Deane’s version of Swan Lake premiered at the London Coliseum in 2000 and has since been seen by over 550,000 people across the UK.
Coppélia
Wednesday 15 October 2014 – Saturday 8 November 2014
UK Tour
“The effervescent Delibes score is an unalloyed pleasure, the story is light-hearted, family friendly, and the choreography is filled with joy.” The Times
After a critically acclaimed run at the London Coliseum in July this year, Coppélia begins a UK tour to Southampton (15-18 Oct), Oxford (28 Oct-1 Nov) and Bristol (4-8 Nov).
Coppélia is the comic tale of an eccentric toymaker and his mechanical doll. Dr Coppélius, the toymaker, creates a lifelikeCoppélia doll and wishes to bring her to life. English National Ballet’s production is choreographed by Ronald Hynd. Léo Delibes’ score is played by the Orchestra of English National Ballet.
Nutcracker
Thursday 11 December 2014 – Sunday 4 January 2015
London Coliseum
“The sheer beauty of the production, the dazzling artistry of the performers and the glorious music of Tchaikovsky make this the perfect start to the festive season” The Observer
Nutcracker returns to the London Coliseum this Christmas. First performed in 2010 to celebrate English National Ballet’s 60th anniversary, Wayne Eagling’s version has since been seen by over 300,000 people.
Set in a world of Edwardian elegance Nutcracker takes audiences on a journey with Clara, her Nutcracker doll and the magician Drosselmeyer, set to Tchaikovsky’s soaring score performed by the Orchestra of English National Ballet. This is English National Ballet’s 11th production of Nutcracker since it performed its first full length production in 1950, its founding year. Since then, English National Ballet has established the tradition of performing Nutcracker at Christmas every year.
Modern Masters: Icons of 20th Century Choreography
Tuesday 10 – Sunday 15 March 2015
Sadler’s Wells
English National Ballet presents Modern Masters, a new triple bill, at Sadler’s Wells. The evening’s programme includes works from two choreographers new to the Company’s repotoire, William Forsythe’s In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated and Spring and Fall by John Neumeier. The triple bill also includes Jiří Kylián’s Petite Mort, first performed inEcstasy and Death in 2013.
Jiří Kylián’s Petit Mort features six men, six women and six fencing foils, symbolising energy, silence and sexuality. Created for the Salzburg Festival in 1991, it is performed to the movements of two Mozart Piano Concerti, the A Majorand the C Major.
Originally created for the Hamburg Ballet, Neumeier’s Spring and Fall is not in the repertoire of any other UK company. Set to Dvořák’s Serenade for Strings in E Major, it features two couples and corps de ballet. A regular Guest Artist with Hamburg Ballet, Lead Principal Alina Cojocaru said of performing the work in Hamburg this Summer; “to dance to Dvořák’s music in such a wonderful creation by Neumeier, gives me such a sense of meaning and hidden challenges.Spring and Fall is a dream come true.’’
William Forsythe created In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated at the invitation of Rudolf Nureyev when he was Director of the Paris Opera Ballet. Set against a bare stage it is performed by nine dancers to an electronic score by Dutch composer Thom Willems, culminating in a display of technical brilliance.
On sale Monday 10 November 2014
Emerging Dancer
Monday 23 March 2015
Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre
Now in its sixth year, English National Ballet’s annual event for up-and-coming dancers, Emerging Dancer will be held at the Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall. The 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.
Emerging Dancer is generously supported by Talbot Hughes McKillop, the restructuring experts.
My First Ballet: Swan Lake
Thursday 2 – Sunday 12 April 2015
The Peacock Theatre, London
Saturday 18 April – Saturday 23 May 2015
UK Tour
2015 sees the My First Ballet series enter its fourth year with My First Ballet: Swan Lake. A joint venture between English National Ballet and English National Ballet School, the series aims to make ballet accessible to an audience as young as three.
My First Ballet: Swan Lake opens at the Peacock Theatre in London’s West End on Thursday 2 April, followed by a 6 week UK tour, including two new venues Lighthouse, Poole and Curve Theatre, Leicester.
Choreographed by George Williamson, English National Ballet’s Associate Artist, My First Ballet: Swan Lake uses choreography based on the original concept by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov currently being performed in the Company’s repertoire. Williamson will reduce the ballet to an hour and adapt the story for children.
Choreographics
Thursday 18 – Sunday 20 June 2015
Lilian Baylis Studio at Sadler’s Wells
English National Ballet’s platform for emerging dance makers, Choreographics, will take place in the Lilian Baylis Studio at Sadler’s Wells this season. Offering dancers the chance to discover a choreographic language and develop their skills as dance makers as well as performers, they will collaborate with English National Ballet’s Music Director, Gavin Sutherland, to create a new score and receive mentoring from award-winning choreographer Russell Maliphant and dancer, choreographer and teacher, Kelly Nicholls.
Last year saw five works premiere including James Streeter’s In Living Memory, which went on to be performed at Latitude Festival and Stina Quagebeur’s Vera which was selected by The Breaking Glass Project and performed in New York in August.
On sale Monday 10 November 2014
For further information about English National Ballet and to book tickets visit www.ballet.org.uk. Please note performance details are subject to change.
Notes to Editors
Swan Lake at the London Coliseum
Principal Casting in detail (in the order of Odette/Odile and Prince Siegfried)
Casting is subject to change. Please see www.ballet.org.uk for more details.
London Coliseum
Wednesday 7 – Sunday 18 January 2015
020 7845 9300 or www.ballet.org.uk/swanlake
Wednesday 7 January – Alina Cojocaru and Ivan Vasiliev
Thursday 8 January (mat) – TBA and Junor Souza
Thursday 8 January (eve) – Tamara Rojo and Alban Lendorf
Friday 9 January – Fernanda Oliveira and Dmitri Gruzdyev
Saturday 10 January (mat) – Erina Takahashi and TBA
Saturday 10 January (eve) – Laurretta Sumerscales & Alejandro Virelles
Sunday 11 January (mat) – Alina Cojocaru and Ivan Vasiliev
Tuesday 13 January – Alina Cojocaru and Ivan Vasiliev
Wednesday 14 January – Tamara Rojo and Alban Lendorf
Thursday 15 January (mat) – Laurretta Sumerscales & Alejandro Virelles
Thursday 15 January (eve) – Erina Takahashi and TBA
Friday 16 January – Alina Cojocaru and Ivan Vasiliev
Saturday 17 January (mat) – Fernanda Oliveira and Dmitri Gruzdyev
Saturday 17 January (eve) – Tamara Rojo and Alban Lendorf
Sunday 18 January (mat) – Elena Glurdjidze and Arionel Vargas
LISTINGS INFORMATION FOR THE 2014/2015 SEASON
Dance for Parkinson’s Class Programmes
15 Sept – 20 Oct 2014: Oxford Summer Term
20 Sept – 13 Dec 2014: London Autumn Term
25 Sept – 18 Dec 2014: Liverpool Autumn Term
15 Oct 2014: Ipswich Taster Class and Theatre Visit
25 Oct 2014: Cardiff Taster Class and Theatre Visit
10 Nov 2014 – 16 Feb 2015: Oxford Autumn/Winter Term
For more information please see www.ballet.org.uk/learning/dance-parkinsons
Music@Malling
HK Gruber – Frankenstein!!
Revelation St.Mary’s, Ashford, Kent
23 – 25 Sept 2015
Box Office: 01732 876166 or www.musicatmalling.com
Tickets: £5
Swan Lake
Palace Theatre, Manchester
8 – 11 Oct 2014
Box Office: 0844 871 3019 or www.ballet.org.uk/swanlake
Tickets: £5 – £41
Coppélia
The Mayflower Theatre,
Southampton
15 – 18 Oct 2014
Box Office: 023 8071 1811 or www.ballet.org.uk/coppelia
Tickets: £10.75 – £48.50
Coppélia
New Theatre, Oxford
28 Oct – 1 Nov 2014
Box Office: 0844 871 3020 or www.ballet.org.uk/coppelia
Tickets: £10 – £41
Coppélia
The Bristol Hippodrome
4 – 8 Nov 2014
Box Office: 0844 871 3012 or www.ballet.org.uk/coppelia
Tickets: £10 – £46
Swan Lake
Milton Keynes Theatre
11 – 15 Nov 2014
Box Office: 0844 871 7652 or www.ballet.org.uk/swanlake
Tickets: £10 – £46
Swan Lake
Liverpool Empire
18 – 22 Nov 2014
Box Office: 0844 871 3017 or www.ballet.org.uk/swanlake
Tickets: £5 – £41
Nutcracker
London Coliseum
11 Dec 2014 – 4 Jan 2015
Box Office: 020 7845 9300 or www.ballet.org.uk/nutcracker
Tickets: £14 – £79
Swan Lake
London Coliseum
7 – 18 Jan 2015
Box Office: 020 7845 9300 or www.ballet.org.uk/swanlake
Tickets: £14 – £79
Modern Masters: Icons of 20th Century Choreography
Sadler’s Wells, London
10 – 15 Mar 2015
Box Office: 0844 412 4300 or www.ballet.org.uk/modernmasters
Tickets: £12 – £45
Emerging Dancer
Queen Elizabeth Hall
23 Mar 2015
Box Office: 0844 875 0073 or www.ballet.org.uk/emergingdancer
Tickets: TBA
My First Ballet: Swan Lake
Peacock Theatre, London
2 – 12 Apr 2015
Box Office: 0844 412 4322 or www.ballet.org.uk/myfirst/swanlake
Tickets: £10 – £25
My First Ballet: Swan Lake
Lighthouse, Poole
18 & 19 Apr 2015
Box Office: 0844 406 8666 or www.ballet.org.uk/myfirst/swanlake
Tickets: £8 – £25
My First Ballet: Swan Lake
New Victoria Theatre, Woking
25 & 26 Apr 2015
Box Office: 0844 871 7645 or www.ballet.org.uk/myfirst/swanlake
Tickets: £10 – £25
My First Ballet: Swan Lake
Palace Theatre, Manchester
2 & 3 May 2015
Box Office: 0844 871 3019 or www.ballet.org.uk/myfirst/swanlake
Tickets: £10 – £25
My First Ballet: Swan Lake
Bristol Hippodrome
9 & 10 May 2015
Box Office: 0844 871 3012 or www.ballet.org.uk/myfirst/swanlake
Tickets: £10 – £25
My First Ballet: Swan Lake
Wimbledon Theatre, London
15 & 16 May 2015
Box Office: 0844 871 7646 or www.ballet.org.uk/myfirst/swanlake
Tickets: £10 – £25
My First Ballet: Swan Lake
Curve Theatre, Leicester
22 & 23 May 2015
Box Office: 0116 242 3595 or www.ballet.org.uk/myfirst/swanlake
Tickets: £8 – £25
Choreographics
Lilian Baylis Studio at Sadler’s Wells
18 – 20 June 2015
Box Office: 0844 412 4300 or www.ballet.org.uk/choreographics
Tickets: TBA
About English National Ballet
English National Ballet is a world-class ballet company, renowned for creative excellence, innovative collaborations and engaging ways of honouring and enhancing traditional and contemporary ballet. English National Ballet aims to bring ballet to the widest possible audience, touring across the UK and internationally. In 2013/2014 English National Ballet gave over 190 performances to just under 250,000 people. 2014 saw English National Ballet commission and present the critically acclaimed productions Lest We Forget at the Barbican, Le Corsaire at the London Coliseum and on tour, and Romeo & Julietin-the-round at the Royal Albert Hall.
Under the Artistic Directorship of Tamara Rojo, English National Ballet has increased the amount of new works it has commissioned; working on new productions with contemporary choreographers including Russell Maliphant and Akram Khan performed alongside traditional productions including Derek Deane’s critically acclaimed Swan Lake and Wayne Eagling’sNutcracker.
English National Ballet has brought some of the greatest dancers from around the world to a UK audience, as well as developing new talent within the Company through events including the annual Emerging Dancer competition and Choreographics, giving dancers the opportunity to develop their craft as performers as well as dance makers.
English National Ballet is committed to making ballet accessible to all, offering tickets from as little as £14 in London and £5 on tour. The My First Ballet… series is a joint venture with the English National Ballet School, offers children the opportunity to see a ballet production created specifically for their age group.
Through its Engagement department, English National Ballet works with local communities of all ages involving them with ballet through workshops, talks and classes that take place around the country. In 2014 it’s hugely successful Dance for Parkinson’s programme that works with people with Parkinson’s, their carers and families, extended its regional output creating two new hubs in Ipswich and Cardiff.
Talbot Hughes McKillop (THM)
Talbot Hughes McKillop (THM) provides experienced leadership to corporates, creditors and shareholders in distressed and other event-driven special situations. The firm provides hands-on, practical support, typically using small, partner led teams to deal with both the financial and operational aspects of a restructuring situation. The role may involve partners from THM taking executive roles (for example as Chief Restructuring Officer) and/or other Board of Director appointments. Founded in 2001, THM has handled some of the highest profile pan- European restructuring projects. THM believes that the arts have a critical role to play in enriching the life of communities throughout the country, as well as in fostering emerging young talent. Business has a clear responsibility to engage constructively with arts organizations in providing finance and other forms of help and support. This is even more critical at a time when the state has had to reduce its financial support for the arts, creating a funding gap that needs to be bridged.
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