School Roadshow Feedback
Since September Catherine Mullaney and Stephanie Bell from Northern Ballet Theatre’s (NBT) Communications Department have been visiting primary schools across Leeds with the Schools Roadshow. Using footage from NBT rehearsals and interviews with the dancers this free assembly aims to give pupils an introduction to the world of dance and ballet.
So far this year the Roadshow team have visited 14 schools speaking to a total of 3300 children. But the biggest audience so far was at Headfields Junior School who have 600 pupils! Having already visited the NBT studios and watched rehearsals, Headfields School were big NBT fans but this was the first time all the pupils got to see and hear more about the Company. Following the visit they decided to say thank you by sending some beautiful drawings and letters to the Roadshow team.
Picture: Amna Ditta
by Khadija Kara
by Maani Mahmood
Catherine and Stephanie are now taking roadshow bookings for 2010, please call 0113 274 5381 or email.
A Christmas Carol – Sheffield Cast
Buy tickets for A Christmas Carol from Sheffield Lyceum Theatre.
Sheffield Lyceum Theatre box office: 0114 249 6000
Information & Photos of Northern Ballet Theatre’s production of A Christmas Carol.
A Christmas Carol (Photo: Bill Cooper)
Please note, casts are subject to change without notice.
Tuesday, 10 November
Evening, 7.30pm
- Scrooge: Darren Goldsmith
- Young Scrooge: Christopher Hinton-Lewis
- Belle: Pippa Moore
- Bob Crachit: Hironao Takahashi
- Mrs Crachit: Jessica Morgan
- Ghost of Christmas Past: Julie Charlet
- Ghost of Christmas Present: Tobias Batley
- Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come: Michael Berkin
- Nephew: Kenneth Tindall
- Nephew’s Wife: Georgina May
Wednesday, 11 November
Evening, 7.30pm
- Scrooge: Christopher Hinton-Lewis
- Young Scrooge: Kenneth Tindall
- Belle: Martha Leebolt
- Bob Crachit: Tobias Batley
- Mrs Crachit: Dreda Blow
- Ghost of Christmas Past: Pippa Moore
- Ghost of Christmas Present: Yi Song
- Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come: Graham Kotowich
- Nephew: Giuliano Contadini
- Nephew’s Wife: Hannah Bateman
Thursday, 12 November
Matinée, 2.30pm
- Scrooge: Darren Goldsmith
- Young Scrooge: Christopher Hinton-Lewis
- Belle: Pippa Moore
- Bob Crachit: Hironao Takahashi
- Mrs Crachit: Nathalie Léger
- Ghost of Christmas Past: Julie Charlet
- Ghost of Christmas Present: Tobias Batley
- Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come: Michael Berkin
- Nephew: John Hull
- Nephew’s Wife: Martha Leebolt
Evening, 7.30pm
- Scrooge: Martin Bell
- Young Scrooge: Hironao Takahashi
- Belle: Michela Paolacci
- Bob Crachit: Kenneth Tindall
- Mrs Crachit: Victoria Sibson
- Ghost of Christmas Past: Ayana Kanda
- Ghost of Christmas Present: Christopher Hinton-Lewis
- Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come: Graham Kotowich
- Nephew: Yi Song
- Nephew’s Wife: Martha Leebolt
Friday, 13 November
Evening, 7.30pm
- Scrooge: Christopher Hinton-Lewis
- Young Scrooge: Kenneth Tindall
- Belle: Martha Leebolt
- Bob Crachit: Martin Bell
- Mrs Crachit: Dreda Blow
- Ghost of Christmas Past: Pippa Moore
- Ghost of Christmas Present: Yi Song
- Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come: Graham Kotowich
- Nephew: Giuliano Contadini
- Nephew’s Wife: Hannah Bateman
Saturday, 12 November
Matinée, 2.30pm
- Scrooge: Sebastian Loe
- Young Scrooge: Hironao Takahashi
- Belle: Michela Paolacci
- Bob Crachit: Tobias Batley
- Mrs Crachit: Nathalie Léger
- Ghost of Christmas Past: Isabella Gasparini
- Ghost of Christmas Present: David Ward
- Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come: Michael Berkin
- Nephew: Yi Song
- Nephew’s Wife: Victoria Sibson
Evening, 7.30pm
- Scrooge: Darren Goldsmith
- Young Scrooge: Christopher Hinton-Lewis
- Belle: Pippa Moore
- Bob Crachit: Hironao Takahashi
- Mrs Crachit: Jessica Morgan
- Ghost of Christmas Past: Julie Charlet
- Ghost of Christmas Present: Tobias Batley
- Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come: Michael Berkin
- Nephew: Kenneth Tindall
- Nephew’s Wife: Georgina May
Julie Christmas as the Ghost of Christmas Past and Darren Goldsmith as Scrooge in Northern Ballet Theatre's A Christmas Carol (Photo: Bill Cooper)
Buy tickets for A Christmas Carol from Sheffield Lyceum Theatre.
Sheffield Lyceum Theatre box office: 0114 249 6000
Information & Photos of Northern Ballet Theatre’s production of A Christmas Carol.
Please note, casts are subject to change without notice.
Northern Ballet Theatre Soloist Nominated For Top Dance Accolade
Tobias Batley nominated for top dance accolade. Photo: Bill Cooper
Northern Ballet Theatre (NBT) First Soloist Tobias Batley has been nominated for a Critics’ Circle National Dance Award in the category of Outstanding Male Performance (Classical).
Described by the Critics’ Circle as a “versatile dance-actor” and “an able comedian”, Tobias is nominated for his portrayal of Anthony, the leading male role in David Nixon’s Swan Lake, in which “he gave a performance of remarkable and poignant intensity”. He is nominated alongside Sergei Polunin from the Royal Ballet and Esteban Berlanga of English National Ballet.
Tobias joined NBT in 2004 and since then has risen rapidly through the ranks, distinguishing himself in many soloist roles for the Company. His favourite of these include the title role in Dracula, Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights and Demetrius in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
“It’s very exciting to be nominated for such a prestigious award,” he says. “I’m flattered to be considered alongside dancers of such a high calibre. I’m particularly pleased to be nominated for this role as it is one I have really enjoyed performing.”
Ex-NBT dancer Sarah Kundi has also been nominated for an award in the Outstanding Female Performance (Classical) category. Sarah performed with NBT for four years and left to become a member of Ballet Black in November 2008. She has been noted by the Critics’ Circle for her “polished and confident” performances in Will Tuckett’s Depouillement and in Martin Lawrance’s duet Pendulum.
No strangers to the National Dance Awards, NBT received the Audience Award in 2004, 2005 and 2006. Last year the Company was awarded the coveted Patron’s Award which is given to an individual or organisation that has significantly furthered the cause of dance in the UK.
This year’s winners will be announced at a ceremony in London on 21 January 2010.
Free Dance Inset Training Day
Yorkshire Young Dancers Centre For Advanced Training
The Yorkshire Young Dancers (YYD) Centre for Advanced Training scheme, are inviting both primary and secondary school teachers to attend a free and motivating teacher training day hosted by Northern Ballet Theatre (NBT) and Northern School of Contemporary Dance (NSCD).
The day will be aimed at both primary and secondary level teachers, who are leading or aiming to run dance sessions within their school. The programme will:
- Introduce teachers to the Yorkshire Young Dancer Scheme and how their students can become involved.
- Offer advice on how to spot and nurture ‘Gifted and Talented’ students within your school / class.
- Concentrate on creative ideas suitable to Key Stage 2, 3 and 4 National Curriculum.
Teachers of Key Stage 2 will work primarily with Northern Ballet Theatre and teachers of Key Stage 3 & 4 will work mainly with Northern School of Contemporary Dance.
Participants will experience a practical dance session, from their student’s point of view, this will aid in the development of creative lesson planning which can be tailored to suit individual groups. We will also be looking at safe and effective warm up exercise and techniques.
| Date: | 20th November 2009 |
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| Time: | 09.00-16.00 |
| Where: | Northern Ballet Theatre Studios, West Park Centre, Spen Lane, Leeds, LS16 5BE |
To book a place on the day, contact Becki at Northern Ballet Theatre on 0113 274 5355 or becki.smith@northernballettheatre.co.uk.
We hope you will be able to join us.
Larger than life dancers decorate city centre site
Northern Ballet Theatre and Phoenix Dance Theatre Dancers in front of the new hoardings (Photo: Justin Slee)
Striking hoardings featuring dancers from Northern Ballet Theatre and Phoenix Dance Theatre have been revealed around the site of the new home for both Companies on Quarry Hill in the centre of Leeds.
Northern Ballet Theatre and Marketing Leeds have worked together to develop the hoardings which have been designed to raise profile of the new centre for dance, and for momentum, the campaign to raise funds for the completion of the building. The hoardings run along York Street and celebrate Leeds’ status as an important city for dance.
Northern Ballet Theatre Dancers in front of the new hoardings... (Photo: Justin Slee)
Mark Skipper, Chief Executive of NBT explained:
“We wanted to let people know that the building taking shape on Quarry Hill is going to be an important centre for dance in the UK. Our new building is a symbol that Leeds is a bold, creative and diverse city with the foresight to invest in the country’s fastest growing art form. The artwork is a great opportunity to celebrate this and to acknowledge the people who have supported the momentum campaign so generously. We’re delighted Marketing Leeds has added their support to this venture.”
The new centre for dance will be completed in August 2010 and open officially in January 2011. It will be the headquarters for Northern Ballet Theatre and Phoenix Dance Theatre as well as the Northern Ballet Theatre Academy and will also be home to Leeds Metropolitan University dance degree courses.
Northern Ballet Theatre dancers in front of the new hoardings... (Photo: Justin Slee)
Academy Intensive Weekend…
Professional Division Students (Photo: Hannah Kirkpatrick)
Photo: Hannah Kirkpatrick
The start of the half-term break found the Professional Division students spending their weekend at Northern Ballet Theatre Academy for an intensive course which saw them doing things a little out of the ordinary. . .
Whilst the younger students began a normal ballet class with Cara, the older students had a yoga class with Nichi Green (from the Yogaspace) which made them all very relaxed and perhaps even a little bit sleepy! As they went into their ballet class to be woken up by Yoko, the younger students met Bgirl Firefly who gave them a class in hip-hop and street dance. The students were ‘top-rocking’ and ‘threading’ in no time and enjoyed learning the new moves. After the lunch-break, Firefly worked with the older levels teaching them some basic street dance moves and then giving some slightly more difficult combinations to work on. Meanwhile the younger students were practicing their preparations for Halloween with a make-up workshop taken by make-up artist Ame Boyd. I walked into the classroom to be met by students with broken noses, deep scratches, scars and bullet wounds and as I’m very squeamish I had to keep reminding myself that these were fake wounds and not actually as real as they looked! I left the room with a deep, bleeding scratch on my hand (fake, thankfully!) and gathered all the students to watch Firefly show off some of her moves. The students all sat open-mouthed at Firefly’s incredible performance and there was lots of cheering and clapping as everyone thanked both Firefly and Ame for a brilliant day.
Fun Hallowe'en Make-up (Photo: Hannah Kirkpatrick)
Photo: Hannah Kirkpatrick
As the students left at the end of their first day, there were many reminders to ensure they arrived at the Alhambra Theatre in Bradford by 7.00pm as we had arranged for all the students to watch NBT perform Wuthering Heights. The production was amazing with fantastic music, a brilliant representation of the story and outstanding performances by all involved. At the end of the performance, the students gave a standing ovation during the curtain call with a lot of cheering, showing how much they had enjoyed the production.
On Sunday morning, the older students had ballet class with Cara first thing and the younger students did a workshop with Catherine and Steph from the communications department. The students talked about advertising and discussed TV adverts and posters, giving ideas about what they liked and didn’t like before they were set a task to design a poster for either A Christmas Carol or Peter Pan. There were many good designs and a selected few are shown below (and some are on display outside our office at West Park). As the younger students finished off their artwork and headed to the studio for their ballet class, the older students moved from ballet class to street dance, this time with Hannah Thompson. Hannah taught the older students some more street dance moves, including locking, popping and waving and put together a short routine from each component. After hard work from both groups in their respective classes, all students had a lunch break before the older students finished their weekend off with a further yoga class and the younger students got their chance to learn some more funky moves with Hannah.
A Christmas Carol & Peter Pan Posters
The students left to waiting parents who were dutifully shown some of the street dance moves before heading home to look forward to a well-deserved week off. After a weekend of doing something different, the students seemed tired but happy with the whole weekend so it was a successful end to the first half of the autumn term.
Northern Ballet Theatre at Leeds Light Night
Photo by Northern Ballet Theatre
On Friday 9 October staff from Northern Ballet Theatre and Phoenix Dance Theatre camped out in a tent on Millennium Square as part of Leeds’ fifth annual Light Night.
After weeks of planning we were glad the date had arrived and we could show off our brand new interactive dance video. The video which was designed for complete dance beginners, with a step-by-step voice over, included a warm-up featuring NBT dancers, then you could choose to learn either Dance of the Knights from NBT’s Romeo & Juliet or Phoenix’s brand new piece Fastlane.
Photo by Northern Ballet Theatre
The event was a huge success, even the rain helped a little as our tent provided the only shelter on Millennium Square, but we stayed busy all evening with people of all ages taking part.
Photo by Northern Ballet Theatre
NBT joins the Cultural Olympiad in Yorkshire
NBT is delighted to announce that we are part of a second major Cultural Olympiad Yorkshire project.
Northern Ballet Theatre, Opera North, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Yorkshire Dance, Phoenix Dance Theatre, Leeds Met Gallery and Studio Theatre, Situation Leeds, Leeds City Council and Leeds Art Gallery for Leeds Canvas. (Photo: HANSON)
Northern Ballet Theatre has joined forces with Opera North, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Yorkshire Dance, Phoenix Dance Theatre, Leeds Met Gallery and Studio Theatre, Situation Leeds, Leeds City Council and Leeds Art Gallery for Leeds Canvas. Leeds Canvas has been selected as the Yorkshire region winner of a £500,000 commission for Artists taking the lead, one of the major projects for the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad.
Internationally acclaimed filmmakers and artists the Quay Brothers will use the entire city as the ‘canvas’ for a series of art interventions and installations, building up to a spectacular one-off event centred around Leeds’ Dark Arches.
Quay Brothers
Leeds Canvas is one of 12 commissions that will be realised across the UK over the next three years, each inspired by their location and celebrating the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
David Nixon, Artistic Director of NBT said:
“I am delighted that the proposal put together by the Leeds Creative Partnership team has been successful. This project has the possibility to transform Leeds and reach far beyond this city’s boundaries. Through collaboration our possibilities are magnified and our individual strengths personified and by inviting exceptional artists to work with us in Leeds we will create exceptional experiences and opportunities that we hope will have a lasting legacy. The 2012 Olympic games will be such a special time for the country and it will provide us with the opportunity to come together as one community and create some truly exciting work that touches many, many people.”
This is the second Cultural Olympiad project NBT is part of. Last week we announced that we were leading the ‘Don’t Just Sit There’ project.
New ‘A Christmas Carol’ Gallery Now Online
We have some spectacular new production photos of our production of A Christmas Carol online at the main website…
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- The Cast of A Christmas Carol
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- Darren Goldsmith as Scrooge
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- Julie Charlet as The Ghost of Christmas Past & Darren Goldsmith as Scrooge
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- Ayana Kanda & David Ward
Northern Ballet Theatre Photos by Bill Cooper
Wuthering Heights – Bradford Cast Sheet
Wuthering Heights - Northern Ballet Theatre Photo by Merlin Hendy
Bradford, alhambra Theatre box office: 0871 297 5454
Information & Photos of Northern Ballet Theatre’s production of Wuthering Heights.
Please note, casts are subject to change without notice.
Tuesday, 20 October
Evening: 7.30pm
- Cathy: Martha Leebolt
- Heathcliff: Christopher Hinton-Lewis
- Young Cathy: Pippa Moore
- Young Heathcliff: Ashley Dixon
- Hindley: Martin Bell
- Mr Earnshaw: Michael Berkin
- Ellen: Nathalie Léger
- Joseph: Darren Goldsmith
- Edgar: Hironao Takahashi
- Isabella: Hannah Bateman
Wednesday, 21 October
Evening: 7.30pm
- Cathy: Julie Charlet
- Heathcliff: Kenneth Tindall
- Young Cathy: Ayana Kanda
- Young Heathcliff: David Ward
- Hindley: Thomas Aragones
- Mr Earnshaw: Yi Song
- Ellen: Victoria Sibson
- Joseph: Michael Berkin
- Edgar: Ashley Dixon
- Isabella: Pippa Moore
Thursday, 22 October
Matinée: 2.30pm
- Cathy: Martha Leebolt
- Heathcliff: Christopher Hinton-Lewis
- Young Cathy: Michela Paolacci
- Young Heathcliff: Ben Mitchell
- Hindley: Martin Bell
- Mr Earnshaw: Michael Berkin
- Ellen: Nathalie Léger
- Joseph: Darren Goldsmith
- Edgar: Hironao Takahashi
- Isabella: Hannah Bateman
Evening: 7.30pm
- Cathy: Georgina May
- Heathcliff: Tobias Batley
- Young Cathy: Antoinette Brooks-Daw
- Young Heathcliff: Jeremy Curnier
- Hindley: Giuliano Contadini
- Mr Earnshaw: Kenneth Tindall
- Ellen: Nathalie Léger
- Joseph: Martin Bell
- Edgar: Yoshihisa Arai
- Isabella: Lori Gilchrist
Don’t Just Sit There!
imove has awarded £855,000 to three groundbreaking partnerships between leading Yorkshire-based organisations for the creation of an ambitious series of projects linking art and sport in exciting new ways in the run up to London 2012. Inspired by the forthcoming Olympics, the imove Programme aims to transform the relationship between people in Yorkshire and their moving bodies through unique crossovers between culture, sport and physical education.
One of the projects, Don’t Just Sit There, will be led by Northern Ballet Theatre, and will include Education Leeds, College of Chinese Physical Culture, Rotherham-based Open Minds Theatre Company, Phoenix Dance Theatre, Marketing Leeds and the Rugby Football League. Together the partners will harness their resources to tackle issues arising from sedentary lifestyles.
Back row left to right: Paul Kaiserman, ArtForms, Education Leeds; Simon Wells, Open Minds Theatre Company; Michael Bursey, College of Chinese Physical Culture; front row left to right: Jordan Tansey, Hull FC, RFL; Amanda Lewis, Phoenix Dance Theatre; Megan Hughes, Northern Ballet Theatre Academy. Photo Paul Floyd Blake.
The project aims to teach people about their bodies and increase participation in sport and physical activity using dance, physical theatre, music, sport and alternative movement forms. Planned activities include:
- Spirit Alive – a child-led mini-sporting festival
- Energisers – mass participation events aimed at adults and students, at the centre of which will be a rugby-pitch sized immersive, light-filled Colourscape structure
- Work in schools across the region with artists in classical and contemporary dance, physical theatre, Chinese movement, music, Indian and African dance, West Indian Carnival and new Zealand Haka
Jon Ingham, NBT’s Director of Fundraising, said:
“The project will use dance, physical theatre, sport, carnival and music to share the Olympic experience and create a sense of excitement about the approaching Games. We will encourage people to get involved in cultural and sporting activities and become active participants, rather than merely observers.”
imove is funded by Legacy Trust UK, an independent charity set up to help build a lasting cultural and sporting legacy from the 2012 Olympic Games. Yorkshire Forward and Arts Council England, Yorkshire, have also invested in the programme. For more information visit http://www.culturalolympiadinyorkshire.com/
momentum Building Update
As of mid-October the concrete cores are now complete and work has begun on the steel-work. Construction of the steel frame continues; it is quickly taking shape ready for the floors, roof and walls.
See a time-lapse video of the construction work so far.
Donate to the momentum project.
Visit the Building-momentum website for lots of images, information and interactive floor-plans.
A Christmas Carol – Milton Keynes Cast
The Parade of Plenty (Northern Ballet Theatre Photo by Brian Slater)
Buy tickets for A Christmas Carol from Milton Keynes Theatre.
Milton Keynes Theatre box office: 0871 297 5454
Information & Photos of Northern Ballet Theatre’s production of A Christmas Carol.
Please note, casts are subject to change without notice.
Tuesday, 13 October
Evening, 7.30pm
- Scrooge: Darren Goldsmith
- Young Scrooge: Christopher Hinton-Lewis
- Belle: Pippa Moore
- Bob Crachit: Hironao Takahashi
- Mrs Crachit: Nathalie Léger
- Ghost of Christmas Past: Julie Charlet
- Ghost of Christmas Present: Tobias Batley
- Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come: Michael Berkin
Wednesday, 14 October
Evening, 7.30pm
- Scrooge: Darren Goldsmith
- Young Scrooge: Christopher Hinton-Lewis
- Belle: Pippa Moore
- Bob Crachit: Hironao Takahashi
- Mrs Crachit: Jessica Morgan
- Ghost of Christmas Past: Julie Charlet
- Ghost of Christmas Present: Tobias Batley
- Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come: Michael Berkin
Thursday, 15 October
Matinée, 2.30pm
- Scrooge: Christopher Hinton-Lewis
- Young Scrooge: Kenneth Tindall
- Belle: Martha Leebolt
- Bob Crachit: Martin Bell
- Mrs Crachit: Dreda Blow
- Ghost of Christmas Past: Pippa Moore
- Ghost of Christmas Present: Yi Song
- Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come: Darren Goldsmith
Evening, 7.30pm
- Scrooge: Martin Bell
- Young Scrooge: Darren Goldsmith
- Belle: Lori Golchrist
- Bob Crachit: Kenneth Tindall
- Mrs Crachit: Victoria Sibson
- Ghost of Christmas Past: Ayana Kanda
- Ghost of Christmas Present: Christopher Hinton-Lewis
- Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come: Graham Kotowich
Friday, 16 October
Evening, 7.30pm
- Scrooge: Darren Goldsmith
- Young Scrooge: Christopher Hinton-Lewis
- Belle: Pippa Moore
- Bob Crachit: Hironao Takahashi
- Mrs Crachit: Nathalie Léger
- Ghost of Christmas Past: Julie Charlet
- Ghost of Christmas Present: Tobias Batley
- Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come: Michael Berkin
Saturday, 17 October
Matinée, 2.30pm
- Scrooge: Martin Bell
- Young Scrooge: Darren Goldsmith
- Belle: Lori Golchrist
- Bob Crachit: Kenneth Tindall
- Mrs Crachit: Victoria Sibson
- Ghost of Christmas Past: Ayana Kanda
- Ghost of Christmas Present: Christopher Hinton-Lewis
- Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come: Graham Kotowich
Evening, 7.30pm
- Scrooge: Christopher Hinton-Lewis
- Young Scrooge: Kenneth Tindall
- Belle: Martha Leebolt
- Bob Crachit: Martin Bell
- Mrs Crachit: Dreda Blow
- Ghost of Christmas Past: Pippa Moore
- Ghost of Christmas Present: Yi Song
- Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come: Darren Goldsmith
Information & Photos of Northern Ballet Theatre’s production of A Christmas Carol.
Please note, casts are subject to change without notice.
You Dancing? We’re Asking!
This Friday will be Leeds’ Fifth annual Light Night. I’m really excited that it’s finally here, it seems like we have been working on it for ages and overcome quite a few dilemmas along the way!
I remember meeting with Sharon Watson (now Artistic Director of Phoenix Dance Theatre) back in March, we were trying to think of ways to make ballet user-friendly and show people it’s not always tutus and tiptoes. We knew that Dance Mats and Wiis had basically featured on everyone’s Christmas list for 2008 and thought why not follow the trend? Our big idea was to produce a ballet version of these interactive step-by-step games and get the general public giving it a go.
For Light Night 2009 we also wanted to work with Phoenix Dance Theatre who we will soon be sharing a building with, so we put the idea to them and they loved it. They were going to work on a contemporary piece of dance for the video and we just had to decide on a ballet piece. We quickly agreed on Dance of the Knights from Romeo & Juliet as a piece that was dramatic and relatively easy with great music that everyone would recognise (theme tune to The Apprentice TV show).
The other question, which proved a lot more difficult to solve, was where to screen these videos on the night? We didn’t want to be inside, tucked away in a dark room. We wanted to be in the heart of the action. “Why not put it in a tent” I said! So we have…just about. It’s taken 3 attempts to find a marquee company that could help us with this request, at the beginning of the week we thought we might just be stood there with a plasma TV and nothing to cover us, but fingers crossed we will be on Millennium Square on Friday ready to invite people in and transform the people of Leeds into semi-professional dancers.
I have to say a big thank you to Jo Dean (NBT Learning & Access Co-ordinator) who has spent the last 2 months filming, editing and recording the voice-overs. But now the video is complete and all we need are some people willing to give it a go. So if you feel up for the challenge please come and find us from 6pm onwards on Millennium Square and you can learn moves from either Romeo & Juliet or Phoenix’s brand new piece Fast Lane. And for anyone doubting whether they can do it, the whole Marketing and Press Department gave it a go this morning and we all managed to keep up, even Emma who was initially very reluctant and has never followed any kind of dance routine in her life.
Stephanie Bell (Audience Development Officer)
Woking Casting – Wuthering Heights
Here are castings for up to Thu mat in Woking this week. As always, casts are subject to change at short notice so please check cast sheets at the venue for the most accurate cast for your performance.
Tue Eve
Cathy Martha Leebolt
Heathcliff Christopher Hinton-Lewis
Young Cathy Pippa Moore
Young Heathcliff Ashley Dixon
Hindley Martin Bell
Edgar Hironao Takahashi
Isabella Hannah Bateman
Wed Eve
Cathy Julie Charlet
Heathcliff Kenneth Tindall
Young Cathy Ayana Kanda
Young Heathcliff David Ward
Hindley Darren Goldsmith
Edgar Ashley Dixon
Isabella Pippa Moore
Thu Mat
Cathy Georgina May
Heathcliff Tobias Batley
Young Cathy Michela Paolacci
Young Heathcliff Ben Mitchell
Hindley Giuliano Contadini
Edgar Hironao Takahashi
Isabella Lori Gilchrist
Bid for momentum
We are excited to announce Northern Ballet Theatre’s first ever online auction. We have some fantastic items lined up which you can bid for on ebay. All money raised will go directly to our momentum campaign for our new headquarters in Leeds City Centre.
Photo: Bill Cooper
For more information on the building project and the campaign visit www.building-momentum.co.uk
Bid now to win the chance for a child in your life to perform onstage with Northern Ballet Theatre or go and see a pair of pointe shoes being made at Freed of London. Or treat yourself to a luxury weekend in Leeds’ brand new City Inn.
momentum building progress, June - September 2009
Wuthering Heights – Norwich Cast List, Fri-Sat
![Tobias Batley and Georgina May as Cathy and Heathcliff in Northern Ballet Theatre's Production of Wuthering Heights [Photo: Merlin Hendy]](http://northernballettheatre.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/tobias-batley-as-heathcliff.jpg?w=450&h=296 "Tobias Batley and Georgina May as Cathy and Heathcliff in Northern Ballet Theatre's Production of Wuthering Heights (Photo: Merlin Hendy)")
Tobias Batley and Georgina May as Cathy and Heathcliff in Northern Ballet Theatre's Production of Wuthering Heights (Photo: Merlin Hendy)
Further information on Northern Ballet Theatre’s production of Wuthering Heights…
For information on further events at the theatre, workshops, touch tours and more…
Cast list for Norwich Tue 29 September – Thu 1 October >
Please note: all casts are subject to change without notice.
Fri 2 October
Matinée: 2.30pm
- Cathy: Julie Charlet
- Heathcliff: Kenneth Tindall
- Hindly: Darren Goldsmith
- Mr Earnshaw: Yi Song
- Ellen: Victoria Sibson
- Joseph: Michael Berkin
- Edgar: Ashley Dixon
- Isabella: Pippa Moore
- Young Cathy: Ayana Kanda
- Young Heathcliff: David Ward
Evening: 7.30pm
- Cathy: Martha Leebolt
- Heathcliff: Christopher Hinton-Lewis
- Hindly: Martin Bell
- Mr Earnshaw: Michael Berkin
- Ellen: Nathalie Léger
- Joseph: Darren Goldsmith
- Edgar: Hironao Takahashi
- Isabella: Hannah Bateman
- Young Cathy: Pippa Moore
- Young Heathcliff: Ashley Dixon
Sat 3 October
Matinée: 2.30pm
- Cathy: Georgina May
- Heathcliff: Tobias Batley
- Hindly: Giuliano Contadini
- Mr Earnshaw: Kenneth Tindall
- Ellen: Nathalie Léger
- Joseph: Martin Bell
- Edgar: Yoshihisa Arai
- Isabella: Lori Gilchrist
- Young Cathy: Michela Paolacci
- Young Heathcliff: Ben Mitchell
Evening: 7.30pm
- Cathy: Martha Leebolt
- Heathcliff: Christopher Hinton-Lewis
- Hindly: Martin Bell
- Mr Earnshaw: Michael Berkin
- Ellen: Nathalie Léger
- Joseph: Darren Goldsmith
- Edgar: Hironao Takahashi
- Isabella: Hannah Bateman
- Young Cathy: Pippa Moore
- Young Heathcliff: Ashley Dixon
Please note: all casts are subject to change without notice.
Oh Come All Ye Choristers
Northern Ballet Theatre's A Christmas Carol - Photo: Brian Slater
Northern Ballet Theatre (NBT) is on the look out for a special primary school choir to launch their Christmas season. The chosen choir will sing live on stage at the Grand Theatre in Leeds before NBT’s opening performance of A Christmas Carol.
Primary schools choirs across Leeds were invited to take part in the competition and to-date 17 schools have entered. All choirs will prepare two carols: How Far is it to Bethlehem and one other of their choice. Five choirs will be chosen for the final heat, to perform in front of judges at NBT’s studios in West Park.
Judges will include NBT Musical Director John Pryce Jones, who will visit the 5 finalist schools and work with them on their entries, and Simon Lindley, Organist of Leeds Parish Church and of Leeds Town Hall. They will be joined in the judging by an NBT dancer and another special guest, yet to be announced.
John Pryce-Jones said: “We’re not necessarily looking for the biggest and loudest choir, but we do want a choir with stage presence. Choirs will be judged on their vocal and musical quality, interpretation of the songs and presentation.”
For further information contact Stephanie Bell, Northern Ballet Theatre, 0113 274 5355, stephanie.bell@northernballettheatre.co.uk
Wuthing Heights – Norwich Cast List [Update]
[Update: Added Wednesday and Thursday casts]
Tobias Batley and Georgina May as Cathy and Heathcliff in Northern Ballet Theatre's Production of Wuthering Heights (Photo: Merlin Hendy)
Further information on Northern Ballet Theatre’s production of Wuthering Heights…
For information on further events at the theatre, workshops, touch tours and more…
Please note: all casts are subject to change without notice.
Tue 29 September
Evening: 7.30pm
- Cathy: Georgina May
- Heathcliff: Tobias Batley
- Hindly: Giuliano Contadini
- Mr Earnshaw: Kenneth Tindall
- Ellen: Nathalie Léger
- Joseph: Martin Bell
- Edgar: Hironao Takahashi
- Isabella: Lori Gilchrist
- Young Cathy: Michela Paolacci
- Young Heathcliff: Ben Mitchell
Wed 30 September
Evening: 7.30pm
- Cathy: Martha Leebolt
- Heathcliff: Christopher Hinton-Lewis
- Hindly: Martin Bell
- Mr Earnshaw: Michael Berkin
- Ellen: Nathalie Léger
- Joseph: Darren Goldsmith
- Edgar: Hironao Takahashi
- Isabella: Hannah Bateman
- Young Cathy: Pippa Moore
- Young Heathcliff: Ashley Dixon
Thu 1 October
Matinée: 2.30pm
- Cathy: Julie Charlet
- Heathcliff: Kenneth Tindall
- Hindly: Darren Goldsmith
- Mr Earnshaw: Yi Song
- Ellen: Victoria Sibson
- Joseph: Michael Berkin
- Edgar: Ashley Dixon
- Isabella: Pippa Moore
- Young Cathy: Ayana Kanda
- Young Heathcliff: David Ward
Please note: all casts are subject to change without notice.
School Roadshow Takes Off Once More
NBT’s popular School Roadshow has begun once more. Now in its third successful year the School Roadshow offers pupils and teachers a behind the scenes insight into NBT as part of an interactive fun filled assembly suitable for primary school pupils of all ages.
“Thank you for the opportunity to open our children’s eyes, hearts and minds to the power of dance. Most of our children will have seen ballet for the first time and were amazed at the versatility, stamina, strength and commitment that is needed to make a good dancer.”
Jill Wood, Little – London Community Primary School
Any schools interested in booking one of the FREE School Roadshow assemblies should contact Catherine Mullaney on 0113 274 5355 or via email.
Builders Try Ballet
The construction team building the new Northern Ballet Theatre (NBT) headquarters in Leeds city centre put on their dancing shoes yesterday to take part in a sponsored ballet lesson to raise money for The Prince’s Trust.
15 of the site team were taught to plié, jete and pirouette by one of NBT’s dance education officers, Caroline Burn, as part of Wates Construction’s annual Community Day, which sees employees ditch their day jobs for local community and fundraising projects.
The builders learnt ballet moves and explored some of the themes from A Midsummer’s Nights Dream before putting their work together to share with colleagues and NBT Academy students. More used to lugging bricks and concrete, the bending and stretching proved tutu much for some.
BBC Look North was on hand to capture the builders doing ballet… [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8262012.stm]
Audience Feedback From Dracula
After Friday’s performance of Dracula at the West Yorkshire Playhouse we asked some of the audience what they thought of the production, of Northern Ballet Theatre and ballet in general.
Here’s what they told us…
Dracula is on at the West Yorkshire Playhouse until Saturday 19 September. You can book online at wyp.org.uk or by phone – 0113 213 7700
Dracula Cast List – Tuesday 15 to Saturday 19 September
Click for more information about Dracula.
Click for information about Dracula events at the West Yorkshire Playhouse.
Click to book tickets for Dracula from the West Yorkshire Playhouse.
Please note: all casts are subject to change without notice.
Tue 15 September
Evening: 7.30pm
- Dracula: Tobias Batley
- Mina: Hannah Bateman
- Lucy: Pippa Moore
- Harker: David Ward
- Seward: Martin Bell
- Arthur: Yi Song
- Renfield: Ben Mitchell
- Van Helsing: Darren Goldsmith
- Brides: Rachael Gillespie, Nathalie Léger & Lori Gilchrist
Wed 16 September
Evening: 7.30pm
- Dracula: Tobias Batley
- Mina: Hannah Bateman
- Lucy: Pippa Moore
- Harker: David Ward
- Seward: Martin Bell
- Arthur: Yi Song
- Renfield: Ben Mitchell
- Van Helsing: Michael Berkin
- Brides: Rachael Gillespie, Nathalie Léger & Lori Gilchrist
Thu 17 September
Evening: 7.30pm
- Dracula: Christopher Hinton-Lewis
- Mina: Martha Leebolt
- Lucy: Georgina May
- Harker: Ashley Dixon
- Seward: Darren Goldsmith
- Arthur: Hironao Takahashi
- Renfield: Sebastian Loe
- Van Helsing: Michael Berkin
- Brides: Rachael Gillespie, Hannah Bateman & Victoria Sibson
Fri 18 September
Evening: 7.30pm
- Dracula: Tobias Batley
- Mina: Hannah Bateman
- Lucy: Pippa Moore
- Harker: David Ward
- Seward: Martin Bell
- Arthur: Yi Song
- Renfield: Ben Mitchell
- Van Helsing: Kenneth Tindall
- Brides: Rachael Gillespie, Nathalie Léger & Lori Gilchrist
Sat 19 September
Matinée: 2.00pm
- Dracula: Kenneth Tindall
- Mina: Dreda Blow
- Lucy: Michela Paolacci
- Harker: Ashley Dixon
- Seward: Michael Berkin
- Arthur: Yoshihisa Arai
- Renfield: Giuliano Contadini
- Van Helsing: Darren Goldsmith
- Brides: Rachael Gillespie, Jessica Morgan & Victoria Sibson
Evening: 7.30pm
- Dracula: Christopher Hinton-Lewis
- Mina: Martha Leebolt
- Lucy: Georgina May
- Harker: Tobias Batley
- Seward: Darren Goldsmith
- Arthur: Hironao Takahashi
- Renfield: Sebastian Loe
- Van Helsing: Michael Berkin
- Brides: Rachael Gillespie, Hannah Bateman & Victoria Sibson
Please note: all casts are subject to change without notice.
Dracula Cast List – Monday 14 September
Click for more information about Dracula.
Click for information about Dracula events at the West Yorkshire Playhouse.
Click to book tickets for Dracula from the West Yorkshire Playhouse.
Please note: all casts are subject to change without notice.
Mon 14 September (Evening)
Evening: 7.30pm
- Dracula: Kenneth Tindall
- Mina: Dreda Blow
- Lucy: Michela Paolacci
- Harker: Ashley Dixon
- Seward: Michael Berkin
- Arthur: Yoshihisa Arai
- Renfield: Giuliano Contadini
- Van Helsing: Darren Goldsmith
- Brides: Rachael Gillespie, Jessica Morgan & Victoria Sibson
We’ll post the cast lists for all other performances as soon as we have them.
Please note: all casts are subject to change without notice.
New Dracula Production Shots…
These brand new production shots were taken at the West Yorkshire Playhouse ahead of the first public showing of Dracula.
Dracula is showing until the 19th of September and tickets are going fast…
To see larger versions of these pictures visit the gallery on our website.
Jonathan & Dracula's Brides (Photo: Merlin Hendy)
Jonathan & the Brides (Photo: Merlin Hendy)
Dracula and Mina (Photo: Merlin Hendy)
Lucy Rising From The Grave (Photo: Merlin Hendy)
I Am Dracula (Photo: Merlin Hendy)
Dracula & His Brides (Photo: Merlin Hendy)
Artist Credits:
- Dracula: Christopher Hinton-Lewis
- Jonathan: Tobias Batley
- Mina: Martha Leebolt
- Lucy: Georgina May
- Brides: Rachael Gillespie, Hannah Bateman & Victoria Sibson
Dracula Cast List – 11-12 September
Click for more information about Dracula.
Click for information about Dracula events at the West Yorkshire Playhouse.
Click to book tickets for Dracula from the West Yorkshire Playhouse.
Please note: all casts are subject to change without notice.
Fri 11 September
Evening: 7.30pm
- Dracula: Tobias Batley
- Mina: Hannah Bateman
- Lucy: Pippa Moore
- Harker: David Ward
- Seward: Martin Bell
- Arthur: Yi Song
- Renfield: Ben Mitchell
- Van Helsing: Kenneth Tindall
- Brides: Rachael Gillespie, Nathalie Léger & Lori Gilchrist
Sat 12 September (Matinée)
Evening: 7.30pm
- Dracula: Kenneth Tindall
- Mina: Dreda Blow
- Lucy: Michela Paolacci
- Harker: Ashley Dixon
- Seward: Michael Berkin
- Arthur: Yoshihisa Arai
- Renfield: Giuliano Contadini
- Van Helsing: Darren Goldsmith
- Brides: Rachael Gillespie, Jessica Morgan & Victoria Sibson
Sat 12 September (Evening)
Evening: 7.30pm
- Dracula: Christopher Hinton-Lewis
- Mina: Martha Leebolt
- Lucy: Georgina May
- Harker: Tobias Batley
- Seward: Darren Goldsmith
- Arthur: Hironao Takahashi
- Renfield: Sebastian Loe
- Van Helsing: Michael Berkin
- Brides: Rachael Gillespie, Hannah Bateman & Victoria Sibson
We’ll post the cast lists for all other performances as soon as we have them.
Please note: all casts are subject to change without notice.
Dracula Cast List – 10 September
Click for more information about Dracula.
Click for information about Dracula events at the West Yorkshire Playhouse.
Click to book tickets for Dracula from the West Yorkshire Playhouse.
Please note: all casts are subject to change without notice.
Thu 10 September
Evening: 7.30pm
- Dracula: Christopher Hinton-Lewis
- Mina: Martha Leebolt
- Lucy: Georgina May
- Harker: Tobias Batley
- Seward: Darren Goldsmith
- Arthur: Hironao Takahashi
- Renfield: Sebastian Loe
- Van Helsing: Michael Berkin
- Brides: Rachael Gillespie, Hannah Bateman & Victoria Sibson
We’ll post the cast lists for all other performances as soon as we have them.
Please note: all casts are subject to change without notice.
A Teacher Talks About Ballet On Briggate
Academy Ballet Tutor, Cara O’Shea, tells us about the Ballet on Briggate event in Leeds last weekend.
At 11.30am – after teaching at West Park – I made my way into town, regularly glancing up to the sky to look out for any threats of rain. When I arrived at the stage I was greeted by a group of the Academy students busy handing out leaflets and I could already feel the excitement in the air. We didn’t need to wait long for the event to begin and as soon as it did members of the public stopped and took up positions by the stage ready to see what we had to offer and they certainly didn’t seem disappointed.
Ballet on Briggate (Photo: Ryan Hopkinson)
Ballet on Briggate (Photo: Ryan Hopkinson)
Then suddenly it was the turn of the Academy students to perform their piece which I had choreographed for their end of year show in June. This was going to be a revised version with only 10 dancers and new people put in, and so there was a lot of marking through the steps and recapping changes before the real thing. My role for the event was to be in charge of the Academy students and so we all stood behind the stage jumping up and down and trying our best to beat off the chill!
The students performed the dance exceedingly well, especially considering they were in their uniform of tights and leotards and it was so cold. Even though the wind showed no signs of dying down the students battled through the dance and were very relieved to be able to put on some warm clothes as soon as they got off the stage. Only a little while later it was our turn again, and so back we went behind the stage to jump around some more and really show the growing crowd what we could do.
The public showed a lot of interest about many aspects of the company and it was fantastic to see so many people having a go at the ballet barre!
The whole event really seemed to wake Briggate up and the atmosphere was electric throughout. Despite the cold (but thankfully no rain) all who were involved agreed that the event had been a success-and this includes the watching public.
Click here for more information on free events in Leeds…
More Photos From the Day… Read the rest of this entry »
Ballet on Briggate Was Only The Beginning
If you enjoyed our Ballet on Briggate event last Saturday, you will be pleased to hear we have another free event for the people of Leeds this Saturday at the West Yorkshire Playhouse. Who says you don’t get anything for nothing these days?!!
The Open Day is a chance for the whole family to come and join in various activities and find out more about Northern Ballet Theatre. There will be talks, workshops, costumes to see, a chance to watch the dancers take class, and a book and poster signing by the dancers. Plus, of course, as it is our 40th anniversary year, there will be a chance to get yourself a piece of birthday cake!
Whether you are a keen supporter of NBT or you have never stepped inside a theatre before, this is a great chance to pop in and see what NBT is all about and enjoy some fun activities with all the family.
The Open Day is from 10am – 1.30pm at the West Yorkshire Playhouse. It is free and there is no need to book – just turn up and enjoy!
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- Ballet on Briggate was a lot of fun and a great success
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- At the Barre in Briggate
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- Events at the theatre
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- Daniel de Andrade talking about the evening’s production
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- NBT celebrates its 40th anniversary with cake!
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- Dancing on Briggate
An Interview With Three Vampires
(Left to right) Tobias Batley, Kenneth Tindall and Christopher Hinton-Lewis discuss their approach to playing the title role in Northern Ballet Theatre’s production of Dracula.
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Dracula is on at the West Yorkshire Playhouse 10-19 September, for details about events at the theatre, audio description, touch tours and more read the Dracula information page.
