Northern Ballet Theatre – News Blog

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

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.

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 »

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!

The latest dancer biographies have been posted at the Northern Ballet Theatre website.

Read all about the leading artists, soloists, coryphée and more.

Northern Ballet Theatre's Leading Artists (Photo: HANSON)

Get a taste for Northern Ballet Theatre’s Dracula which opens at the West Yorkshire Playhouse on Thursday 10th September by watching a preview on Guardian.co.uk

Watch Martha Leebolt and Christopher Hinton-Lewis in rehearsal and read an interview with the dancers for Guardian.co.uk’s popular pas de deux series, http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/series/pas-de-deux

Christopher Hinton-Lewis & Martha Leebolt as Dracula & Mina at Whitby Abbey. Photo: Lisa Stonehouse.

Shoppers in Leeds got more than they bargained for last week when dancers Anna Blackwell and Guiliano Contadini joined fellow participants and supporters to launch NBT’s 40th Anniversary street party Ballet on Briggate.

Anna Blackwell and Guiliano Contadini with participants jumping for joy. (Photo: Brian Slater)

Anna Blackwell and Guiliano Contadini (Photo: Brian Slater)

Ballet on Briggate takes place this Saturday 5 September from 12noon – 2pm in central Leeds. Dancers from NBT will perform alongside students from the NBT Academy, as well as a group of young people and adults who have come together to create a special performance piece for the event. NBT will be joined by Phoenix Dance Theatre who are partners in our new building – and it will be the first public opportunity to see the new Phoenix dancers under the new Artistic Direction of Sharon Watson.
 
This is a rare opportunity to watch NBT for free and in the open air. Dancers Martha Leebolt and Christopher Hinton-Lewis will perform an excerpt from Dracula, Sebastian Loe and Ashley Dixon will perform the Chinese Dance from The Nutcracker and Michela Paolacci and Hironao Takahashi will perform an excerpt of A Christmas Carol.
 
Briggate is the main shopping centre in Leeds and the event will attract people from across the region and further afield. There will be prize giveaways and a special rendition of “Happy Birthday”.
 
Don’t miss out on this free event. Come down and bring all your friends and family – we’ll see you there.

Anna Blackwell and Guiliano Contadini plus participants (Photo: Brian Slater)

Visitors to the Blood Donor Centre in Leeds on Friday got more than they bargained for when the world’s most famous blood sucker turned up for a bite to eat.

Dracula Arrives at the Blood Donor Centre, Leeds

Dracula swooped into the centre on the Headrow in Leeds where three brave members of the NBT Communications team volunteered to give blood despite the presence of the infernal fiend.

Dracula with three brave members of the NBT Communications team (Photo: Brian Slater)

Taking great interest in the proceedings, the immortal Count loomed over Laraine Penson and Amy Dutton as they made their life saving donations.

Laraine Penson tries to convince Dracula that she can only donate once every four months (Photo: Brian Slater)

Amy Dutton mesmerised by Dracula's Presence (Photo: Brian Slater)

For more information on how to give blood visit http://www.blood.co.uk/

To see Dracula in the flesh at the West Yorkshire Playhouse visit http://www.wyp.org.uk/