Northern Ballet Theatre - News Blog

Seven students from NBT’s pre-vocational training programme are taking part in a special performance at Sadler’s Wells in London on 15 July. Top choreographer Sharon Watson is creating a new dance piece for the group and fellow Yorkshire Young Dancers from the Northern School of Contemporary Dance. The group will also collaborate with eight students from Yorkshire Young Musicians who are creating a new composition for the performance with Andrew Stamatakis-Brown.

The performance is a celebration of the achievements of this country’s most talented young dancers and musicians supported by the Department for Children, Schools and Families’ Music and Dance Scheme.

Rehearsals are well underway and the group will give a special preview performance at the Riley Theatre in Leeds on 27 June. Read the full media release here.

There are still a few places available on our ‘Urban Tales’ Easter Course so hurry and book your place today.

Energise your Easter break with this exciting fusion of contemporary dance and popular urban dance techniques. You will have the chance to learn and create your own dances, accompanied by live music, led by NBT dance education officer Sophie Alder and urban dance artist Ed Stephen.

When: Tuesday 1 April - Friday 4 April 2008
9.30am - 3.30pm daily

Where: West Park Centre, Spen Lane, Leeds, LS16 5BE

Who: Anyone aged 11-16

Cost: £65

Download the application form today [application form] or for more information contact Kate on 0113 274 5355 or email kate.laho@northernballettheatre.co.uk

For more information click here

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More photographs of the Momentum Launch event last month can now be found on the new Momentum website.
The events gallery can be found here: http://www.building-momentum.co.uk/events.aspx

“…This month we are teaming up with South Asian Arts Company Kala Sangam to deliver a five-week dance and literacy project at Montagu Junior School in Mexborough. The project will encourage pupils in Year 5 to improve their vocabulary, self-esteem and literacy skills through creative dance workshops and narrative writing activities. NBT Dance Education Officer Sophie Alder, Creative Writer…”

 Click here to read full update

Northern Ballet Theatre and Phoenix Dance Theatre revealed a stunning new vision for a centre of excellence for dance in Leeds last night at the launch of momentum, the campaign to raise the remaining funds required for the new buidling. HRH The Earl of Wessex attended the launch where new designs by the Strategic Design Alliance, a partnership of Jacobs and Leeds City Council’s in-house architects, were unveiled. In addition, Leeds Metropolitan University announced that it is investing in the new dance centre in an exciting partnership with NBT and Phoenix.

Read the full press release.

A new fundraising website was also launched yesterday to help raise funds for the momentum project.

Click here to visit the new site

Photographs of the launch:

Saturday saw the first public performance of Northern Ballet Theatre’s new dance adaptation of Hamlet, on the stage of the Grand Theatre in Leeds….

Hamlet
Leeds, Grand Theatre
16 - 23 February 2008 

THIS CAST LIST IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Saturday 16 February (evening)
Hamlet - Christopher Hinton-Lewis
Ophelia - Georgina May
Gertrude - Nathalie Leger
Claudius - Darren Goldsmith
Horatio / RS ex man - Tobias Batley
Polonius - Martin Bell
Laertes - Hiro Takahashi

Monday 18 February (evening)
Hamlet - Hiro Takahashi
Ophelia - Keiko Amemori
Gertrude - Patricia Hines
Claudius - Kenneth Tindall
Horatio / RS ex man - Ashley Dixon
Polonius - Martin Bell
Laertes - Tobias Batley

Tuesday 19 February (evening)
Hamlet - Christopher Hinton-Lewis
Ophelia - Georgina May
Gertrude - Nathalie Leger
Claudius - Darren Goldsmith
Horatio / RS ex man - Tobias Batley
Polonius - Martin Bell
Laertes - Hiro Takahashi

Wednesday 20 February (evening)
Hamlet - Christopher Hinton-Lewis
Ophelia - Georgina May
Gertrude - Nathalie Leger
Claudius - Darren Goldsmith
Horatio / RS ex man - Ashley Dixon
Polonius - Martin Bell
Laertes - Tobias Batley

Thursday 21 February (matinee)
Hamlet - Hiro Takahashi
Ophelia - Keiko Amemori
Gertrude - Patricia Hines
Claudius - Kenneth Tindall
Horatio / RS ex man - Ashley Dixon
Polonius - Martin Bell
Laertes - Tobias Batley

Thursday 21 February (evening)
Hamlet - Christopher Hinton-Lewis
Ophelia - Georgina May
Gertrude - Nathalie Leger
Claudius - Darren Goldsmith
Horatio / RS ex man - Tobias Batley
Polonius - Martin Bell
Laertes - Hiro Takahashi

BOOK NOW

Box Office: 0131 529 6000

Click here for more information on the ballet.

For more information visit NBT’s Learning & Access Department

The closing date for applications for Classical Training Auditions is looming so please make sure you send in all applications by Monday 18th February in order to make the deadline. We have classes to suit all ages and abilities ranging from intensive pre-vocational training programmes to Open classes.

To download an application pack or to find out more about the associate programme, international summer school and the Yorkshire Young Dancers Pre-Vocational training programme please go to the Classical Training Pages or call the Classical Training department on 0113 274 5355

NBT’s new building project gains ‘Momentum’

Good progress is being made on the development of our new home on Quarry Hill in central Leeds with Phoenix Dance Theatre. The internal layouts for the building are taking shape and our Architects, Jacobs, are currently working on the external look of the building. Early discussions with Leeds City Council Planning department have been positive and an informal presentation of the design and layout is scheduled to take place on 30 January with the Chief Planning Officer to gauge further support.

The formal OJEU Notice (basically an advertisement asking for expressions of interest to become the building Contractor) has been posted with a deadline of 13 February for expressions of interest.

At this stage we are reasonably happy that the design is within budget but our Quantity Surveyor will carry out a cost check in mid-February just to be sure.

Building work is currently scheduled to start on site in February 2009 for completion in May 2010.

The building is costing £12million and the good news is that we’ve raised £10.5million of that. We still need to raise £1.5million by the end of 2009 and to make sure we do that we are launching Momentum, our capital fundraising campaign. The fundraising launch will take place on 21 February at an event which will be attended by NBT’s Royal Patron - HRH The Earl of Wessex KG, KCVO. There will be many ways in which our supporters can contribute to the campaign including naming rights to the building, naming of the studio theatre, rehearsal studios or even seats within the theatre.

Watch this space for further updates about the new building and Momentum.

Northern Ballet Theatre (NBT) and Northern School of Contemporary Dance (NSCD) will hold an open dance class in Leeds on Sunday 20th January 2008 at the West Park Centre, Spen Lane, Leeds, LS16 5BE. The open day is an opportunity for young dance enthusiasts from NBT’s hometown, and across Yorkshire, to sample a ballet or contemporary dance class and learn more about the Yorkshire Young Dancer (YYD) Scheme. The open day is free and must be booked in advance through NBT’s Classical Training department on 0113 274 5355, email: classicaltraining@northernballettheatre.co.uk

Kathryn Moore of the Yorkshire Post wrote: “A DELEGATION from the region has jetted off to China today with the Northern Ballet Theatre for a four-week tour designed to raise Yorkshire’s profile in seven Chinese cities. Leeds City Council, Leeds Metropolitan University and Yorkshire Forward are supporting the tour and representatives from each organisation will act as ambassadors for the Yorkshire region.
…”

Click the link below to read the rest of the article…

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/business-news/Delegation-stepping-out-on-a.3590952.jp

This week, audiences have the chance to get closer to the action of The Nutcracker with a number of events at Leeds Grand Theatre. Ballet Explored on Thursday is a chance to watch the dancers take their daily class on stage, as well as finding out more about the company and the production with a talk by company dancer, Andrew Davidson.

And then on Saturday, there is a chance for the whole family to get creative and join in the festivities at our Nutcracker Family Fun Day. Children and adults alike will have fun making masks and headdresses in the craft workshop, and learning steps from the show in the dance workshop, before sitting back to enjoy the matinee performance of The Nutcracker.

Ballet Explored - Thursday 6th December, 11.15am - 12.15pm. £2.50
Nutcracker Family Fun Day - Saturday 8th December, 10am - 12.45pm. £4 children / £7 adults. Ticket deals available for the matinee performance

To book for these events, call the Leeds Grand Theatre box office on 0870 122 2815

As part of NBT’s new partnership with the Halifax, pupils from Withinfields Primary School attended a matinee performance of The Nutcracker at Leeds Grand Theatre. NBT Dancers Christopher Hinton-Lewis and Martha Leebolt were on hand to welcome the pupils to the theatre and talk to them about their dance experiences. Also on hand was Alex Barnett, from the Halifax who said, “We are delighted to be embarking on this new partnership with the North’s premier ballet company. We are committed to investing in the local community, and this partnership will help us support the delivery of high quality and accessible arts activities for young people in Yorkshire.” For more information about our new project supported by the Halifax click here.

The Sugar Plum Fairy aka NBT Soloist Georgina Roberts will be flitting through Leeds tomorrow to open Gateway Yorkshire’s Christmas shop. Georgina will bring festive magic to the first sales of Christmas cards and gifts when the shop, in Leeds City Train Station, opens its doors at 10am.

Each year Gateway Yorkshire, the Tourist Information Centre, sells cards, advent calendars, children’s presents and wrapping to support a wide range of charities. 80p of each pound goes to charity.

NBT’s production of The Nutcracker opens at the Leeds Grand Theatre tonight and will run until 8 December. To find out more about NBT’s production click here.

Charities supported by the sale of cards and gifts include Alzheimer’s Society, A.R.C, Barnardo’s, British Heart Foundation, British Red Cross, Cancer Research UK, CARE, Cystic Fibrosis Trust, Diabetes UK, Epilepsy Action, Help the Aged, Leonard Cheshire, Leukaemia Research, Macmillan Cancer Support, Mencap, Mind, Multiple Sclerosis Society, National Autistic Society, NCH, NSPCC, Parkinson’s Disease Society, Perennial Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Society, Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation, Royal National Institute of Blind People, Royal National Lifeboat Institution, Save the Children, Shelter, SSAFA Forces Help, The Children’s Society, The Home Farm Trust, The National Deaf Children’s Society, The Stroke Association, The 1959 Group of Charities, Candlelighters (Local Charity).

Last Friday night, some of NBT’s Classical Training students took part in a class in Leeds City Centre. 

This event was part of the third Leeds Light Night, an astounding city-wide cultural extravaganza on the night of October 12th. Photos by Amy Dutton.

Ever wanted to have a go at a ballet class? Well, this Friday night, some of NBT’s Classical Training students will be doing class in Leeds City Centre and we’d love you to join them. Come along between 6 and 7pm outside the Art Gallery if it’s dry or in The Light if it’s wet.

This event is part of the third Leeds Light Night, an astounding city-wide cultural extravaganza on the night of Friday October 12th. Check www.lightnight.co.uk for full details, & email james.hill@leeds.gov.uk for a copy of the brochure. Be a tourist, a night-tripper & a sight-seer in your own city.