The Pit, Barbican
Choreographics 22 - 24 May 2014
Generously supported by Jennifer and John Talbot
The Pit, Barbican
Choreographics Directed by English National Ballet Associate Artist George Williamson
22 - 24 May 2014 Running Order Emmeline Jansen Count Down Makoto Nakamura Ripping Effect Fabian Reimair We Are Free Interval James Streeter In Living Memory... Stina Quagebeur Vera
Choreographic Mentor Kerry Nicholls
Tamara Rojo Artistic Director
Music Collaboration Mentor DR Bruce Wall
George Williamson Associate Artist
Music: English National Ballet Chamber Ensemble directed by Gavin Sutherland. Recoding produced by Yohei Sasaki. Flute: Christopher Green Clarinet: Derek Hannigan Horn: Mark Johnson Violin: Matthew Scrivener Viola: Alexandros Koustas Cello: Garry Stevens Lighting Designer: Andrew Ellis Costume Designers: Louie Whitemore (Ripple Effect, In Living Memory..., Vera) Antonella Petraccaro (We Are Free) Dyeing: Symone Frost Hair & Make-Up: Abigail Gargas Fims and Photography: Laurent Liotardo
Stage Manager Kerry Lewis
I am delighted to present this year’s highly anticipated Choreographics at the Barbican following on from last year’s sell-out performances at The Place. This year we have again given dancers in the Company the opportunity to develop their professional skill set, by choreographing new work inspired by the First World War. We gave the choreographers the chance to work with composers, who have been guided through the musical collaboration by Dr Bruce Wall, Executive Director, London Shakespeare Workout / LSW Prison Project. He set all of the choreographers the task of choosing poems from the First World War as the starting inspiration for their pieces. The composers were then asked to create songs on the piano, inspired by the same poems. From these songs the composers worked together with their choreographers to create their final creation. Three of the pieces are part of this collaboration. Each choreographer has also been mentored, once again, by international dance artist and acclaimed choreographer Kerry Nicholls. During the performance we will see a film featuring each choreographer explaining some of their ideas and their journey. Next will be a performance of the song performed by the composer on piano accompanied by a singer, followed by the final choreographic work. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support which enables English National Ballet to showcase and nurture up-and-coming talent. George Williamson Associate Artist, English National Ballet
English National Ballet School’s 2014 Choreographic Competition winner will open the programme
English National Ballet School Title: Count down Choreographer: Emmeline Jansen Music: Dance for me Wallis - W.E. Music from the Motion Picture Composer: Abel Korzeniowski Dancer: Emmeline Jansen Synopsis: I made this piece for people who are struggling either mentally or physically. In most of the pieces that I create, I use dynamics as a way of emphasizing the feelings I want to portray, in the dance. It’s a contemporary-based dance with some quirky and distinctive movements. Enjoy!
Makoto Nakamura RIPPLE EFFECT
DANCERS
COMPOSER
SINGER
LIGHTING
COSTUME
Juan RodrĂguez Guilherme Menezes Joshua McSherry-Gray Ksenia Ovsyanick
David Hewson
Jonny Muir
Andrew Ellis
Louie Whitemore [Costume Design] Fritha Ross [Costume Maker and Design Assistant] Carrie Watkins [Costume Maker]
PIANIST David Hewson
BIOGRAPHY
ABOUT RIPPLE EFFECT
Makoto Nakamura First Artist
In Ripple Effect I expanded my focus on the people who survived and came back from the battle and their family, not only the people who died.
Birthplace Tokyo, Japan Age started dancing 7 Training Trained by Yoshiaki Tonozaki, Isoko Okura, Chieko Kisti and Hideteru Kitahara Previous companies New National Ballet, Tokyo English National Ballet Joined 2009 Favourite roles Prince Désiré in Sleeping Beauty and Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake Role would like to dance Des Grieux, Manon Career highlight Whilst with New National Ballet of Toyoko premiered in a new ballet by David Walsh and a soloist role in a piece by David Bintley Other info Likes scuba diving and cooking every day!
War trauma doesn’t finish with the war. Some soldiers, even if their bodies survive, their identities can’t survive and it destroys their family as well. This is a negative chain effect.
ANTHEM FOR DOOMED YOUTH - WILFRED OWEN (1893-1918) What passing-bells for these who die as cattle? --Only the monstrous anger of the guns. Only the stuttering rifles’ rapid rattle Can patter out their hasty orisons. No mockeries for them from prayers or bells, Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs,The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells; And bugles calling for them from sad shires. What candles may be held to speed them all? Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyes Shall shine the holy glimmers of goodbyes. The pallor of girls’ brows shall be their pall; Their flowers the tenderness of silent minds, And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds. My friends, please do not tell with such high zest To children ardent for some desperate glory, That old lie: Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori. Wilfred Edward Salter Owen MC was an English poet and soldier; one of the leading verse makers of the First World War. He died in service in 1918 at the age of 25.
Fabian Reimair WE ARE FREE
DANCERS
COMPOSER
SINGER
LIGHTING
COSTUME
Adela Ramírez Angela Wood Janette Kakareka Laurent Liotardo Francisco Bosch
Stephan Hodel
Simon Loughton
Andrew Ellis
Antonella Petraccaro [Costume Design] Thomas & Antonella Petraccaro [Costume Maker] Symone Frost [Dyeing]
PIANIST Joy Ellis
With support from the English National Ballet’s costume department
BIOGRAPHY
ABOUT WE ARE FREE
Fabian Reimair First Soloist
A journey to war. Time of excitement and pride, time to say our goodbyes. A last dance in the windy poppy fields, before the reality of war closes in. Trapped. And yet proudly we march towards the unknown until it finally sinks in: we won’t return the way we left.
Birthplace Vienna, Austria Age started dancing 8 Training Vienna State Opera Ballet School, Marico Besobrasova in Monte Carlo Previous Company Vienna State Opera English National Ballet Joined 2002, Soloist 2003, First Soloist 2007 Favourite roles Albrecht in Giselle, Tybalt in Romeo & Juliet Favourite production Romeo & Juliet Career highlights Dancing Lescaut in Manon and performing as Rothbart at Concert for Diana at Wembley Stadium Other info Enjoys music and travelling around the world
The war machine is running. It needs human fuel just to spit out inhumane ordeals. Death is looming behind bleeding trees. Friend or enemy, on the battlefield we are the same. And the women left behind are our suppliers, our backbone, our mental crutches. Soldiers fallen, back to earth. Fighting for. In loved ones’ arms we are born, in loved ones’ arms we shall die. Tangled in hope, we are free.
ABSOLUTION - SIEGFRIED SASSOON (1886 - 1967) The anguish of the earth absolves our eyes Till beauty shines in all that we can see. War is our scourge; yet war has made us wise, And, fighting for our freedom, we are free. Horror of wounds and anger at the foe, And loss of things desired; all these must pass. We are the happy legion, for we now know Time’s but a golden wind that shakes our grass. There was an hour when we were loth to part From life we longed to share no less than others. Now, having claimed this heritage of heart, What need we more, my comrades and my brothers?
James Streeter IN LIVING MEMORY...
DANCERS
COMPOSER
SINGER
LIGHTING
Erina Takahashi James Forbat Nathan Young
Christopher Hamilton
Shimi Goodman
Andrew Ellis
PIANIST Christopher Hamilton
COSTUME Louie Whitemore [Costume Design] Fritha Ross [Costume Maker and Design Assistant] Carrie Watkins [Costume Maker]
BIOGRAPHY
ABOUT IN LIVING MEMORY...
Birthplace Rochford, UK
Fought as the War to end all Wars... with such devastating losses. It made us acknowledge the fragility of life and to embrace the precious gift of true love.
Age started dancing 5 Training English National Ballet School English National Ballet Joined 2004, Promoted First Artist 2007, Junior Soloist 2011 Favourite role Tybalt in Romeo & Juliet Role would love to dance Lord Capulet in Romeo & Juliet Career highlight Dancing the title role in The Canterville Ghost and playing HIlarion in Giselle Other info Hobbies include sailing and cycling
Based on the poem The Stone; as the young man lay dying and with his final breaths his life flashes before him. Like so many people who have found true love; no feeling will ever replace this emptiness. Whether it happens on the battlefield or fighting the war from home the loss is as deep. We owe so much to so many people and I feel extremely honoured to be able to dedicate this piece to the memory of these heroes.
THE STONE (ABRIDGED) - WILFRED WILSON GIBSON (1878 - 1962) “And will you cut a stone for him? A stone for him?” she said. Three days before, a splintered rock Had struck her lover dead-- Had struck him in the quarry dead, Where, careless of a warning call, He loitered, while the shot was fired-- A lively stripling, brave and tall, And sure of all his heart desired . . . I went to break the news to her: And I could hear my own heart beat But some poor fool had sped before; And, flinging wide her father’s door, Had blurted out the news to her, And dropped it at her feet. The fourth night when I came from work, I found her at my door. “And will you cut a stone for him?” She said: and spoke no more. And so I rose and sought a stone; And cut it smooth and square: And, as I worked, she sat and watched, Beside me, in her chair. And when at length the job was done, And I had laid the mallet by, As if, at last, her peace were won, She breathed his name, and, with a sigh, Passed slowly through the open door: And never crossed my threshold more. Next night I laboured late, alone, To cut her name upon the stone.
Stina Quagebeur VERA
DANCERS
COMPOSER
LIGHTING
PIANISTS
COSTUME
Nancy Osbaldeston Guilherme Menezes
Ivor Gurney (1890-1937)
Andrew Ellis
Longing and The Sea played by Mark Bebbington
Louie Whitemore [Costume Design] Fritha Ross [Costume Maker and Design Assistant] Carrie Watkins [Costume Maker]
Sleep played by Julia Richter
BIOGRAPHY Stina Quagebeur Artist of the Company Birthplace Sint Lievens Houtem, Belgium Age started dancing 6 Training Ingrid Lootvoet, Royal Ballet School, English National Ballet School English National Ballet Joined 2003 Favourite production Melody on the Move, Double Concerto Career highlight Appearing in a documentary on National Belgian Television in 2003 and as Lady Capulet in Nureyev’s production of Romeo & Juliet Other info Directed and produced Livedance, a performance Gala in Belgium in 2003 and 2006, and recently with Jenna Lee in 2009 in Guernsey Best part of touring Laughing with friends in the dressing room Worst part of touring Autumn weather in the UK Favourite costume Swan
ABOUT VERA “I remember walking down the shimmering Sunday emptiness of Kensington High Street on the hot summer morning after the telegram came, intoxicated, strangely exalteé, lifted into incongruous ecstasy by a sense that Edward’s invisible presence was walking there beside me. After that, everything relapsed into paralysis.” “Life itself seemed unreal. I had never believed I would actually go on living without his companionship.” “Yet here I was, in a world emptied of that unfailing consolation, most persistently, most unwillingly alive.” Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain 1893-1970
IN FLANDERS FIELDS - JOHN MCCRAE (1872 - 1918) In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.