inside the magazine from Northern Ballet Theatre Issue 5 Spring 2009
FAREWELL to the fabulous Mr Wheeler CELEBRATING 40 David Nixon dances through the years NBT EXPORT Taking part in the Paralympics
inside
3 NBT news Awards, partnerships and people.
The reviews are in A look at the autumn/winter 2008 season.
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Hello and welcome to the first of our 40th Anniversary editions of inside.
We bid a fond farewell to a real character.
In this edition you can read more about our recent achievements including the news that we received the Patron’s Award at the National Dance Awards. This Award was given to us by Dame Beryl Grey in recognition of the work the Company has done to raise the profile of dance in the UK. It is a great accolade and I was delighted to be able to attend the award ceremony which is such a wonderful event celebrating the very best of dance.
Pull-out poster Your pull out and pin-up schedule of tour dates and Friends events.
12 40th Anniversary programme David Nixon talks us through the first half of NBT’s 40th Anniversary programme.
14 Claude-Michel Schönberg The celebrated composer tells us he wasn’t interested in ballet before NBT.
15 Partnership news A celebration of our partnership with Leeds Metropolitan University.
16 Building momentum News of our new building project.
17 NBT at the Paralympic Games NBT’s Learning & Access team share their China diaries.
18 Dancing ambitions Cover image Yi Song Photo: Bill Cooper
David Nixon Artistic Director NBT
Steven Wheeler
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issue 5
Photo: Richard Moran
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Two Classical Training students share their thoughts on training with NBT.
We also pay tribute to Steven Wheeler who leaves the Company after 17 years. In the article some of the dancers share their personal memories of Steven, I’m sure you will have your own. I would personally like to give my thanks to Steven for the contribution he has made to the Company and for his many memorable performances. Our 40th Anniversary is an excellent opportunity for us to reflect on NBT’s achievements, our history and to remember again all the people who have contributed to the Company’s 40 years. I hope the artistic programme will show just where the Company has come in this time and the diversity and strength on all levels that it has. The 40th Anniversary season opens with our first mixed programme since 2004 and what excites me the most is the opportunity to combine Swan Lake with the Mixed Programme and to see if that can build a greater audience for NBT. If it works it will be a significant achievement from this year’s programming. I hope the 40th Anniversary season, by giving such a strong representation of the Company now, is seen as a fitting tribute to all the people who have been part of its growth and achievements. In particular the contributions each artistic director made to the Company: Laverne Meyer who had the vision and determination to establish England’s first regional ballet company; Robert de Warren who changed the Company from Northern Dance Theatre to Northern Ballet Theatre and set us on a more classical path; Christopher Gable under whom the Company gained such great popularity and became renowned for the mixture of dance and theatre; and Stefano Gianetti who took on the Company at a very difficult time after the untimely death of Christopher Gable. I hope I have personally built upon all my predecessors work and taken NBT forward with a new impetus, creating a ballet company ready to meet the challenges of dance in the 21st century. I’ll see the new building project come to fruition and that building may be one of the greatest permanent tributes to all the people who have been a part of NBT’s rich heritage. Many of you reading this would have made your contribution to NBT by coming to see us perform and by becoming Friends and Patrons. Without our audiences we wouldn’t be here, so it is also to you that I dedicate the 40th Anniversary programme. Thank you for your support, here’s to the next 40 years.
Best wishes, David Nixon
inside: thenews
Dance legend honours Northern Ballet Theatre with dance award We were delighted to receive the coveted Patron’s Award at the 2008 Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards. NBT was chosen by legendary ballerina Dame Beryl Grey, Patron of the National Dance Awards. Previous winners of the Patron’s Award are Darcey Bussell (2007) and the BBC1 series Strictly Come Dancing (2006). The Patron’s Award is given to an individual or organisation that has significantly furthered the cause of dance in the UK. Dame Beryl Grey said:“I decided to give the 2008 Patron’s Award to NBT in recognition of the contribution the Company has made to raise the profile of dance in the UK. From its beginnings as England’s only regionally-based dance company it has attained its place as one of the country’s leading forces for dance, touring widely and performing for audiences who might otherwise not have an opportunity to experience diverse programmes of ballet of the highest quality.”
NBT has been nominated in a number of categories at the National Dance Awards in the past and received the Audience Award for three consecutive years (2004, 2005 and 2006). The Audience Award was the only award voted for by the public.
David Nixon receives the Patron’s Award from Dame Beryl Grey
Photo: John Ross
David Nixon said,“It is an honour to have been chosen by Dame Beryl Grey as the recipient of this year’s Patron’s Award. I am so pleased that the tireless work of NBT has been recognised through the Award. There could be no better way to begin our 40th Anniversary year.”
Welcome on-board
MP visits NBT
We are delighted to welcome the following people to NBT: Sharon Watson, Acting Director of Learning & Access (maternity cover); John Thornton returns to NBT as Principal Horn; Carley Marsh, Wardrobe Assistant and Phill Garnett, Web & Graphics Officer. Dianne Gray has joined NBT from Birmingham Royal Ballet; Maria Ledesma and Natalie Diaper from English National Ballet School and Anna Blackwell from Central School of Ballet are joining the Company for performances of Swan Lake and La Bayadere.
In January Greg Mulholland, MP for Leeds North West, visited NBT’s West Park headquarters which are located within his constituency. Greg watched three Classical Training students having class with Yoko Ichino and Company rehearsals of Swan Lake. Greg had the opportunity to talk to our professional dancers, the behind-the-scenes team and local students training with NBT.
Photo: Megan McLoughlin
Congratulations to the following people on their promotions: Olivia Dermot Walsh to Stage Manager, Mikhaila Pye to Touring Wardrobe Manager, Heather Burtt to Senior Wardrobe Assistant, Steve Wilkins to Technical Manager and Melanie Aram to Capital Campaign Manager. Laura O’Connor has left her role as Touring Wardrobe Manager but will be assisting the supervision of the 2009 productions.
Photo: Simon Lawson
Students start dance with NBT More then 600 students from 14 inner city schools in NBT’s local community have been working with NBT’s Learning & Access department as part of Start, an initiative funded by the Prince’s Foundation for Children & the Arts. Many students had their first ballet experience at a performance of The Nutcracker at Leeds Grand Theatre. They attended a performance of the Mixed Programme in February and are taking part in dance workshops.
Our family keeps growing Congratulations to our Deputy Stage Manager Chun-Yen Chia and his wife, ex-Leading Female Dancer, Chiaki Nagao, on the arrival of Chen-Haun in September. Congratulations also to Selina McGonagle, Director of Learning & Access who gave birth to a baby girl, Orla Grace, in November and to Annemarie Donoghue in our Classical Training department who gave birth to Madeline in March. We’re delighted to tell you that Junior Soloist Ginnie Ray is expecting a baby with her husband, NBT’s ex-Chief Stage Technician Lee Rook. Laura Pennington, violinist with the Orchestra is planning her wedding to Mark Concar in May. Farewell to… Amy Johnson, Junior Soloist; Paul Young, Sound Electrician; Hedley Benson, Principal Trumpet and Mick Schofield, Web & Graphics Officer. We wish them all the very best for the future.
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inside: thenews
Photo: Bill Cooper
Easter with NBT… NBT’s annual Easter Course will be based on past productions to celebrate our 40th Anniversary. The course is for young people aged 11-19 and will run from 6 to 9 April. Members of the NBT Orchestra will work with Caroline Burn on the dance and music course.
40th Anniversary commemorative book NBT has produced a new book to commemorate its 40th Anniversary. The book includes an overview of the work of the Company under each Artistic Director, a look at key productions, images and reflections on the Company’s work. The book is priced £10 plus p&p and will be available at our touring venues and on-line at www.northernballettheatre.co.uk
Four Professional Division students from NBT have been given the fantastic opportunity to attend an Easter Course at White Lodge, the Royal Ballet Lower School. They will take part in a week of intensive training with students from Centres for Advanced Training (CATs) from across the country.
End of year show NBT’s Professional Division students are preparing their celebratory end of year performance at the Riley Theatre in Leeds on 27th June. Tickets can be purchased from the Theatre by calling 0113 219 3018.
Photo: courtesy of American Ballet Theatre
…and at the Royal Ballet School
Rudolph Nureyev and Yoko Ichino In our last issue of inside we published this photo with the wrong credit (page 8). It is in fact of NBT’s Ballet Mistress Yoko Ichino with Rudolph Nureyev in Don Quixote with American Ballet Theatre at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York.
NBT Orchestra Leader honoured with Rêverie dedication
NBT was very sad to hear of the death of Angela Morley, the celebrated Leeds-born artist who was one of the leading composers and arrangers of film and light music in the world. Angela has worked on a number of scores for films such as: Star Wars, Superman, ET and Schindler’s List. Geoffrey Allan, NBT’s Orchestra Leader, was honoured to be the dedicatee of Rêverie, a new piece for violin and orchestra written by Angela.
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inside: reviewing NBT’s Autumn/Winter tour 2008
swept away Last season saw the World Première of Cathy Marston’s A Tale of Two Cities. A Midsummer Night’s Dream remained in the repertoire and The Nutcracker became NBT’s most successful NBT production.
City lights A Tale of Two Cities premièred on 30 August 2008 at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds, and was seen by 11,523 people at 23 performances across three venues. “By perfecting their craft and proving they’re among the cream of the ballet world they make such a huge production so worthwhile and, more importantly, hugely entertaining.” Yorkshire Evening Post/City Life, September 2008
This page: Kenneth Tindall as Sydney Carton and Keiko Amemori as Lucie in A Tale of Two Cities. Photo: Alastair Muir
A perfect 10
Glory daze
“The women of the mob move as one. They pound out a terrifying chorus.” The Observer, September 2008
A Midsummer Night’s Dream premièred in 2003, and during the 2008 autumn/winter season it was seen by 9,446 people at 14 performances across two venues.
“Both individually and as an ensemble, they radiate conviction.” The Guardian, September 2008
“…outstanding production from a national treasure.” Your Canterbury, November 2008
The Nutcracker premièred in 2007, and during the 2008 autumn/winter season it was seen by 49,746 people at 45 performances across five venues. “As they say in Strictly Come Dancing, this is a 10.” Yorkshire Post, December 2008 “… work of sublime genius that will warm your heart. David Nixon’s choreography is perfection, the sets breathtaking and the costumes a marvel.” Yorkshire Evening Post, December 2008
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inside: the big interview
Photo: Brian Slater
Steven Wheeler has been dancing with NBT since 1992. Originally from Southend-on-Sea, he trained at the Royal Ballet Upper School, where his first pas de deux training partner was Darcey Bussell. In his 17 years with the Company he has created many highly memorable roles and has always cut a familiar figure on stage. NBT audiences have particularly enjoyed his portrayal of the Wardrobe Master in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, a role that he refers to as his alter ego. In March this year Steven will finally hang up his NBT ballet shoes and head for pastures new. He gives his final performance with the Company in Sheffield. inside meets Steven to reflect on his long and successful career.
Farewell Stev “I have seen many dancers come and go but very few as memorable or as irreplaceable as the fabulous Mr Wheeler!” Pippa Moore, Leading Soloist on Steven Wheeler
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Why did you join Northern Ballet Theatre? I joined because of Christopher Gable. One of my fellow students at the Royal Ballet School joined NBT and told me all about the Company. Despite training at the Royal Ballet School I thought NBT sounded like the most interesting company around. I didn’t get into NBT on my first audition so I joined The Lewis London Ballet Company and at the end of my fourth year there I was finally accepted at NBT. I joined around the same time as Hiro (Hironao Takahashi), Omar Gordon, Konrad Simpson, Charlotte Broom and Chiaki (Nagao).
What have been the highlights of your time at NBT? Performing and working with Christopher Gable was fantastic. I remember I got my big break at NBT through someone else’s misfortune. I was in the fourth cast for Romeo & Juliet and during my first foreign tour to Greece, Pete Parker got food poisoning so due to cast changes I got the opportunity to perform Lord Capulet for the first time. In Christopher’s Swan Lake I was sixth cast and again Pete Parker got injured so, because I had done the publicity photos, I was asked to step up into his role.
As you’ve matured as a dancer, has it become more difficult to meet the physical demands of the job? Keeping fit never used to be a problem, I’d get occasional niggles which I would just ignore and work through. I’ve been dancing for more than 20 years so of course it does get harder but I have a strong work ethic. That’s what we’re paid for, we’re paid to perform. I’ve carried on with rehearsals and performances despite being ill, I believe that if you think you can do the performance then you should do it because it will mean that someone else won’t have to do the extra work to cover you. NBT is a touring company and the dancers lead a nomadic lifestyle. How have you found being on the road for the last 17 years? Do you know, saying goodbye to all the people at the digs I have stayed with each year has been one of the hardest things about leaving NBT. One lady I stay with, Joan, in Norwich, I’ve been staying with for 17 years. Recently she came to see me in A Midsummer Night’s Dream when I played Bottom, but she really wanted to see me perform the role of the Wardrobe Master, so she bought another ticket especially to see that. I didn’t know she was there and I was very touched.
Main pic: Steven Wheeler as the Marquis in A Tale of Two Cities Photo: Alastair Muir
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Which has been your favourite role? When you have performed so many it’s hard to remember. I like them all for different reasons. The roles that stand out for me include when I played first cast Don in Don Quixote, it had a huge pas de deux. I liked playing Mr Utterson (Dr Jekyll’s solicitor) opposite Jeremy’s (Kerridge) Poole (Dr Jekyll’s butler) in Jekyll and Hyde. I loved playing Mitch in Streetcar and performing Sharpless in Madame Butterfly as it was a role David (Nixon) recreated on me. I was really pleased to play Hamlet’s father, I believe Hamlet is one of the best ballets David has ever created.
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inside: the big interview
You will have seen a lot of changes at NBT in your time. What have been the most significant? I’ve worked with three different directors in my time at NBT. Each director has kept the idea of story ballets, instigated by Christopher Gable, but have also brought their own ideas to the Company. That’s been good for NBT as a whole; it’s kept the ethos of the Company going. Of course now there seems to be lots of changes with people leaving, having babies, getting married – I guess that’s what family life is all about. Top left: Steven as the Wardrobe Master in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Photo: Merlin Hendy Bottom left: Steven as Menchak in A Sleeping Beauty Tale. Photo: Merlin Hendy Top right: Steven as Lord Capulet with Chiaki Nagao as Juliet in Romeo & Juliet. Photo: Brian Slater
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You did some ballroom dancing when you were younger, are you a Strictly Come Dancing fan? I do enjoy watching it actually. I’d love to have had the chance to do more with ballroom dancing at NBT. There was a wonderful time when I was partnering Natalie Leftwich in Swan Lake when we incorporated my training in the Waltz, I don’t think David (Nixon) expected that.
What will you not miss? The awful dressing rooms at some of our touring venues and the showers at West Park. In fact I won’t miss West Park at all, once you’re working in the studios it’s ok but otherwise it’s pretty bad. I am envious that I won’t see the completion of NBT’s new building and get to enjoy those fantastic new facilities. What will you miss? I’ll miss the camaraderie of the dancers. Whenever anyone joins the Company they always say how nice everyone is, we’d do anything for each other. If someone has a problem, it may or may not be work related; there is always someone to ask for help. We are one huge family and I think that shows on stage. The younger dancers do listen to the older dancers because they know that they are not trying to make them look stupid, they do genuinely want to help.
What are your plans for the future? I don’t have any particular plans, I haven’t wanted to think about it because I believe I can only give 100% of myself in my work if I’m thinking about the present. I wouldn’t have been able to do the roles in Hamlet or A Tale of Two Cities as well as I did if my mind had been thinking about what I was going to do when my time at NBT ended. I am going to take a cruise down the Nile, it’s the only time I’ve had other than peak summer time to take a holiday – and I’m going to enjoy it. You are a popular member of NBT and the Friends of NBT will miss you. Do you have a message for them? (Tongue firmly in cheek) Don’t stop supporting NBT just because I’m not here. There are many other fabulous dancers to support. But seriously, thank you for all your support over the past 17 years, it’s been amazing. I hope people will remember that I can dance, act and partner.
NBT’s dancers share their memories and thoughts of Steven: Pippa Moore, Leading Soloist “In my first rehearsal with NBT I was to dance the role of ‘gypsy’ in Don Quixote. In a room of strangers and with little more instruction than to ‘shimmy’ seductively around my partner, I was feeling more mortified than tantalizing as I nervously approached the 6’ 2 statuesque blonde! This was my first encounter with Steven and if I had known then he would become my most reliable, unflappable ‘rock’ throughout the next 13 years working together, I would have had little reason to be anxious at all. Performing with Steven has been an honour; his professionalism and commitment are an inspiration. There is no role large or small where his charisma and unique stage presence has not shone through. Steven’s precision, timing and awareness of the scenes in their entirety can immediately put me at ease – having someone on stage so supportive both literally and metaphorically, has been priceless. I have seen many dancers come and go but very few as memorable or as irreplaceable as the fabulous Mr Wheeler!” Ginnie Ray, Junior Soloist “Steven Wheeler is an amazing person to work with. He is very professional and will always give 100% in each performance (even if it is show 110!). He is also a very caring partner in pas de deux and will always make the girl look good even if he is uncomfortable. Every girl’s dream. Steven is one of my favourite people to work with.” Hironao Takahashi, Principal Artist “I think I was lucky to have joined the Company at the same time as Steven so I could spend a lot of time with him. He has been so helpful; when I joined the Company 17 years ago he helped me so I didn’t feel lost. We have had a great time working together and I will miss him so much but I wish him all the best for the future.”
from the top: Steven takes centre stage amongst NBT’s Leading Artists. Photo: HANSON Steven as Hamlet’s father in Hamlet. Photo: Dee Conway Steven as the Marquis in A Tale of Two Cities. Photo: Alastair Muir Steven as Mitch with Charlotte Talbot as Blanche in A Streetcar Named Desire. Photo: HANSON
Keiko Amemori, Principal Artist “Steven came to Japan with Hiro and I for our wedding, he was our best man. He helped me chose my head-dress and Hiro’s suits. Steven has always been reliable at work. If he was playing my father, such as Lord Capulet in Romeo & Juliet, his acting and timing were perfect so I could therefore perform my role perfectly. He is so considerate and professional on stage, making sure that I looked good out there.” Ashley Dixon, Coryphée “I first met Steven the year before I joined the Company at the NBT Summer School. I was a student and Steven was taking class to recover from an injury. From the first day he helped me and corrected nearly everything I did. The next year when I joined the Company he remembered me and it turned out I stood next to him at the barre. He has continued to help me over the past five years and become a friend who would do anything for you. He has a personality that is irreplaceable both on and off stage.”
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inside: friends events
fabulous four
Photo: HANSON
Photo: Richard Farley
Your pull-out-and-keep guide to NBT’s Spring/Summer 2009 tour
Mixed Programme: A Simple Man, Angels in the Architecture, La Bayadère (Kingdom of the Shades)
Mixed Programme: A Simple Man, Angels in the Architecture, As Time Goes By
Sat 21 March Edinburgh, Festival Theatre Box Office: 0131 529 6000
Tues 19 – Weds 20 May London, Sadler’s Wells Box Office: 0844 412 4300
Fri 27 – Sat 28 March Sheffield, Lyceum Theatre Box Office: 0114 249 6000
Tues 16 – Sat 20 June Cardiff, New Theatre Box Office: 029 2087 8889
Tues 17 – Thurs 19 March Edinburgh, Festival Theatre Box Office: 0131 529 6000 Tues 24 – Thurs 26 March Sheffield, Lyceum Theatre Box Office: 0114 249 6000
Friends event Sat 28 March Day at the Theatre Sheffield, Lyceum Theatre
Photo: Merlin Hendy
Photo: HANSON
Weds 29 April – Sat 2 May Hull, New Theatre Box Office: 01482 226 655 Tues 5 – Sat 9 May Milton Keynes Theatre Box Office: 0870 060 6652
Tues 2 – Sat 6 June Belfast, Grand Opera House Box Office: 02890 24 19 19 Thurs 11 – Sat 13 June Llandudno, Venue Cymru Box Office: 01492 872 000
Tues 12 – Sat 16 May Bath, Theatre Royal Box Office: 01225 448 844
Weds 27 – Sat 30 May Manchester, Opera House Box Office: 0161 242 2524
Thurs 21 – Sat 23 May London, Sadler’s Wells Box Office: 0844 412 4300
Tues 23 – Sat 27 June Norwich, Theatre Royal Box Office: 01603 63 00 00
Please note, booking fees may apply
inside: NBT’s 40th Anniversary
NBT’s 40th Anniversary is an excellent opportunity to reflect on it’s history and achievements, as well as to celebrate where the Company is now. Creating an artistic programme that would do the Anniversary justice was a hard task. inside speaks to NBT’s Artistic Director, David Nixon, to ask him how he decided on the programme.
NBT’s 40th A Sitting at NBT’s West Park headquarters there is only a month until the new season opens. In the studios the dancers are working at a feverish pace rehearsing with Mark Godden, choreographer of Angels in the Architecture, whilst trying to remember everything that they rehearsed with Gillian Lynne for A Simple Man the week before. Alongside this, David Nixon is reviving Swan Lake with changed choreography and Yoko Ichino is recreating La Bayadère. Such is the eclectic mix of work programmed for NBT’s 40th Anniversary season. This is a huge challenge for the dancers but one that David feels will showcase their incredible talents while attracting audiences throughout the UK. “The 40th Anniversary season has a combination of signature works, new work and a number of opportunities to celebrate. The Mixed Programme really reflects past, present and future aspirations. I started out with the revival of A Simple Man because it is such an important piece for the Company and it was the catalyst to a huge change; because of Christopher Gable’s involvement in the piece he went on to become artistic director. The Shades Scene of La Bayadère shows just how far NBT has come as a classical company over the last few years and Angels in the Architecture shows how far we have come as a contemporary company.”
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It would be fair to say that a lot of the repertoire for the 40th Anniversary season is from more recent history. It may be a disappointment for some followers of the Company that more productions from long ago have not been brought back. David explains: “A lot of the other repertoire from before Christopher is basically lost to us in terms of rights and although some people would love to see old work it often is very expensive to get back. We don’t currently do a lot of mixed rep programming so the interest would be with the few rather than many.” The point David makes is a good one. In the early days of Northern Dance Theatre, as it was then known, the Company performed short, small-scale, more contemporary productions. How many of our audiences who know and follow the Company now, would pay to see a mixed programme of historical works they might never have heard of? The risk would be too great for the Company to bear at this current time. The programme celebrates the breadth of work NBT is known for now whilst acknowledging and appreciating the best productions from our past. Two of these, A Christmas Carol and Romeo & Juliet, were created under the leadership of Christopher Gable, NBT’s Artistic Director from 1987-1998 and continue to be extraordinarily popular with audiences.
Anniversary The revival of A Simple Man is dedicated to the memory of Christopher Gable and David Nixon feels that the mark Christopher left on the Company will never be forgotten and cannot be underestimated.“It was under his leadership that I think the Company took its largest leap forward in its history.” Christopher really introduced the idea of combining classical dance with theatre, he saw the Company through some tumultuous times including two changes of location and a move by the Arts Council to withdraw funding. 2008 marked the 10th anniversary of Christopher’s death and, in the same year, NBT’s founding Director, Laverne Meyer, sadly passed away, adding great poignancy to the 40th Anniversary. As much as looking back however the 40th Anniversary is about celebrating where the Company is now. David Nixon talks us through the other productions in the 40th Anniversary programme.“We decided to revive Swan Lake because we hadn’t done it for a while and it is as much male-driven as it is female-driven. The Company has some very strong male dancers, so it seemed appropriate to do it. NBT has a reputation for performing different adaptations of the classics and Swan Lake is a great example of that.”
“I chose to bring back Wuthering Heights because it was the first piece I choreographed for the Company and it has not been performed since. I think it symbolises what I was trying to do when I first came to NBT, which was to continue Christopher’s narrative mission, and yet it has a different element to it. The re-emphasis on classical technique at NBT started with this work and I have been waiting to have enough Heathcliffs and Cathys to do it again!” “We wanted the Christmas season, which is the culmination of the 40th Anniversary, to be the most celebratory and so I chose to bring back A Christmas Carol because it is a signature work in the Company’s history. Peter Pan was a huge success and we have a lot of dancers who suit that piece. I felt A Christmas Carol was the most appropriate production to use as an alumni celebration because there are lots of individual parts for people to perform and it is such a feel-good story. The 40th Anniversary Gala will be a special treat for our audience and also for the dancers to share the stage with some fantastic guest artists. It will be an ideal opportunity to reflect on our 40 years but of course we need to raise money for our new building, which is so much a part of our future.” For information about NBT’s 40th Anniversary tour visit www.northernballettheatre.co.uk
Main photo: Martin Bell, Lori Gilchrist, David Ward and Georgina May. Photo: Bill Cooper
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inside: interview
I had never really been interested in ballet... As Wuthering Heights returns to the NBT repertoire, Claude-Michel Schönberg, the celebrated composer of Les Misérables, Miss Saigon and, of course, NBT’s Wuthering Heights shares his thoughts on our 40th Anniversary. I had never really been interested in ballet until I learnt about the philosophy of Northern Ballet Theatre created by Christopher Gable and had my first meeting with David Nixon for our project, Wuthering Heights. As a musical composer my passion is to tell stories through the music. Ballets were only a good opportunity to enjoy brilliant demonstrations of technique, grace and beauty, but not particularly emotional for me. I have a lot of problems with those endless solos one after the other (generally in act 2); with the rest of the company waiting upstage and pretending they were interested in what was happening. One day a journalist asked me “What is ballet for you?” my answer was:” A fight against gravity!” But NBT is totally different. To tell a story through ballet is the only way to bring a young audience to the theatre, as you share with them an emotion which is part of the “catharsis” phenomena: portraying on stage a little part of the audience’s own lives. When I saw some of NBT’s productions I understood that ballet is not only perfect positions, legs and feet, but a powerful expression of the character’s spirituality. In the future I believe you will see new choreographers telling stories through modern works and, at the end of the day, NBT will be one of the companies responsible for this evolution. Of course now my vision of ballet has changed, it is not anymore a challenge in order to escape “gravity” but to tell through body language what no word and even no music can tell. Congratulations to NBT on your 40th anniversary. Claude-Michel Schönberg
This page: Christopher Hinton-Lewis as Heathcliff and Martha Leebolt as Catherine Earnshaw in Wuthering Heights. Photo: HANSON
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inside: Partnerships update
dancing cheek to cheek NBT is nearly at the end of the first year of a three-year tour partnership with Leeds Metropolitan University (Leeds Met). It is a meaningful and award-winning relationship that has grown organically over the past four years involving students and staff of both organisations.
Leeds Met partnership Leeds Met has pledged a substantial donation to NBT's new building in which its new dance courses will take place. “Leeds Met’s partnership with NBT adds significant value to both organisations, in terms of the opportunities given to our students to rub shoulders with champions in the world of dance and the support we can give to NBT with international and national tours. It is a privilege for students and staff to work with outstanding professionals in the arts, many of whom have the chance to experience top quality dance, sometimes for the first time in their lives. Leeds Met continues to work alongside this world-class organisation, looking to the future, going beyond boundaries and making a positive difference together.” Professor Sally Brown, Pro-Vice Chancellor at Leeds Met
This page: Guiliano Contadini and Ben Mitchell perform at the Yorkshire Gold event. Photo: courtesy of Leeds Met
At a time of economic uncertainty, when corporate sponsorship is difficult to achieve, the Leeds Met partnership is fantastic news for NBT. It offers unique synergies between two of the North’s pioneering organisations and allows us to continue to produce innovative new productions and to reach diverse audiences. inside takes a look at some of the events NBT and Leeds Met have been working on over the past few months.
Students go nuts for The Nutcracker
Energiser Sessions
100 Leeds Met students got a unique, behind-the-scenes glimpse of NBT’s preparations for The Nutcracker when they attended a technical rehearsal at the Grand Theatre, Leeds in December.
With the issue of health and fitness at the forefront of everyone’s minds, Leeds Met was keen to use their partnership with NBT to put staff and students through their paces. NBT’s Dance Education team led a series of energiser sessions in September to over 2,300 staff and students. The sessions lasted 15 minutes and included a fun warm up and an interactive aerobic workout.
The students listened to a talk about The Nutcracker from David Nixon and NBT’s Technical Director, Andy Waddington. The event took place during the University’s ‘Festival of Partnerships’ and is an example of how, because of its partnership with NBT, Leeds Met students have greater access to ballet and are involved in the Company’s activities.
NBT goes for Yorkshire Gold In November, five NBT dancers gave a fantastic performance at the launch of Yorkshire Gold hosted by Leeds Met. Yorkshire Gold celebrated and explored the many opportunities offered to the Yorkshire region by the London 2012 Olympics. University staff and students welcomed Paul Deighton, Chief Executive of the London Organising Committee for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, for a day packed with activities to showcase the region’s young talent and internationally renowned arts organisations, NBT and Opera North.
Mark Skipper, NBT’s Chief Executive said, “We were thrilled to have been invited to perform at the launch. As one of the North’s leading arts organisations we feel we can assist the campaign in enhancing the region’s profile and highlighting the many cultural opportunities on offer. The 2012 Olympics will provide a fantastic platform for us to further our partnership with Leeds Met, reach new audiences and highlight the ways people of all ages and abilities can engage with the Company.”
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inside: capital campaign update momentum events We have held a number of fundraising events for momentum including Starters and Afters, an event hosted by the Ambassadors of NBT. Patrons enjoyed a light lunch at the Grand Theatre, Leeds, followed by a talk with David Nixon and watched the technical rehearsal of The Nutcracker.
NBT’s fundraising campaign gains momentum
An exciting event was hosted for NBT at the Royal Opera House. Dancers, staff and supporters enjoyed an exclusive backstage tour, a pre-performance champagne reception and a performance of the Royal Ballet’s Mixed Programme. After the performance there was a party and supper attended by the Artistic and Executive teams of both companies as well as dancers from NBT and the Royal Ballet including: Principal’s Edward Watson and Viacheslav Samadurov; First Soloist, Rupert Pennefather; and Soloists Johannes Stepanek and Steven McRae. The event was a fantastic success, not only raising funds for momentum but also forging closer relationships between the companies. Further events to look out for include a lunch organised by the Ambassadors of NBT to celebrate the start of building work on site; a piano recital at Salts Mill, Saltaire, Bradford with renowned concert pianist Kathryn Stott on 29 May; and NBT’s 40th Anniversary Gala on 12 December at the Grand Theatre, Leeds. Artists from NBT will be joined by guest artists from across music and theatre for the unique gala to celebrate our Anniversary.
Fundraising update Top: NBT’s dancers Kenneth Tindall, Hannah Bateman, Isabella Gasparini and Thomas Aragones enjoying a tour of the Royal Opera House.
Below: Artist’s impression of the new NBT building by the Strategic Design Alliance.
Our Christmas 2008 home season at the Grand Theatre, Leeds, was our most successful period ever with more than 21,600 people attending 16 performances of The Nutcracker, an average of 1,351 people per performance. It was also an opportunity to tell our audiences about the momentum campaign. At each curtain call dancers made a personal appeal to the audience for support towards momentum, NBT’s fundraising campaign for a new building on Quarry Hill in central Leeds. Dancers in costume held collection buckets at the exit doors and in total a staggering £18,039 was raised. This means that our fundraising total for our momentum campaign has topped £922k with only £578k of our £1.5m target still to raise.
Progress Since the last edition of inside planning permission has been granted for the new building. Reaching this key milestone was a very important step which has allowed everything to move forward. The designs and contractual agreements have been signed off and building work is due to start on-site imminently. We are also investigating how we can make best use of the new building and are in discussions with a range of partners on creating a centre of excellence for dance in the North of England. We are also exploring opportunities for space hire, programming our studio theatre and the catering facilities we can offer. Visit www.building-momentum.co.uk for news and events or call 0113 274 5355 and speak to Melanie Aram, Capital Campaign Manager about how you could support momentum. You can also make a donation online at www.northernballettheatre.co.uk
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inside: with learning & access
Photos: Developing the Paralympic Spirit. Photos by: Northern Ballet Theatre
“The best thing about YAP is that it is a forum which has allowed people to better understand,play with,and challenge their conceptions and disability,teamwork and self-identity”- Group Leader.
dance across the globe Following the success of our visit to China in December 2007, our Learning & Access team returned to Beijing in September 2008 as part of the British Council’s Young Advocates Programme – Developing the Paralympic Spirit. The week long forum, held in conjunction with the China Disabled Person’s Federation, involved 240 disabled and able-bodied young people from across the globe taking part in activities to empower them to be leaders in their communities and to develop the Paralympic Spirit. NBT Dance Education Officers Sophie Alder and Caroline Burn, and musician Bill Laurance, led dance workshops for a group of 30 young people with the aim of increasing their confidence, communication and leadership skills, and creating a dance piece to be performed in a showcase at the end of the project. Other organisations led workshops focusing on sports science, theatre, film-making and digital art.
Jo Dean, Learning & Access Co-ordinator shares extracts from her China diary with inside: Day 1 First day of workshops. Our group included participants from China, Hong Kong, the UK and Jordan. Introductions and warm ups addressed the participants’ varying ability, confidence and dance experience, enabling them to learn a sequence, and work in small groups to develop a short dance piece. We were fortunate to attend the stunning opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games which highlighted what a fantastic project we were involved in. Day 2 We were really impressed, and at times moved, by how well the group was working together. They had some fantastic ideas, creating choreography based on the shapes and patterns found in flags from around the world. Visits to the Great Wall, the Birds Nest Stadium and a performance by the China Disabled People’s Performing Arts Troupe at the Poly Theatre offered a glimpse of Beijing’s exciting culture.
Day 3 Despite the hectic schedule, the participants were obviously inspired by the performance at the Poly Theatre and by the end of the day we had structured the piece for the showcase, bringing all their creative work together. Evening social activities were fantastic opportunities for the young advocates to engage and interact and share their cultural experiences. Day 4 Performance day. Our group performed really well and gained a sense of achievement and empowerment performing in front of their peers. It was fantastic to see them grow in confidence throughout the week and their ability to communicate through movement helped overcome the language barrier. As a finale to the project we met HRH the Earl of Wessex. As NBT’s Royal Patron he was keen to hear how these inspirational young people had created a positive, welcoming and exciting atmosphere, whilst developing the skills to promote the Paralympic Spirit in their communities.
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inside: the classical training department
A dream that’s not tutu far.. Sophie Hall and Matthew Valentine were two of the first students to enter NBT’s Centre for Advanced Training (CAT) and will be the first ever students to graduate from a full five years of training with NBT. As they polish off their pirouettes and prepare to flee the NBT nest they reflect on what has been five years of hard work and dedication. to be organised to fit my homework around my dance training. NBT has always encouraged students to work hard both in training and with our academic studies,” says Sophie. Matthew continues:“I really think living at home has given me the support I needed to achieve my potential. It’s meant I’ve had the best of both worlds; fantastic training opportunities with world-class teachers while at the same time staying at school with my friends and getting support from my family. Leaving home at 12 years old would have been too early for me. I like being at school with my friends, they know ballet is what I’m passionate about so they are really supportive,” says Matthew. Sophie has always loved dancing.“Like many little girls I always dreamed of being a ballerina. Six years ago I joined the NBT Associate programme and after one year I was asked to audition for a new programme that would train young people with exceptional dance talent. When I got accepted I was really surprised! NBT very quickly became part of my life and now as I prepare to leave I can say I’ve learnt so much, made lots of friends and have many happy memories.” Matthew also realised he wanted to be a dancer at a young age.“I’ve been dancing since I was four. A friend introduced me, I went along to a ballet class and I’ve never looked back. I’ve always really enjoyed it and it’s great for keeping in shape. When I joined NBT I wasn’t sure what to expect. It has been a lot harder than I thought but I can’t believe how far I’ve come and the quality of training I’ve had.” Training five days a week shows great passion and determination.“Sometimes it can be hard, I have
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The students will leave NBT with a taste for the stage having performed with the Company in The Nutcracker.“Dancing in the role of a maid in The Nutcracker alongside the Company was such an honour and really gave me a huge sense of achievement” says Sophie. Matthew adds:“We got a real insight into performing life and it made me even hungrier to achieve my dream of becoming a professional dancer.” NBT Ballet Mistress Yoko Ichino knows only too well of the trials and tribulations that lie ahead for Sophie and Matthew.“They already know training isn’t easy but we’ve given them a fantastic start. We’ve not only helped them develop their technique but also their knowledge of nutrition and how to look after their bodies. Ballet training is full of challenges, scrutiny and an unforgiving demand for discipline. I want our students to leave NBT and become outstanding, healthy dancers who not only excel in technique but also recognise the importance of a positive mind and a healthy body.”
inside is published biannually by Northern Ballet Theatre Northern Ballet Theatre West Park Centre Spen Lane Leeds LS16 5BE Telephone +44 (0)113 274 5355 Fax +44 (0)113 274 5381 www.northernballettheatre.co.uk BOARD OF DIRECTORS Councillor Bernard Atha CBE (Chairman) Dr Jo Butterworth Graham Dewhirst David Forbes Jon Hammond Susie Hargreaves Alan Harrison Denise Jagger Professor Simon Lee Councillor John Procter Phil Swallow ARTISTIC DIRECTOR David Nixon CHIEF EXECUTIVE Mark Skipper MUSIC DIRECTOR John Pryce-Jones INSIDE EDITORIAL TEAM Laraine Penson Ruth Burke-Kennedy Catherine Hall Northern Ballet Theatre is a touring narrative dance company whose distinctive blend of classical dance and theatre is renowned for captivating new audiences. For up to 30 weeks of the year NBT’s company of 40 dancers tour a combination of new work and acclaimed repertory pieces to all four UK countries and overseas.This extensive touring schedule demonstrates NBT’s commitment to providing opportunities for all people to have access to excellence in dance performance and participation. Designed by Andrassy Design 01484 434844
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Top inset: Sophie Hall in the dressing room. This page: Matthew Valentine adjusts his costume in preparation for a performance.
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Main pic: Martha Leebolt. Photo: Bill Cooper