Autumn 2009 1 2 Welcome from the Artistic Director
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
National Tour Partner Artistic Director David Nixon Autumn 2009 1 2 Welcome from the Artistic Director Photo: Richard Moran The autumn brings a close to our 40th anniversary season. The year began with a mixed programme of immense diversity showcasing the strength of the Company and anchored by the revival of Gillian Lynne’s signature work A Simple Man. As the director of NBT it was a fascinating moment in time from which to observe and reflect on the Company. There has been an incredible journey attraction that can reach beyond all other alongside dancers from the Stuttgart Ballet during the past 40 years and it has powers. It is wonderful to be performing and Les Ballets de Monte Carlo, to name been my privilege to be at the helm for it again in the Playhouse and building but two, will join NBT in a sensational the last eight. The Company continues upon our relationship with this special celebratory performance. Never has Leeds to perform a unique combination of theatre. been treated to such an extensive line up acting and dance and the high level of with the Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal We continue to perform Claude-Michel achievement in both these areas was Ballet, English National Ballet and Rambert visible in the revival of Wuthering Heights Schönberg’s Wuthering Heights. With among the participants. Newly created this spring. Three casts filled the stage its sweeping and beautiful original short works for the evening will include with refined and expressive dancing score this production fits the Company an original by Gillian Lynne and the NBT and performed with an overwhelming magnificently, providing the showcase dancers in a Wayne McGregor piece, emotional passion that came flooding with which to see NBT at its finest. making this an unmissable event. across the stage to the audience. These The season draws to a close with a All in all, a great way to celebrate 40 years performances reiterated for me the return of our most popular production and to move forward into the future, where unique place that NBT holds; combining A Christmas Carol and our delightful the new building on Quarry Hill heralds a great dancing with an unrivalled ability to Peter Pan which will fly onto the Grand new age of possibilities. tell a story. So often as a company we stage and take us all to Neverland; a I hope that you will join us for many of our have not been outspoken enough about return to the innocence and unbridled performances this autumn and that if you this quality and its power to move and imagination of our childhood. create empathy with its audience. Part of have not already done so you will give to the journey of this 40th anniversary has On 5 December NBT alumni will join the momentum campaign. been for me to admit how proud I am of existing dancers at Leeds Grand for a A final thank you to all our audiences, what we have achieved and the quality of one-off celebration led by the return of sponsors, Board of Directors and Chair, engagement we give. Jeremy Kerridge as Scrooge. This will be Bernard Atha, for supporting NBT and a great event as 40 years melt into one helping us to make this a great company. The season opens with the return of evening. my Dracula and our regular visit to the fantastic West Yorkshire Playhouse. The following weekend on 12 December This interpretation of Bram Stoker’s will see another unique NBT event; novel is a more intimate look at the our Gala performance in aid of the attraction and expulsion of the creature momentum campaign. Thanks to the of the night, reality versus imagination generosity of many of our colleagues, an and simultaneously an exploration of elite group of the best dancers in the UK Northern Ballet Theatre: Royal Patron: HRH The Earl of Wessex KG, KCVO Winners of the Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards Patrons Award 2008 3 David Nixon Artistic Director David Nixon trained as a dancer, first Nixon’s Liaisons - at the Hebbel Theatre, Madame Butterfly, Wuthering Heights, the in Chatham, Ontario and then at the Berlin in 1990. Gershwin extravaganza, I Got Rhythm, National Ballet School of Canada where Swan Lake, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Nixon left Berlin for a series of principal his training began in earnest. It was Peter Pan, Dracula, The Three Musketeers, guest artist positions with National Ballet during his time there that he first became A Sleeping Beauty Tale, and The Nutcracker. of Canada, Bayerisches Staatsballett, interested in choreography, helping to His dark and exciting new production of Munich and Royal Winnipeg Ballet before revive a choreographic workshop with Hamlet toured in Spring 2008. returning to Deutsche Oper Ballet in the approval of school director Betty 1994 as first ballet master. His guest His work has received recognition: A Oliphant. After further training in Europe artist credits also include: Birmingham Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Three he returned to Canada to train with Erik Royal Ballet; Komische Oper; Deutsche Musketeers were nominated for Olivier Bruhn and the great Russian teacher, Staatsoper; Hamburg Ballet and Sydney awards; The Three Musketeers won a Eugene Valukin. City Ballet. Manchester Evening News (MEN) Theatre Nixon’s career began at the National Award and Madame Butterfly and A In 1994 David became Artistic Director Ballet of Canada where he progressed Midsummer Night’s Dream were nominated of BalletMet in Columbus, Ohio USA. rapidly through the ranks to become a for MEN Awards; David was voted Director During his six-years with the company he principal dancer, dancing lead roles in the of the Year by readers of Dance Europe in added sixteen world and fifteen company classical and contemporary repertoire. 2003 and 2006; and NBT received the premi `eres to the repertoire. Companies In 1985 he joined the Deutsche Oper audience award at the Critics’ Circle National in Canada, the USA and South Africa Ballet in Berlin as principal dancer where Dance Awards for three successive years have since staged David’s productions. he won the Critics Award for Best Male (2004, 2005, 2006). Performance (1987) and continued to David came to NBT in 2001 and has Recently David has reproduced The increase his own choreographic output. revitalised the Company, adding an Nutcracker in Slovenia and in The Three This included producing and directing a impressive array of new works into the Musketeers in Tallin, Estonia. successful mixed programme - David repertoire including the hugely popular Photo : Bill Cooper 4 momentum BUILDING A FUTURE FOR DANCE IN SPACE TO DREAM HOW YOU CAN HELP THE NORTH OF ENGLAND Our new headquarters will give us the Over £1.3 million has now been raised Northern Ballet Theatre and Phoenix much-needed creative space to allow for the momentum campaign since Dance Theatre’s dream of a purpose built us to grow as we move forward through its launch in February 2008. In July home in the heart of Leeds is moving the 21st century. It will provide spaces to this year Trustees of The Monument ever closer to reality. Work started produce new work and rehearse existing Trust awarded our project a grant of on site in April 2009 with completion repertoire to tour throughout the UK and £200,000. This major contribution scheduled for August 2010. overseas. from a large national trust confirms the project’s importance and the role A 230-seat studio theatre will give Our headquarters on Quarry Hill will be it will play in shaping the cultural fabric opportunities for our Artistic Director and an important addition to the cultural of the north of England. Such support, other choreographers to experiment with combined with the generosity of landscape of Leeds, Yorkshire and the new work; our work with communities several regional trusts, businesses and north of England. It will be the largest and young dancers will have room to individuals means that we are close to purpose built space for dance outside expand and develop, allowing everyone delivering the target set for momentum. London and will be a key part of the to benefit from world-class training national dance infrastructure. The closer to home. The performance space It is testimony to the kindness and building is starting to take shape now. will offer a first-class environment for commitment of our supporters that we To watch it grow, visit: audiences to see the Company at work now have just £500,000 left to raise www.building-momentum.co.uk in rehearsal, performance and training. to reach our goal. If you can help the momentum of our campaign continue, please contact Melanie Aram on 0113 274 5355 or visit www.building-momentum.co.uk 25 June 09 09 July 09 22 July 09 05 August 09 26 August 09 Photos: NBT Webcam 5 6 Become a Friend Friends of Northern Ballet Theatre Like ballet? Like NBT? Want to see a bit more of what goes on Christmas is coming too – Friend’s membership lasts a whole behind the scenes meet some of the dancers, come along to year so could be the perfect present for the ballet lover in open rehearsals and dress rehearsals? Like the idea of meeting your life. like-minded people? We would like to thank all of our Friends, with a particular For just £25 a year you could do all of these things whilst helping thanks to the following Patron level Friends. NBT continue its work. Mr & Mrs J Bingham, Mr & Mrs E & VJ Ellis Our Friends play a crucial role in the Company.