2015 ANNUAL REPORT THE YEAR IN REVIEW MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR 2015 was an exceptionally busy year for Ballet Ireland with a wide variety of activities and performances. The highlights were of course the creation of 'Lost' by Ludovic Ondiviela and 'Coppelia' by Morgann Runacre Temple. Other notable highlights, included our performances in Limerick with the ICO and of course our Summer Workshops with the educational team. It was a difficult year financially for the company. Artistic risk taking is always going to have major financial implications and indeed 2015 saw the company increase its deficit quite significantly. The chief reason for this was the failure of Coppelia to do well at the box office in the Gaiety Theatre. Elsewhere around the country the production was a resounding success both artistically and financially. However, the Gaiety's poor sales have had an impact. Competition is the major factor in Dublin and something we will have to work hard on. So 2016 is a time for celebration and reflection. To celebrate the successes and reflect on how we can minimise risk in the future. We look forward to planning for an even more vibrant and creative year ahead for 2017, which will support further the growth and success of the company. Anne Maher Director THE YEAR IN REVIEW Productions: Tutus & Beyond … SUMMARY Tutus & Beyond paid tribute to the purity of classical ballet, whilst also looking forward to contemporary ballet beyond the Tutu. The programme was comprised of: Pas de Quatre, by Jules Perrot; Vivaldi Suite (excerpt) by Ray Barra; Sing, Sing, Sing, a Bob Fosse inspired piece, created for Ballet Ireland by Rain Francis. The most important piece in the programme was ‘Lost’, a powerful new work created for Ballet Ireland by Royal Ballet Dancer/Choreographer Ludovic Ondiviela, one of Europe’s foremost emerging choreographers. Music by Ezio Bosso. Lighting by Paul Keogan with costumes by Richard Bermange. The work was received with standing ovations all over the country and is another major step forwards for Ballet Ireland. TOUR DATES Project Arts Centre, Dublin 9-11 April Pavilion, Dun Laoghaire 14 April glór, Ennis 16 April Town Hall Theatre, Galway 17 April Civic Theatre, Tallaght 24, & 25 April Roscommon Arts Centre, Roscommon 18 April Firkin Crane, Cork 26 April Hawk’s Well Theatre, Sligo 19 April Solstice Arts Centre, Navan 28 April VISUAL, Carlow 21 April Draíocht, Blanchardstown 29 April The Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny 22 April Theatre at the Mill, Newtownabbey 1 May AUDIENCE NUMBERS The spring tour was seen by 1,865 audience members. REVIEWS … a fascinating production that brings an exciting freshness to the study of ballet... The dancers display athleticism, poise and flexibility throughout, with marvelous moments intricate pointe work. SUNDAY BUSINESS POST THE YEAR IN REVIEW Production: Strauss Gala with the Irish Chamber Orchestra SUMMARY Building on the success of our Carmen collaboration in 2014, Ballet Ireland was invited to perform once again with the Irish Chamber Orchestra in May 2015 presenting two performances at the Milk Market in Limerick. Two couples danced five numbers during the ICO’s evening of Strauss music. Choreography was created for the evening by Stephen Brennan. The two performances were complete sellouts. The Milk Market as a venue, has proven itself to be a huge success with audiences. Having both dancers and performers on this stage setting, creates an intimacy and immediateness of experiencing live dance and music - drawing in and integrating rather than separating the elements of live performance that are so often kept at a polite level of engagement with each other. The unusual outdoor setting attracted a broader audience demographic for both art forms. PERFORMANCES Thursday 28 and Friday 29 May 2015 AUDIENCE NUMBERS The production was seen by 1,200 audience members. THE YEAR IN REVIEW Production: Merry Widow SUMMARY Ballet Ireland’s Stephen Brennan choreographed for the students of INYB for Lyric Opera’s performances of The Merry Widow at the National Concert Hall. PERFORMANCES 16 & 17 (matinee and evening) May 2015 AUDIENCE NUMBERS The production was seen by 1,125 audience members. THE YEAR IN REVIEW Production: Photo shoot and Private Performance for Joseph Walsh SUMMARY Having come to see Tutu’s on Tour in Cork, Furniture Designer Joseph Walsh requested one of our dancers to model in a photo shoot to document a bed commissioned for the Duke of Devonshire. The company was then asked to perform an extract from ‘Lost’ at a private event in June in Fota House for Mr Walsh to celebrate being honoured by UCC. PERFORMANCE 27 May 2015. AUDIENCE NUMBERS The performance was seen by 60 audience members. THE YEAR IN REVIEW Production: Coppelia SUMMARY In autumn 2015 Ballet Ireland mounted a new production of Coppélia. Choreography Morgann Runacre-Temple with an amazing creative team comprising of Libretto by Stella Feehily. Sound design and arrangement by Tom Lane & Rob Maloney. Set Design Lorna Ritchie. Costume Design Louise Verity. Lighting Design by Kevin Smith. TOUR DATES The Helix, Dublin 29 Oct The Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny 30 Oct Theatre at the Mill, Newtownabbey 4 Nov Burnavon Arts Centre, Cookstown 5 Nov Garage Theatre, Monaghan 6 Nov Civic Theatre, Tallaght 3 - 5 Dec Ardhowen Theatre, Enniskillen 7 Nov glór, Ennis 10 Dec Riverside Theatre, Coleraine 11 Nov Lime Tree Theatre, Limerick 11 Dec VISUAL, Carlow: 12 Nov Siamsa Tíre Theatre, Tralee 12 Dec Roscommon Arts Centre, Roscommon 14 Nov Solstice Arts Centre, Navan 15 Dec Gaiety Theatre, Dublin 17 - 21 Nov Backstage Theatre, Longford 16 Dec Dunamaise Arts Centre, Portlaoise 24 Nov Draíocht Arts Centre, Blanchardstown 18 Dec An Grianán Theatre, Letterkenny 27 Nov Source Arts Centre, Thurles 19 Dec Hawk’s Well Theatre, Sligo 25 Nov Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray 20 Dec Wexford Opera House, Wexford 29 Nov AUDIENCE NUMBERS The spring tour was seen by 14,685 people. REVIEWS …in “Coppélia” opposites most certainly do attract, complimenting each other wonderfully to create a thoroughly enjoyable and utterly refreshing production. IRISH EXAMINER a truly magical performance from Ireland’s national ballet company. SUNDAY BUSINESS POST THE YEAR IN REVIEW Education Programme: Primary Schools SUMMARY We continue to develop and promote our schools programme throughout 2015. Our current agenda has evolved in close collaboration with schools in the Dublin 15 area. Our series of workshops, in which children join us in class and rehearsal, has proved an extremely successful route through which to expose young people to the experience of dance. In addition to the classes in their schools, children had workshops in DanceHouse, before meeting the company and observing rehearsals. SCHOOLS Our Education Officer works with students in St. Patrick’s JNS, Corduff, Scoil Mhuire JNS Blakestown and St. Philip’s JNS. PARTICIPATION NUMBERS 4,916 students took part in the programme. TESTIMONIALS ‘…the programme did more than just integrate with our curriculum. It promoted positive behaviour among our pupils and has contributed to higher levels of self-esteem particularly among those pupils with Special Educational Need. The school community has been enriched having had the opportunity to work with the members of their team and having talked to the dancers I know that they felt that they also benefited immensely from the experience.’ Sean Sheehan, Principal St Ciarán’s National School, Clonsilla, Dublin 1 THE YEAR IN REVIEW Education Programme: Summer School SUMMARY Our summer school programme continued throughout July and August 2015. We continue to concentrate on attracting a larger uptake of places from a younger age group, those aged between 6 and 9 years particularly; in recent years the programme has proved increasingly popular with older students, many repeating year on year. PARTICIAPTING THEATRES Glór, Ennis; The Civic Theatre, Tallaght; An Grianán, Letterkenny; The Burnavon, Cookstown and the Moat Theatre Naas ATTENDANCE NUMBERS 3,107 young pupil attended TESTIMONIALS ‘As a parent I was amazed that much could be accomplished in only few days. The final performance looked like something that was rehearsed for weeks.’ ‘My son has been dancing for a couple of years. We attend all of Ballet Ireland’s productions and he is delighted to be dancing on stage with dancers he has seen on stage.’ THE YEAR IN REVIEW Education Programme: Workshops SUMMARY We respond to various requests throughout the year to deliver workshops of all kinds around the country to private dance schools and colleges. This forms part of our strategy to grow our relationships with teachers and students throughout the country and continues our commitment to nurturing young talent. PARTICIAPTING THEATRES Workshops were conducted at Xquisite Dance Academy, Tallaght; Clare Connolly Dance, Blanchardstown; VISUAL, Carlow, Burnavon, Cookstown; An Grianán, Letterkenny; Etoile School of Dance, Portrush; Peelo School of Dance, Celbridge; Dance Ireland Limerick; Zona Dance, Letterkenny and The Ark as part of the Association for Creativity and Arts in Education (ACAE) ATTENDANCE NUMBERS 283 students took part in workshops. TESTIMONIAL It has been such a delight to work with Ballet Ireland over the last few years. Each time Ballet Ireland comes to our town we have been delighted to partake in repertoire classes and summer schools. Our students have been challenged and inspired by their interaction with the company and the dancers. Each year students come to me with eyes wide asking ‘can we do that?’, I’ve found as their instructor that the students work harder and find more in themselves to give to their dancing after we’ve spent time with the company, whether that is in class or as an audience member. From the youngest student to the most senior dancers, they always leave the experience with higher aspirations and as stronger dancers, I am so glad of the ongoing professional relationship that we’ve been able to develop with Ballet Ireland.