Jan McNulty

I hadn't seen Broken Wings live but I watched the live-stream yesterday.

 

I thought it was incredibly imaginative.  I loved the colour and thought some of the movement was incredibly inventive.  It reminded me of just what a powerful stage presence Irek Mukhamedov has.

 

I can't wait to see Dust next week, which I have seen and absolutely loved.

7 hours ago, zxDaveM said:

don't know about pets - but there have been plenty of racehorses - classic winners no less.

Such as Nijinsky (the last colts triple crown winner), Alexandrova, Nureyev, Balanchine (a filly!). And many horses named Dancing/something-or-other/Dancer, such as Dancing Brave

 

In my "horsey" phase as a teenager my favourite two horses were Sir Ivor and Nijinsky.  It was because of Nijinsky that I eventually discovered ballet ... and the rest, as they say, is history!

Links - Saturday 25 April, 2020

 

 

Feature - Ashton Rediscovered Masterclass: Voices of Spring:  Deborah Weiss, DanceTabs

 

Feature - Robert Garland, resident choreographer DT Harlem:  Gia Kourlas, NY Times

 

Streaming Review - English National Ballet, Broken Wings:  Caitlin Halmarick, NZ Theatreview

 

News - Breakin’ Convention goes online:  Staff, Seeing Dance

 

News - Ballet Black on film:  Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper

 

Blog Post - When life gives you lemons:  Isabella Gasparini (Royal Ballet), Blog

 

Feature - Ballet Stars perform in empty Amsterdam:  Dawn via Reuters

A brief talk by William Forsyth from the Fedora Platform:

 

 

 

24 April 2020
 

LOCKDOWN LOCK-IN: Breakin’ Convention Goes Online

 

Following the cancellation of all performances at Sadler’s Wells in support of the global effort to stop the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19), Breakin’ Convention presents its 17th edition online for the first time, with a series of digital events across the next 10 days culminating in a ‘virtual festival’, Lockdown Lock-in. 

 

The annual international hip-hop festival will be presented digitally on Saturday 2 May, from 12 - 9pm, on the weekend the live festival would have been taken place at Sadler’s Wells, featuring recorded performance highlights from past festivals, with hosting from Breakin’ Convention Artistic Director and Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist, Jonzi D. 

 

Featuring a line-up of Breakin’ Convention highlights from over the years, international and UK acts include Bonetics, Godson, Pfect, SalesPlazaSocietas, Soweto Skeleton Movers, Geni Lou & PAX, Just Dance and Unity. The line-up also features a special collaboration with Jazz re:freshed, with a performance from The Jazz re:freshed Sonic Orchestra, presenting a special commission from the 2018 festival. Lockdown Lock-in is available to watch live via the Breakin’ Convention Facebook Page. 

 

Dance sector support organisation One Dance UK will also host a series of workshops throughout the afternoon from 12 - 4pm, inspired by the inclusive and interactive feel that the live festival offers, and the workshop sessions that would usually be available across the weekend. 

 

The night before the virtual festival, Sadler’s Wells Facebook Premieres will also share highlights from Breakin’ Convention and Jazz re:freshed’s memorable collaboration from the 2018 festival, screened live for audiences on the Sadler’s Wells Facebook page on Friday 1 May at 7.30pm. 

 

Two further online events warm up audiences before the festival weekend. On Sunday 26 April, Breakin’ Convention’s annual Park Jam, a day of outdoor hip-hop fun for all ages normally taking place in Islington’s Spa Fields Park, can be enjoyed online. Breakin’ Convention will share content from previous Park Jams across its social media platforms and is conducting a callout for previous attendees to contribute filmed clips, creating a collage of collaboration and bringing this welcoming day into audiences’ homes. And on Wednesday 29 April, International Dance Day, Breakin’ Convention partners with One Dance UK to offer a Hip hop Conditioning & Safe

 

Practice workshop for dancers, led by Nefeli Tsiouti of Project Breakalign. 

Jonzi D says: “Isolating but not isolated! We still connect, and we’re still creative. Social ‘diss’ dancing will attract attention. So let’s start Breakin’ Convention.”

 

Yvette Griffith Executive Director of Jazz re:Freshed added: “Our landmark collaboration with Breakin’ Convention back in 2015 to celebrate our 15 years by pulling together a 15-piece live band with some of the cream of the UK Jazz scene, was a special moment for us.   It’s great to see it getting another outing as part of BC’s 2020 virtual festival.  We’re very proud of the project and during these challenging and unpredictable times, we hope the energy and quality of the show will provide online audiences with 60 minutes of joy and distraction” 

 

Further details about each online event, and the artists taking part are available below, or visit the Breakin’ Convention website for more information.

 

 

FURTHER INFORMATION & FULL LISTINGS

Wednesday 29 April 6pm 
Conditioning & Safe Practice Workshop for Lockdown 
This recorded session is open to all freelance creatives and will include do’s and don'ts for hip-hop dancers, talking about safe practice during lockdown home training sessions. Hosted by Nefeli Tsiouti from Project Breakalign. The workshop can be accessed via the Breakin’ Convention Facebook page.

 

Friday 1 May 7.30pm 
Sadler's Wells Facebook Premiere 

On Friday, 1 May, Breakin’ Convention, take over Sadler’s Wells Facebook Premieres on the same weekend that this year’s festival was due to take place, with highlights from The Jazz re:freshed Sonic Orchestra performance at the 2018 festival. Supported by Jazz re:freshed and supported by Red 1 Arts. The Facebook Premiere screening can be watched live at https://www.facebook.com/SadlersWells

 

Saturday 2 May 12 – 9pm 
Lockdown Lock-in - Breakin’ Convention Virtual Festival

12 – 4pm: Workshop sessions for dancers hosted with One Dance UK
Live Q&A with Nefeli Tsiouti of Project Breakalign (12noon – 1pm) 
In this live Q&A session, Nefeli Tsiouti will offer advice about safe practice for dancers during lockdown home training sessions, and reflect on her recorded training session, hosted earlier in the week. 

 

3 – 4pm: Mental Health workshop with Psychotherapist Steve Peck
When a person has their needs met then they will thrive. For good mental health, people have emotional needs which need to be maintained. During this interactive workshop, Psychotherapist Steve Peck will explore what these needs are, with a particular focus on how the current coronavirus lockdown is affecting our mental health. 

Both of the above sessions will take place via Zoom and booking is required. To sign up for the session, email hdp@onedanceuk.org. Details about how to access the Zoom session will then be shared with participants.

 

6 – 9pm*: Lockdown Lock-in 
A collection of performance highlights from past festivals, hosted by founder and hip hop pioneer, Jonzi D. 

First Half: 

 

Bonetics (UK) - Charge

Watch a twisted, muscle sculpture in a flexible premiere from this talented contortionist. Bonetics is a self-taught dancer from Essex with a flexin’ style that is weird, humorous, artistic and shocking. So far, his appearances on TV, film and online have exposed him to an audience worldwide, including appearing in Britain's Got Talent and in ASOS's fashion campaigns. 

 

Geni Lou & PAX (Canada) - Hannah
Choreographers and performers: Geni Lou & Pax
Music: Max Cyrus Music

 

The role and presence of women in historic narratives has often been reduced to unidimensional characters: The virgin, the whore or the witch. What about the female creator, destructor, warrior, queen, fighter, the politically incorrect, challenging, revolutionary, courageous women? Hannah explores these questions in a homage to all the women who have been erased or who have erased themselves. Created by choreographers and performers Geni Lou – who has developed her style which allows her to embrace both “feminine” and “masculine” power - and Frederique ‘PAX’ Dumas a dancer, performer and teacher with a passion for street dance, back home and on the international scene. Hannah was developed at Breakin’ Convention’s Back to the Lab professional development course.

 

Godson (UK) - Free Every Man

Eminent UK krumper and member of acclaimed dance company Boy Blue, Theo “Godson” Oloyade ventures deeper into theatre work, where stage presence meets intense chest pops and arm jabs. A powerful krump piece from East London set to break boundaries and challenge thoughts and perceptions. 

Just Dance (South Korea) The Seven Human Emotions
Happiness, anger, sadness, joy, hate, desire, and love make up the theme of this piece set to live Korean music and inspired by the frailty of human life. Led by a Bhuddist monk and orchestrated with traditional instruments, the philosophy of inner peace over excessive emotion is shared through some of the most technically astounding power moves ever seen. Just Dance is a global dance and culture performance group made up of some of South Korea’s foremost b-boys from the country’s leading crews. Through dance, media and cultural representation, they wish to stir your emotions with their performances.

 

P*Fect (Sweden) - Imprint

P*Fect’s piece Imprint is inspired by Vogue, ballroom culture and the quote, "we're all born naked, the rest is drag." P*fect has performed at Juste Debout Paris and been the opening act for Lady Gaga in Stockholm. This act is the Swedish chapter of the legendary dance troupe, House of Ninja.

 

Agnes Sales & Hector Plaza aka SalesPlazaSocietas (Spain) - Blue Monday

First seen dancing with the Catalan crew Iron Skulls, duo Agnes and Hector use powerful breakin’ and gestural detail to explore conflicts between two people. Blue Monday explores human relationships, the urgency to sustain others without just sustaining ourselves. The piece was created as part of Back to the Lab, Breakin’ Convention’s professional development course.

 

Soweto Skeleton Movers (South Africa) - Children at Playground

An audience favourite of Breakin’ Convention 2016.  In Soweto in the 1950s, commuters developed a dance style known as ‘isparapara’ inspired by their jumping on and off of moving trains. This was mixed with tap dance and later became known as Pantsula. Experts in a form of pantsula dance developed by Skeleton Mover pioneer Jabulani, the crew use comedic contortionism, frenetic footwork, and magical hat tricks.

 

Unity (UK) - When Boundaries Push Back

Created as part of Breakin’ Convention’s Back To The Lab programme in 2015, When Boundaries Push Back is a work in progress exploring different struggles and situations people face when trying to push forward and ‘push boundaries’ both physically and mentally. Unity UK is known for high-energy, fast-paced, high-flying and tightly choreographed performances. Using an all-male cast, this piece is a glimpse of another side of the east London-based company.

(interval)

Second Half: 

 

JRFSO: The Jazz re:freshed Sonic Orchestra (UK)

Live music meets hip hop theatre, as this awe-inspiring collaboration sees a big band performance with a specially commissioned score by Jason Yarde performed to by artists representing highlights of Breakin’ Convention’s long illustrious history. An incredible ensemble of 15 leading jazz musicians collaborating and celebrating the 15th anniversary of both Breakin’ Convention and Jazz re:freshed. 

 

Companies appearing alongside Jazz re:freshed are The Locksmiths (UK), Jonzi D & Tanaya ‘Ice’ Martin (UK), The Ruggeds (Netherlands), Mufasa & Ayanna (France/UK) and Boy Blue (UK).

The Jazz re:freshed Sonic Orchestra features: 

Saxophone/Composer/Band Leader: Jason Yarde
Drums: Saleem Raman 
Percussion/Vibes/Marimba: Orphy Robinson 
Bass (Double & Electric): Inga Elchier 
Guitar: Shirley Tetteh 
Tuba/Bass: Trombone Nathaniel Cross 
Trombone: Rosie Turton 
Saxophone/Bass Clarinet: Wayne Francis 
Saxophone + Flute: Nubya Garcia 
Trumpet (lead): Sheila Maurice-Grey 
Trumpet: Jay Phelps 
Voice + Cello: Ayanna Witter-Johnson 
Turntablist: DJ Pogo 
Beatboxer: Beatbox Hobbit/ABH

Created with Jazz re:freshed and supported by Red 1 Arts.

*6-9pm GMT, 3am-6am (3 May) Tokyo/ Seoul, 4am-7am (3 May) Sydney, 2pm-5pm Eastern Standard Time, 11am-2pm Pacific Standard Time, 7-10pm West Africa Time,9pm -12am East Africa Time Africa, 8pm-11pm Central Africa Time. 

Check out www.breakinconvention.com – we will be posting the live Facebook Premiere link for this event here.

Spoken word sections are subtitled & Line-up correct at time of release.

A Sadler’s Wells Production / Jonzi D is a Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist.

 

NOTES TO EDITORS

 

About Sadler’s Wells
Sadler’s Wells is a world-leading creative organisation dedicated to dance in all its forms. With a rich theatrical heritage of over three centuries, it offers a year-round programme of performances and learning activities. Our mission is to make and share dance that inspires us all. Our vision is to create, through dance, a depth of connection beyond borders, cultures and languages, so we see ourselves in each other. 

 

Audiences of over half a million come to Sadler’s Wells’ three London theatres each year, with many more enjoying our touring productions at venues across the UK and around the world and accessing our content through digital channels. Sadler's Wells commissions, produces and presents more dance than any other theatre in the world, embracing the popular and the unknown. Since 2005, we have helped to bring over 170 new dance works to the stage, many of them involving our 16 Associate Artists, three Resident Companies and four Associate Companies – the most exciting talents working in dance today. Sadler’s Wells nurtures the next generation of talent through a range of artist development initiatives and reaches over 30,000 annually through our learning and engagement programmes.

 

Located in Islington, north London, Sadler’s Wells’ current building is the sixth to have stood on site since entrepreneur Richard Sadler first established the theatre in 1683. The venue has played an illustrious role in the history of theatre ever since, with The Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet and English National Opera having all started at Sadler's Wells.

Sadler’s Wells is to open an additional mid-scale venue in east London in 2022. The new space will be at the heart of the East Bank project, a new cultural and education district in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, which will also include BBC, UAL’s London College of Fashion, UCL and the V&A in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution. As well as a 550-seat auditorium, our new venue will include a choreographic centre and a hip hop theatre academy, the first of their kind in the world to be run by a theatre.

www.sadlerswells.com

About Breakin’ Convention 
Breakin' Convention represents the origins and evolution of hip hop culture from around the world and around the corner. It is world-renowned for hip hop dance theatre. Through its international festivals and professional development programme, Breakin' Convention is at the vanguard of the global development of hip hop theatre artists. 

 

Supporting the artistic vison of hip hop theatre pioneer Jonzi D, Breakin’ Convention is part of Sadler’s Wells and produces its flagship annual festival there. It is one of the most prestigious platforms for dance theatre in the world. Since its inception in 2003, the festival has been pivotal to the development of the global hip hop theatre scene; touring nationally since 2007 and internationally since 2013, Breakin’ Convention has reached live audiences of over 100,000.

 

Breakin’ Convention is committed to the development of hip hop theatre artists by providing a variety of participatory opportunities. These include professional development programmes for choreographers, dancers and emcees, projects for young people and educational activities in schools as well as bespoke special events.

 

In the next five years, these projects will culminate in the opening of a new hip hop theatre academy, within the new Sadler's Wells venue in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, east London. As well as a mid-scale auditorium, this new Sadler’s Wells venue will also include a new choreographic centre and will be part of the East Bank project alongside UAL’s London College of Fashion, BBC, UCL and the V&A in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution.  

 

In July 2020, Breakin’ Convention Presents - the programme’s full-length performance platform for the most innovative hip hop artists working today - makes its first visit to Sadler’s Wells’ West End venue, The Peacock this year, with b-boy company The Ruggeds’ Between Us.

www.breakinconvention.com 

 

About Jonzi D
Jonzi D is the foremost advocate for hip hop theatre, changing the profile and heavily influencing the development of Britain’s hip hop dance and theatre scene over the past two decades. He’s an MC, dancer, spoken word artist and an established performer in his own right. Jonzi is a graduate from the London Contemporary Dance School and an Associate Artist at Sadler’s Wells. He has toured his own work internationally and is regularly invited to judge international dance competitions. 

 

Since founding Breakin’ Convention in 2004 Jonzi has triumphed in both raising the profile and giving a platform to hip hop disciplines; Breakin’ Convention has gained worldwide recognition as being at the vanguard of the art form’s development. Through professional development projects including Open Art Surgery and Back to the Lab, Jonzi has supported hundreds of hip hop dance and rap/poetry artists on their journey to creating theatre. His critically acclaimed works include Lyrikal Fearta (1995), Aeroplane Man (1999), TAG… Just Writing My Name (2006), Markus the Sadist (2009) and The Letter: To Be, Or To MBE (2013). Jonzi has been featured in HBO’s Def Poetry Jam, had his short films Silence da Bitchin’ & Aeroplane Man screened on Channel 4, toured his work extensively all over the world and delivered his own TED talk about the influence and evolution of hip hop culture.

 

About Jazz re:freshed
A small but relentlessly determined organization, Jazz re:freshed’s mission over the last 17 years is to raise the profile of UK Jazz globally, through a variety of curated initiatives, including hosting a weekly live residency, annual festival, band development, operating its own record label and ongoing international work which has changed the face of UK Jazz. www.jazzrefreshed.com

 

About Red 1 Arts 
Red 1 Arts is a new music development organisation and music producer that provides stronger development pathways and visible platforms for emerging and mid-level artists and delivers unique live music experiences for audiences. Founded in 2017 by cultural entrepreneur and established music professional Victor Redwood-Sawyerr, the company delivers activity through four activity strands; artist development, live events, consultancy and advocacy. Red 1 Arts is a strong voice for the sector, engaging creative industry bodies, government agencies and public funders to highlight the value that music provides and lobby for further support. We also serve as a trusted filter, signposting peers to new opportunities within the arts and funding sector. Red 1 Arts supported the Breakin’ Convention and Jazz re:freshed collaboration through co-commissioning, project management and technical assistance and is supported by PRS Foundation’s The Open Fund.

 

About One Dance UK
One Dance UK is the sector support organisation leading the way to a stronger, more vibrant and diverse dance sector. 

We provide one clear voice to: 

• Support all those working in the sector to achieve excellence in dance performance, education and management
• Advocate for the increased profile and importance of dance in all its diverse forms and settings 
• Enhance dancers’ health, well-being and performance 
• Identify gaps, provide opportunities and improve conditions for dance to be learnt, discussed and seen 

 

We provide membership packages for a range of individuals and organisations to support, advise and connect people across the dance sector. Our aim is to create a workforce that is well-equipped to secure dance's prominence in the cultural landscape of the future. We do this by providing services, information and opportunities for Dance organisations, dance professionals including dance artists and choreographers, dance teachers, educators and practitioners, dance managers and producers, dance medicine and science/research professionals and of course, all children and young people.

 

The Healthier Dancer Programme promotes dancers’ mental and physical health and fitness. One Dance UK also manages the National Institute of Dance Medicine and Science (NIDMS). We offer support and information about

• mental health for dancers
• injury care for dancers
• fitness for dancers

 

Ballet brain teaser:

 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-8249029/Brainteaser-challenges-nation-two-stray-ballet-shoes-hidden-dancers.html

I've just spent the noon matinee blissfully watching Ballet Black's House of Dreams, choreographed by Michael Corder to music by Debussy.

 

It really is a sublime piece of choreography for 2 couples with individual duets and ending up with all four dancers.  I have often thought with the Michael Corder story ballets I have seen that there are too many steps and not enough dancing but with this piece he has melded the steps to the music so beautifully I was transported to McNulty heaven.  The four dancers were just sublime.  Highly recommended.  (I'm not sure how long it is available for).

 

 

1 hour ago, Pas de Quatre said:

Yes Claudia Dean. She has a youtube channel with excellent coaching videos and a dancewear business. There is an earlier thread Claudia Dean - why I left the Royal Ballet. Perhaps someone can add the link, I don't know how.

 

Find the thread.  Copy the URL (address for web page at top of screen) - paste in your post - easy peasy lemon squeezy!

 

 

Northern Ballet Sinfonia cellist Toby Turton plays Somewhere Over The Rainbow to thank the NHS:

 

 

Links - Friday 24 April, 2020

 

 

Obituary - Don Campbell, Hip-Hop dance innovator:  Daniel E Slotnik, NY Times

 

 

Feature - Marcelino Sambé, Royal Ballet:  Sarah Crompton, Times

 

Streaming Reviews - English National Ballet, Broken Wings:

Howard Loxton, British Theatre Guide

Vikki Jane Vile, Broadway World

 

Streaming Review - Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures, Swan Lake:  Vikki Jane Vile, Broadway World

 

Very meaty feature - Mikhail Baryshnikov and the play The White Helicopter:  Joan Acocella, New York Review of Books

 

Suggestions - The 50 best stage shows to stream right now: dance and opera:  Natasha Tripney, Stage

 

Preview - Akram Khan strikes a pose from home for Sky Arts portrait painting show:   Mark Brown, Guardian

 

News - San Francisco Ballet announces 2021 roster:  News Desk, Broadway World

 

Streaming Review - Australian Ballet, Cinderella:  Michelle Potter, ... on dancing

 

Feature - Paul Taylor - Now you see it, virtually:  Marcia B Siegel, Arts Fuse

 

News - Melbourne Council awards Covid-19 arts grants:  Nick Miller, The Age

 

News - Shanghai Ballet’s new production to premiere on 8th May:  Zhang Kun, China Daily

 

News - Yeh Ballet becomes first Indian film to be recommended by Netflix CEO:  Staff, Eastern Eye

Was it Claudia Dean?

Hello Ellera and welcome to the Forum, albeit telling us your not good news.

American Ballet Theatre has issued a video of a rehearsal of part of Ratmansky's The Seasons.  From Broadway World.

 

https://www.broadwayworld.com/videoplay/VIDEO-American-Ballet-Theatre-Dancers-Rehearse-Alexei-Ratmanskys-THE-SEASONS-20200423

I've just had a quick look.  All I can find on the BRB website is the trailer.  It looks to me as though the fairy costumes are subtly different whereas on the DNB version they all look the same - slightly different colour to BRB too.  The fairies are at 24 seconds into the trailer:

 

 

The lovely Isabella Gasparini (of the Royal Ballet) has published a site for her new blog.  I think it is an ongoing project for her rather than specifically for lockdown:

 

https://www.isabellagasparini.com

Links - Thursday 23 April, 2020

 

 

Feature - Sara Mearns (NYCB) on getting through quarantine:  Lauren Wingenroth, Dance Magazine

 

Feature - Ryan Heffington, choreographer, want the whole world to dance:  Gia Kourlas, NY Times

 

Feature - 4 ways to reconnect with dance, theatre, opera - and joy - during your self quarantine:  Sarah L Kaufman, Washington Post

 

Feature - The Irish ballet teacher in Palestine during a pandemic:  Juliet Casey, Irish Times

 

Opinion - Don’t leave culture to Netflix:  Editorial staff, Guardian

 

Feature - Dancers & dogs are a pet project:  Karen B London, The Bark

From a Ballet Black email:

 

Beginner Ballet Class

Adult Beginners Balletwith Senior Artist José Alves  A perfect introduction to a ballet class to get you moving! SUNDAY 26th April at 12 o'clock (midday BST) Join via Instagram Live @originalballetblack

From a Ballet Black email:

 

Beginner Ballet Class

Adult Beginners Balletwith Senior Artist José Alves  A perfect introduction to a ballet class to get you moving! SUNDAY 26th April at 12 o'clock (midday BST) Join via Instagram Live @originalballetblack

I've had an email from Ballet Black:

 

#BBonFilm Dear Janet We are missing our wonderful BB audience!  So, we decided to beam some BB magic into your homes and onto your phones with #BBonFilm, featuring special viewings of some of our acclaimed ballets and classes taught by our lovely company dancers! #BBonFilm Schedule  House of Dreams (2017)  by Michael Corder House of Dreams is a sparkling quartet exploring themes of love and loss set to the delicate music of Claude Debussy with costume designs from Ballet Black’s long-term collaborator, Yukiko Tsukamoto. Watch Ballet Black on Film Available Now SUNDAY 26th April 2020 Captured (2012) by Martin Lawrance A four-hander by Martin Lawrancecharacterised by intricate detail and propulsive energy; Captured ebbs and flows to the fiery emotion of Lawrance’s edgy choreography, set to a Shostakovich string quartet. Watch Ballet Black on Film Available for 7 days from 26 April - 2 May.  SUNDAY 3rd May 2020 Ingoma (2019)  by Mthuthuzeli November  Ingoma (song) is by company dancer and choreographer Mthuthuzeli November, who has received nominations from the Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards (Best Emerging Artist) and the Olivier Awards (Best New Dance Production).  Ingoma is a fusion of ballet, African dance and singing. Ingoma portrays a milestone in South African history and imagines the struggles of black South African miners and their families in 1946 – when 60,000 of them took courageous strike action, and is inspired by Song of the Pick, a painting by South African artist, Gerard Sekoto (1913-1993), and the poem, Blue Head (2018) written specially for this ballet by Asisipho Ndlovu Malunga Watch Ballet Black on Film Available for 7 days from 3-10 May. Subscribe to Ballet Black YouTube Beginner Ballet Class Adult Beginners Balletwith Senior Artist José Alves  A perfect introduction to a ballet class to get you moving! SUNDAY 26th April at 12 o'clock (midday BST) Join via Instagram Live @originalballetblack

I've just attended a matinee performance of Northern Ballet's 1984 in my living room.

 

I'm never quite sure how live performances will translate onto the small screen and actually this production transforms very well.  I'd forgotten just what an imaginatively brutal production it is.  IMHO it's a terrific interpretation of such a very bleak novel.  The corps scenes are mostly people at the repetitive drudgery of work interspersed with the quite intimidating hate sessions.

 

Toby Batley as Winston Smith shows what an incredibly expressive dance actor he is going from the drudgery of work and life, through the hate sessions, the hope, love and ultimately despair and betrayal.  Of course, Martha Leebolt as Julia walks on stage, breathes and all is well with the world.  Javier Torres is utterly sinister and brutal as O'Brien, showing yet again what a powerful presence he has.  

 

The end, where Winston Smith's name is erased from the screen is incredibly moving.

 

All in all this was a terrific afternoon at the ballet.

 

This production is currently availably via YouTube as part of Northern Ballet's Pay As You Feel digital season (although I have, of course, got the DVD).

To celebrate Earth Day 2020  Corey Baker Dance have released a new dance film Spaghetti Junction created by award-winning choreographer/director Corey Baker.  Filmed on location beneath Birmingham’s (in)famous interchange Spaghetti Junction features dancers from Birmingham Royal Ballet and Hong Kong Ballet and brings attention to the climate change crisis.  #SpaghettiJunctionDanceFilm

 

• Director/ Choreographer: Corey Baker
• Producers:  Corey Baker and Anne Beresford 
• Dancers: Gus Payne, Haoliang Feng from Birmingham Royal Ballet and Forrest Rain Oliveros from Hong Kong Ballet 
• Music: FKJ, Lying Together (Interlude)
• DOP: Robert Beck 
• Editor: Dani Jacobs 
• Partners: Birmingham Royal Ballet, Hong Kong Ballet  
• Funders: Arts Council England, West Midlands Growth Company, Birmingham Hippodrome, Southside BID
• Supporters: The Space, Holiday Inn Birmingham City Centre, Film Birmingham, Julie’s Bicycle
• Production company: Corey Baker Dance Ltd.

 

 

 

 

 

9 hours ago, Els66 said:

Hi Jan, It's English National Ballet School.

 

I've added a couple more tags.  There are lots of previous discussions about accommodation for ENBS students but I'm sure people will be able to give up to date information too.

From twitter:

 

 

Links - Wednesday 22 April, 2020

 

 

Obituary - Sir John Tooley, General Director of ROH:  Alan Blyth, Guardian

 

Obituary - Ilona Murai, dancer:  Christina Kerman, Dance Magazine

 

 

News - Sadler’s Wells latest digital plans:  Teresa Guerrero, Culture Whisper

 

Preview - Alternative Let’s Dance International Frontiers 20 Festival (LDIF20):  Gerard Davis, Dancing Review

 

Feature - A Merce Cunningham solo anyone can try:  Marina Harss, NY Times

 

Video Feature - The Scotsman Sessions #22: Eve Mutso:  Kelly Apter, Scotsman (if the video isn’t visible on the page, open it in a new tab)

 

Film Review - Gilles Delmas & Damien Jalet, The Ferryman:  Lorna Irvine, Fjord Review

 

Streaming Review - Royal New Zealand Ballet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream:  Jennifer Shennan, ... on dancing

 

Streaming Review - Béjart Ballet Lausanne, The Magic Flute:  Staff, Seeing Dance

Hello Els66 and welcome to the Forum!

 

There are lots of threads about various forms of funding.  I've added some tags at the top of your post.  If you click on them previous threads will come up.

 

Is there a particular school you are aiming for?