Northern Ballet has announced its 2023/24 Season, the first under new Artistic Director Federico Bonelli. He said,
At Northern Ballet we tell stories that connect with people and for my first season I have invited some exciting young choreographers to Leeds, to create new stories and share their fresh and compelling perspectives with us. These are presented alongside the revivals of landmark productions that we will take across the country with the hope of introducing a whole new generation of people to the power and beauty of world-class ballet.
In September, the company will present Generations: Three Short Ballets, a trio of contemporary pieces created by choreographers from across the generations with a world première from American ballet dancer and choreographer Tiler Peck – her first choreographic commission for a European ballet company.
It is an absolute honour to be creating a new work for Northern Ballet – says Peck – I have always admired Federico's work and was humbled when he asked me if I would make a new commission for the company. This will be my first time choreographing for a European company and I am grateful for the opportunity to work with Northern Ballet's incredibly versatile dancers. I recently performed at Sadlers Wells and was overwhelmed by the support from audiences. I am very much looking forward to coming back to the UK and sharing a new work with them.
The programme also contains a UK première by emerging choreographer and Royal Ballet Soloist Benjamin Ella (“I'm certainly quite new to this craft, but with these fresh eyes and an open mind I feel I have nothing to lose and just so much to learn and explore!”); and the contemporary classic Adagio Hammerklavier by Hans van Manen, created 50 years ago. The mixed bill will be performed at the Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre in Northern Ballet's home in Leeds (8-16 Sept) and at the Linbury Theatre in London (31 Oct – 2 Nov).
For Spring 2024, Northern Ballet will restage its production of Christopher Gable and Massimo Morricone's Romeo & Juliet. Northern Ballet will work with members of the original creative team to bring this much-loved work back into the repertoire and present it to audiences around the UK.
Touring is part of our DNA – says Bonelli – however, I am incredibly proud of our place within the wider cultural landscape of Leeds and the North of England. This year, we're opening up our space and resources and looking forward to collaborating more closely and forging partnerships with our community, local artists and organisations throughout the North.
Building on its tradition of storytelling, Northern Ballet has commissioned a contemporary response to Romeo & Juliet with a new work for 2024 from Olivier Award Winning South African choreographer Mthuthuzeli November who returns after creating Wailers for the company in 2022.
Northern Ballet provides for many, their first experience of world-class ballet with their Ballets for Children, and Autumn 2023 will see the revival of Dreda Blow & Sebastian Loe's Tortoise & the Hare.
In May, the Company will launch Sketches, a new choreographic development programme, which will build on the Company's previous Choreographic Labs. Devised by Bonelli, artists at different stages of their careers will have access to mentorship from leading choreographers to experiment with movement, ideas, and storytelling.
The company remains committed to growing its practice and expertise in participatory inclusive dance. In a first, dancers from Northern Ballet's company and Ability, the weekly dance course for adults with additional learning support needs, join forces in the world première of a pioneering new dance film, Every Little Thing Is a Change. Created by renowned director and choreographer Ben Wright, the film will première at Expressions, the company's inclusive dance festival that celebrates the talents of disabled dancers from Yorkshire and beyond. The festival which marks its 10th anniversary will also feature I think we should start over by the world's foremost inclusive dance company, Candoco.
Bonelli adds:
At the heart of everything we do is the belief that ballet has the power to have a significant impact on people's lives. From our pioneering dance film to our new schools pilot, I am incredibly proud of our commitment to developing and growing our work in inclusive dance, as we continue to challenge ourselves to help make our artform more accessible.
We remain fiercely committed to breaking down the barriers to our artform, building inclusive pathways for the next generation of creative voices and connecting audiences of every age, background and lived experience, throughout the country, with unforgettable stories and performances that are accessible to everyone.”
Listings
Sketches
Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre, Leeds
5 May 2023
Expressions
Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre, Leeds
12 –13 July 2023
Online release of Every Little Thing is a Change 14 July 2023
Generations: Three Short Ballets
Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre, Leeds
8 – 16 September 2023
Linbury Studio, Royal Opera House, London
31 Oct – 2 November 2023
Beauty & The Beast
Nottingham Theatre Royal
4 – 7 Oct 2023
Newcastle Theatre Royal
7 – 11 Nov 2023
Norwich Theatre Royal
21 – 25 Nov 2023
Leeds Grand Theatre
4 – 9 Jun 2024
The Nutcracker
Leeds Grand Theatre
29 Nov – 10 Dec 2023
The Tortoise & The Hare
Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre, Leeds
Dates to be announced
Linbury Studio, Royal Opera House, London
27 Jan – 29 Jan 2024
Northern Ballet Late
Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre, Leeds
26 January 2024
Romeo & Juliet
Leeds Grand Theatre, Leeds
8 – 16 March 2024
Sheffield Lyceum Theatre
2 – 6 April 2024
Nottingham Theatre Royal
30 April – 4 May 2024
Norwich Theatre Royal
14 – 18 May 2024
Sadlers Wells, London
28 May – 1 June 2024
Audio Described performances are available. For more information, visit northernballet.com/audio-described-performances
Graham Spicer is a writer, director and photographer in Milan, blogging (under the name ‘Gramilano') about dance, opera, music and photography for people “who are a bit like me and like some of the things I like”. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy.
His scribblings have appeared in various publications from Woman's Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the ‘Danza in Italia' column for Dancing Times magazine.
