Give your desktop background a lift with our new A Tale of Two Cities wallpaper...

Northern Ballet Theatre's Autumn/Winter Tour sees the return of David Nixon's sparkling festive favourite, The Nutcracker

The production will be visiting the following theatres around the UK: 

Hull, New Theatre -  4-8 November 08
Woking, New Victoria Theatre -  11-15 November 08
Milton Keynes Theatre -  25-29 November 08
Bath, Theatre Royal -  2-6 December 08
Leeds, Grand Theatre -  17-31 December 08

To book tickets and to see the new gallery visit the recently renovated Nutcracker production pages

Exclusive galleries of Northern Ballet Theatre's forthcoming production, A Tale of Two Cities, by Cathy Marston. To see some more of Jon Bausor's designs and to book tickets etc. have a look at the new pages for the production here.

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The National Ballet of Slovenia has invited NBT’s Artistic Director David Nixon to recreate his version of The Nutcracker on the Company, which will première on 7 November 2008. The Estonian National Ballet has invited David to recreate The Three Musketeers, which will première in April 2009. This spring, David returned to BalletMet, Ohio, to oversee the revival of his Romeo & Juliet for the Company’s 30th anniversary celebrations. David was identified as one of BalletMet’s 30 Pearls in recognition of his contribution to the Company as Artistic Director. David also formally opened the Latimer Dance Space in London, choreographed Steps to Bach for Ballet Central, and was a regional judge for the Royal Academy of Dance’s ‘Fonteyn Nureyev Young Dancers Competition’ with NBT Leading Soloist Pippa Moore.

New dancers and departures

Joining NBT this summer are dancers Graham Kotowich from the National Ballet School of Canada; James Pickup from the Ballet de l’Opera National de Bordeaux; and Yoshihisa Arai from the Royal Ballet School. Three new apprentices are also joining NBT: Rym Kechacha, a graduate of the Central School of Ballet, and Antoinette Brooks-Daw and Brice Asnar who are graduates of the Royal Ballet School. Dancers Chantelle Gotobed, Sarah Kundi and Kieran Stoneley are leaving the Company.

Promotions

Victoria Sibson, Martin Bell and Tobias Batley have been promoted to Junior Soloists, Ashley Dixon to Coryphée and, following their apprenticeships, Thomas Aragones, Rachael Gillespie, Ben Mitchell and Jessica Morgan enter the Company as 1st year dancers.

Visit our news pages for the full story: http://www.northernballettheatre.co.uk/news.html

Northern Ballet Theatre (NBT) has appointed three new members to its Board of Directors: Alan Harrison, Director of Information Technology at Yorkshire Water; Denise Jagger, a partner at international law firm Eversheds; and Leeds Councillor John Procter.

Mark Skipper, Chief Executive of NBT said of the new appointments: "I would like to welcome Alan, Denise and John to NBT's Board of Directors. They are experts in their respective professional fields and have a passion for the arts and we are delighted that they have chosen to share this with us..."

Read the full press release

British choreographer Cathy Marston is creating a new full-length production for Northern Ballet Theatre (NBT) based on Charles Dickens' epic novel A Tale of Two Cities. The ballet has its première at the West Yorkshire Playhouse from Saturday 30 August to Saturday 6 September before touring to Nottingham and Sheffield.

Cathy's interpretation of Dickens' literary masterpiece focuses on the relationship between the three central characters, Sydney Carton, Charles Darnay and Lucie Manette, whose lives are inextricably caught up in the French revolution. Drawing on Cathy's background in both classical and contemporary dance, A Tale of Two Cities will explore the central themes of fate, redemption, sacrifice and revenge.

Read the rest of the press release here...

Four of NBT's dancers took part in a fashion shoot for the Manchester Evening News ahead of performances of A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Palace Theatre last week.

Georgina May, Yi Song, Michela Paolacci and David Ward posed in beautiful 1940s costumes from the production at the Radisson Edwardian Hotel, sometimes getting right down to their stylish smalls! (Photos: Sean Wilton)

The pictures accompanied Helen Tither's article interview with David Nixon who not only choreographed the ballet but also designed the costumes. HERE

Click here to read a review of the first night performance at the Palace

"Graeme Stewart slips on his dancing shoes for an extraordinary night at the Grand Opera House

Northern Ballet Theatre have achieved something extraordinary with A Midsummer Night's Dream. They have taken one of English literature's best-loved plays, changing nothing and everything at the same time.

With a creative team including artistic director David Nixon, set designer Duncan Hayler and music director John Pryce-Jones, the production is a stunning display of visual and musical delights, and certainly one of the best contemporary interpretations of Shakespeare's masterpiece..."

Read the rest of the review here.

In March, the Government announced that it would be investing a further £5.5 million in dance following the publication of the Dance Review, written by the Royal Opera House Chief Executive Tony Hall.
The funding would be invested in, amongst other schemes, six new Centres of Advanced Training (CATs) between now and 2011. NBT, in partnership with the Northern School of Contemporary Dance, set up the first CAT in the UK and remains the only CAT for classical dance.

David Nixon has responded to the announcement:
"An investment in young people is an investment in the future. As the very first Centre for Advanced Training, Northern Ballet Theatre has seen first hand the effect this kind of funding can have on young people. I feel strongly that we must develop high standards and quality access across the country and this announcement makes huge steps towards achieving these goals."

Read the full announcement

Read a dance industry responce by Dance UK

Read about our Centre for Advanced Training

NBT have produced a new trailer for their production of Hamlet, in the run-up to taking the ballet to Sadler's Wells in London. The advert features new pictures of the production and exclusive music by Philip Feeney.

Click here to watch the new trailer

Edinburgh Evening News (Published Date: 05 March 2008):

"Three fairies appeared at the platform at Waverley station today to promote a performance of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.

The Northern Ballet Theatre is performing the play at the Capital's Festival Theatre, from tonight until Saturday."

Edinburgh Evening News website

"Northern Ballet Theatre’s inventive and immersive take on Shakespeare’s Hamlet tragedy is set in Nazi-occupied Paris where Hamlet attempts to come to terms with his father’s death. In the dizzying intro scenes of ghostly visions..."

Read the whole review here

 Regional heats will be held around the country at Woking, Manchester, Birmingham and Weston-super-Mare, with the winners of each heat going on to the Final at the Bloomsbury Theatre, London, on April 13 2008.

The Level 1 winner of the 2006 competition, was spotted by casting agents and went on to play the leading role in Billy Elliott on the West End stage!

Eminent dance professionals will be acting as guest judges across the country, expressing their support and commitment to the Competition.

Pippa Moore, Leading Soloist (Northern Ballet Theatre) and David Nixon, Artistic Director (Northern Ballet Theatre) will be guest judges at the Northern England, Ireland & Scotland heat.
To book your tickets call the Dancehouse Box Office on: 0161 237 9753

Northern England, Ireland & Scotland heat time table:

Saturday 26 January 2008 Sunday 27 January 2008
Level 2 Level 1
Doors open: 6.00 pm Morning
Performance: 6.30 pm - 9.45 pm Doors Open: 11.30 am
Performance: 12.00 pm - 3.15 pm
Evening
Doors Open: 6.00 pm
Performance: 6.30 pm - 9.45 pm

Hamlet - Coming soon!

Click here for more information, tour dates and to get the new Hamlet desktop background.

click here to read full review 

Click the link below to read the rest of the article...

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/business-news/Delegation-stepping-out-on-a.3590952.jp

David was also interviewed for a feature inspired by the BBC adaptation of the Ballet Shoes published in the Sunday Telegraph on 9 December .
Read the feature by following this link

Northern Ballet Theatre (NBT) has scooped a top accolade at the Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards. NBT won the dance award for its production The Three Musketeers, which the company performed at the Opera House in Manchester from 9-12 May 2007.

The awards were announced yesterday at the Midland Hotel, Manchester. NBT's Artistic Director David Nixon attended the ceremony and said, "it is truly an honour to have received this award. I would like to thank all the members of the panel and our audiences in Manchester for their continued support. I would also like to thank my talented and gifted dancers and all the staff at NBT, without whom The Three Musketeers would not have been possible or enjoyed such success."

Read more...

M.E.N. Theatre Awards: The winners

Take a bow, our worthy winners