There are some things that make a city’s culture stand out from others; they are a reason to visit and a source of local pride. In Leeds, undoubtedly, that description fits the uniquely brilliant cultural powerhouse Northern Ballet.
Northern Ballet are the UK’s foremost narrative ballet company who have been dancing for over 50 years and made Leeds their home over a decade ago. Now, they enter an exciting new era with Artistic Director Federico Bonelli.
Over the next year, the company are treating Leeds audiences to a trio of classic ballets at Leeds Grand Theatre: The Nutcracker, Romeo & Juliet and Beauty & the Beast, all told through Northern Ballet’s signature modern style. Before those, Generations: Three Short Ballets will premiere at the Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre in Northern Ballet’s headquarters from 8th to 16th September, offering a rare opportunity to see three unique performances in one wondrous show that can be enjoyed by both ballet newcomers and enthusiasts alike.
Curated by Bonelli, this exclusive triple bill has invited some of the most exciting international choreographers to Leeds to create and develop work on Northern Ballet’s company of dancers. It will feature a world premiere from the trailblazing American ballet superstar Tiler Peck; a UK premiere by Royal Ballet Soloist and rising star Benjamin Ella; and a contemporary masterpiece by Dutch ballet master Hans van Manen.
Described as ‘the most magical dancer of our time’ by Vanity Fair, New York City Ballet Principal Tiler Peck, was the focus of the documentary ‘Ballet Now’ which provided an unfiltered look at the ballet world. Alongside her on-stage career the star ballerina has made appearances on Dancing With The Stars, Live from the Lincoln Centre, The Nutcracker and Carousel. Generations: Three Short marks her first commission for a European company.
Australian born Benjamin Ella graduated from The Royal Ballet upper school in 2009 and has been on a path to stardom ever since, being promoted to Soloist in The Royal Ballet in 2017. His new work, set to beautiful classical music by Jean Sibelius will premiere in Japan before it’s arrival in Leeds.
‘One of the founding fathers of European neoclassical dance’ (The Guardian) Hans van Manen completes the programme with his contemporary masterpiece Adagio Hammerklavier that first premiered in Amsterdam in 1973 and has since been performed by the Royal Ballet, Houston Ballet, Berlin Opera Ballet, English National Ballet and Stuttgart Ballet.
With its world class dancers, captivating productions and in-house sinfonia, Northern Ballet continues to be a reason to visit Leeds and a source of local pride. Generations: Three Short Ballets, The Nutcracker, Romeo & Juliet and Beauty & the Beast are all on sale now, visit northernballet.com to find out more.
Images- Guy Farrow, Ellis Dytrych, George Liang.
