Month: February 2014

Open House For Northern Ballet And Phoenix Dance Theatre

Northern Ballet & Phoenix Dance TheatreAudiences can have the unique chance to go behind the scenes at two large UK dance companies on 15 February in an event called Open House. Northern Ballet and Phoenix Dance Theatre are opening their doors to the public for people to take a look at what life is like behind-the-scenes in their multi-award winning building. Open House 2014 is a day of free events, which will run at the companies’ home in Leeds.

There will be plenty of activities for all the family to find out more about the professional dance companies. Visitors can sample an array of Northern Ballet and Phoenix Dance Theatre’s dancing treats such as open rehearsals and company class, an insight into the creativity of the wardrobe department as well as craft activities, storytelling and face painting for younger dance fans. There is fun for everyone at Open House, from enthusiasts to novices. There are even taster classes on offer for the very young to the over 55’s, and workshops for those with physical disabilities and additional needs.

Open House is a fantastic opportunity to find out more about dance: the event has something for everyone whether you want to take part, are looking to gain an insight into the work of a professional dance company, or hoping to forge a career in dance and looking for some advice. Open House 2014 will be the third year that Northern Ballet and Phoenix Dance Theatre have opened their home to the public. All events are free although some will require pre-booking through the website.

The event is a rare chance to glimpse at a working dance company in their own home with a wide variety of activities to take part in, so take the whole family!

The 14th National Dance Awards

2014 National Dance Awards Critics' CircleThe Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards for 2013 took place at The Place’s Robin Howard Dance Theatre on 27 January 2014. A prestigious event for acknowledging dance talent, the awards recognise an array of talents throughout the previous year.

The awards are decided by the 60 members of the Dance Section of the Critics’ Circle after an extensive round of nominations and voting. To be eligible, performances had to be given in the UK between 1 September 2012 and 31 August 2013. The awards were hosted by former NDA winner, Tommy Franzèn, and Bennet Gartside of The Royal Ballet.

CRITICS’ CIRCLE NATIONAL DANCE AWARDS WINNERS 2013

BEST CLASSICAL CHOREOGRAPHY
Christopher Wheeldon for Aeternum by The Royal Ballet

BEST MODERN CHOREOGRAPHY
Russell Maliphant for Fallen by BalletBoyz® The TALENT

OUTSTANDING MALE PERFORMANCE (CLASSICAL)
Nicolas Le Riche for Le Jeune Homme et la Mort / English National Ballet

DANCERS PRO AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING MODERN PERFORMANCE (FEMALE)
Julie Cunningham for New Works 2012 / Michael Clark Company

OUTSTANDING FEMALE PERFORMANCE (CLASSICAL)
Yuan Yuan Tan for RAkU / San Francisco Ballet

DANCERS PRO AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING MODERN PERFORMANCE (MALE)
Paul White for The Oracle / Meryl Tankard

JANE ATTENBOROUGH DANCE UK INDUSTRY AWARD
Amanda Chinn, General Manager of Scottish Dance Theatre

GRISHKO AWARD FOR BEST INDEPENDENT COMPANY
BalletBoyz® The TALENT

STEF STEFANOU AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING COMPANY
Mikhailovsky Ballet

THE DANCING TIMES AWARD FOR BEST MALE DANCER
Dane Hurst / Rambert Dance Company

GRISHKO AWARD FOR BEST FEMALE DANCER
Natalia Osipova / Mikhailovsky Ballet

DE VALOIS AWARDS FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT
Leanne Benjamin
Matthew Bourne

The awards are a celebration of brilliance amongst the diversity of dance forms. More than 200 nominations of companies, choreographers and performers were received from dance critics and the eventual 40 short-listed for the awards came from a wide spectrum.

The 15th National Dance Awards will be held on Monday 26 January 2015.

Steven McRae Named Young Australian Achiever of the Year

Steven McRae and Miyako Yoshida Performing in The NutcrackerThe Royal Ballet’s Principal dancer Steven McRae has been awarded Young Australian Achiever of the Year in the UK by the Australia Day Foundation. Marking Australia Day abroad has taken in a whole new meaning for him being named with this prestigious title, as he continues to aim inspire children to chase their dreams too.

Just 28, McRae has a dream dance career. He began with jazz and tap classes as a child following an impromptu dance class aged seven. He went on to tap at the Sydney Olympics, and later become the Royal Ballet’s youngest Principal dancer. He has performed as a guest Principal with many renowned international ballet companies and still has a notable number of years to achieve even more.

The Australia Day Foundation accolade is especially significant for McRae in 2014, as he will be performing his favourite role of Romeo in Romeo and Juliet with the Queensland Ballet in July. For someone of McRae’s age to have achieved so much and to have represented Australia on the world stage is truly remarkable and an inspiration to young people everywhere, prompting the award from the Australia Day Foundation. Steven’s long list of dance achievements include the top prize at the Prix de Lausanne in Switzerland. The Royal Ballet School offered him a full scholarship in 2003 and he graduated and joined the Royal Ballet Company the following year.

The Young Australian Achiever of the Year in the UK has been awarded annually since 2005, recognising the achievements of a young Australian in the UK. Australia Day marks the day in 1788 of the first Governor of the colony of New South Wales. Australians across the country and overseas celebrate Australia, reflect on achievements and what they are proud of. In the UK, it is also a day to celebrate British heritage and the close links between the nations.

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.