Perpetual Dance

Ben Mitchell, Victoria Sibson and Tobias Batley in Project #1. Photo by Darren Goldsmith.

Northern Ballet might have had their funding slashed but the Company’s bold new show Perpetual Motion shows they’re still producing the goods on stage where it really matters.

Perpetual Motion features a mixture of work from well-established choreographers including Christopher Hampson, and Northern Ballet’s artistic Director David Nixon OBE.

The programme also showcases new talent nurtured by the Company,  featuring the choreographic debut of Northern Ballet Premier Dancer Kenneth Tindall, and a piece by Ballet Master Daniel de Andrade. 

 “Performing a mixed programme is important as it offers the Company and audiences the chance to experience different styles of dance,” says David Nixon.

“Bringing in other choreographers to work with the Company offers new opportunities to the dancers, and introduces a new direction for them to explore.”

Perptuum Mobile, by Christopher Hampson, is set to Bach’s Violin Concerto in E Major and celebrates dancers’ strength with spins, jumps and beats. The piece was Hampson’s first professional choreography and was originally created for English National Ballet. 

Project #1 is the debut piece from Northern Ballet Premier Dancer Kenneth Tindall, and it was originally created for a Choreographic Workshop performance in the summer of 2011. The piece has been developed by looking at dancers physical attributes, and producing choreography which showcases their individuality.

“When I first started dancing professionally I had little interest in choreography but my interest in it has developed during my time at Northern Ballet,”   recalls Kenny.

“This is largely due to the extent dancers are involved in creating new works. David Nixon pushed me to take part in the Choreographic Workshop last year, and from there I have not looked back.”

 Glass Canon is a high energy and mischievous piece from Northern Ballet’s Ballet Master Daniel de Andrade, who was recently awarded a prestigious Clore Leadership Dance Fellowship. 

The programme is rounded off with Rhapsody in Blue, which brings to life this famous Gershwin piece of music, with five couples fusing ballet and jazz.  Rhapsody in Blue forms part of the Northern Ballet production I Got Rhythm, offering audiences a sneak preview before performances of the full production take place at the Leeds Grand Theatre this May.

The piece was included in Perpetual Motion after being suggested by dancers as a fitting end to the programme.

* Northern Ballet opens its spring tour with Perpetual Motion, the Company’s first programme of short dance pieces to be performed at its award-winning headquarters. Performances will take place from 9 – 18 February, in Northern Ballet’s centre for dance in Leeds.