|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Photography: Fritz Curzon
Summer in the City for Save the Children
This prestigious fund raising event,
sponsored by Hammersons was held at Lincoln's Inn, London in the presence
of HRH The Princess Royal.
National Youth Ballet was delighted to perform 'Young Person's Guide to the
Orchestra' by Benjamin Britten, choreographed by Janet Kinson for over 200
guests at this prestigious event.
The event was attended by Jill Tookey, her son, Mark Fone (Financial Director NYB), Choreographer, Janet Kinson and her husband, Peter Payn and Maria Vasiliou who assisted with rehearsals.
Carlos Acosta with Jill Tookey
Carlos Acosta with NYB dancers
NYB is proud to announce that International ballet star, Carlos Acosta, has become a Patron of National Youth Ballet.
On Sunday 19th May Carlos took class with boys auditioning for NYB's 2008 season. It was a thrilling experience for the dancers aged between 14 - 18 years, who all felt enormously privileged to receive coaching and advice from Carlos, one the best dancers in the world.
Carlos Acosta with NYB dancers
The NYB Company was honoured to perform at The Guildhall for the ISS Charity Dinner on 5th March 2008 in the presence of HRH The Duke of Kent and 250 guests.
ISS (International Social Services) is a unique charity committed to protecting vulnerable children throughout the world. Their focus is on children who are deprived of a normal life within their families, in particular children at risk, unaccompanied minors, victims of trafficking and children who have lost contact with their natural parents.
NYB staged ‘Dances from around the world’. These included ‘English Country Suite’ - choreographed by Judith Harris; Italian Tarantella. choreographed by Diane van Schoor, and finally a Russian Gopak, choreographed by Valerie Sunderland and staged by Maria Vasiliou.
It was a prestigious occasion for the dancers, and the charity event raised a substantial sum of money for International Social Services.
 |
 |
 |
|||
| Founding Director Jill Tookey MBE (centre) with Janet Kinson (Ass. Director) and NYB dancers cut the 20th anniversary cake made by Eve Lewis. | NYB's 20th Anniversary Cake. | Jill presents Janet Kinson with painting by Lesley Fotherby, Janet Kinson retires after 20 years with NYB and will be greatly missed. The painting features 'Young Persons Guide to the Orchestra' the ballet choreographed by Janet and danced by the company for the 2007 season. |
This is my first involvement with NYB, actually I have been so impressed by
the ambition of the Company. You see it this evening. We are not just
looking at pieces of choreography, we are looking at pieces of theatre and
that's amazing! The sets, the costumes, the commissions, the commissioned
scores and this year for the 20th anniversary to have got permission from
His Royal Highness Prince Charles to make this ballet and commission this
wonderful score by Nigel Hess, to then entrust that to a young and gifted
dancer/choreographer who came up through the ranks of this Company seems to
me to be very much in the spirit of the Company. I think everyone on stage
tonight has done an amazing job. Congratulations.
I think the person we need to thank the most for everything she has given to
this Company is Jill (Founder and Artistic Director).
Matthew Bourne
Director 'New Adventures'
Matthew Bourne, Drew McOnie, Jill Tookey, Nigel Hess
Congratulations - Jonathan Payn and James Grundy on their promotion to
Senior Soloists with Birmingham Royal Ballet.
Both Jonathan and James first danced with NYB in 1987 - Jonathan created the
lead role of Fisherboy and James the role of Ben in the Ballet 'Fisherboy',
music composed by Alan Ridout, choreographeed by Julia Ellis,
Scenario and design: Jill Tookey. The ballet was premiered at Sadler's
Wells.
NYB Alumni flying high
David Webb has recently won a contract with Northern Ballet Theatre - richly deserved for a boy who has worked so hard to achieve his dream.
A Granada television programme ‘With a Little Help From My Friends’ featuring Jennifer Ellison (ex NYB Cinderella) and NYB friends Justin Webb and Sinead Boughey will be screened on Saturday 2nd July at 6.00 p.m.
Jonathan Payn, ex NYB now Soloist Birmingham Royal Ballet and choreographing IKEN for NYB 2005 season, is choreographing his own ballet for BRB ‘Into the Ferment’. The piece features four dancers (three of them ex NYB; Verginia Gersigny, Tyrone Singleton and James Grundy). This will be performed on 15th and 16th June 2005 at Birmingham Hippodrome.
National Youth Ballet final casting auditions for NYB Junior Associates were held at Birmingham Royal Ballet Studios, Birmingham on 1st May, 2005. 53 young dancers, 11 years and under were recalled and 30 dancers (24 girls, 6 boys) cast for roles in ‘Childrens’ Overture’ music Percy Grainger, choreography: Samira Saidi which will form part of NYB’s Autumn performance programme.
Final casting auditions for the main cast were held at ENB studios, London on 8th May. 126 attended and 99 talented dancers cast (80 girls 19 boys). One nine year old, flew from Detroit USA to attend the audition and was successfully cast!
NYB looks forward to its 18th Anniversary season with a colourful and varied programme to celebrate the Company’s ‘Coming of Age’! (18th Season).
Click here for final casting audition photographs.
Congratulations to David Webb for gaining a contract with Northern Ballet Theatre.
Jill thanks the many, many friends and dancers who have kindly written to congratulate her on her MBE awarded for "services to dance" in the Queen's Birthday Honours.
Click here for photographs of Jill receiving her MBE from Her Majesty.
Image: BCA Films
Last November eight young dancers were thrilled to be selected to take part in Clarins' Nationwide launch of two new frangrances which will go on sale on 21st February 2005.
Their input was highly acclaimed and this week sixteen NYB dancers, from all over the country, were invited to participate in the Clarins National Sales Conference at ExCel, Docklands over three days. It was a new experience for the young dancers to interact with such a large audience and they all thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
Congratulations to Max Westwell and James Streeter for gaining contracts with the English National Ballet Company.
Janet, NYB's resident choreographer, has worked with The Company since 1990 and takes on her new role as Assistant Director this season.
Her work as Resident Choreographer and Repetiteur for NYB includes choreographing Impressions of Sophie, Little Women, Pedro the Parrot, Preparation for the Dance, Colourcrazy, Let Petits Rats, Hansel and Gretel and Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra. She staged The Nativity for 'Joy to the World' at The Royal Albert Hall and has restaged Fisherboy, the Polovtsian Dances for the VE Day celebrations, Just for Fun and Wonderland Scenes from Alice at The Guildhall, London.
Congratulations to alumnus Jennifer Ellison, the winning chef in Gordon Ramsey's 'Hell's Kitchen'. Jennifer is pictured left as Cinderella with NYB Patron Darcy Bussell OBE at the Guildhall, where NYB presented the ballet in aid of Save the Children.
Congratulations to Carrie Johnson on her contract with Birmingham Royal
Ballet!
Everyone at NYB sends love and wishes you deserved success in your career.
Congratulations to Drew McOnie who has been given a professional contract with the International Tour of 'CATS'!
 |
|
 |
