inside the magazine from Northern Ballet Theatre A FOND FAREWELL A look back at Chiaki Nagao’s fabulous career LIVE AND LEARN Ballet and science brings success SETTING THE SCENE How a stage set evolves Issue 2 Autumn 2007
Feb 12, 2016
insidethe magazine from Northern Ballet Theatre
A FONDFAREWELLA look back atChiaki Nagao’sfabulous career
LIVE ANDLEARNBallet andscience bringssuccess
SETTING THE SCENEHow a stageset evolves
Issue 2 Autumn 2007
NBT-INSIDE MAGAZINE2 26/1/11 13:32 Page 1
issue 2
Welcome to the second edition of inside magazine.
In this issue we take a look at the remarkable career of
Chiaki Nagao who dances with us for the last time this
autumn, after more than 16 years with the Company.
Chiaki is an incredibly gifted dancer who has shown total
commitment and dedication to each role she has
performed. A dancer with such breadth of experience is
irreplaceable and we will miss her terribly. It is always
sad to see familiar faces moving on, but it is the nature
of our profession that it makes room for the next
generation to take their place. We currently have a
wonderful group of young dancers and I’m happy to
have welcomed five new Dancers and seven Apprentices
to the Company this summer.
I am very much looking forward to our first revival of A
Midsummer Night’s Dream. This highly enjoyable work
about young people and the ups and downs of romance
perfectly suits the present young Company. The strength
of the Company means that there will be a variety of
casts, each with their unique interpretation, alongside
most of the original cast.
For those of you who regularly attend our performances,
you may be interested to know that the role of Puck will
be performed by both sexes this time. Victoria Sibson, a
strikingly beautiful performer, is taking on the challenge
of performing a male role with a female twist. Vicky’s
super elevation and physical power made this an
exciting and appropriate challenge.
I am also working with the Company on a new
production of The Nutcracker. As a young dancer I
performed this ballet year after year and continued to
do so as a professional. I feel that it is an opportune
moment for both the dancers and the audience to have
this Classic enter the repertoire.
I hope you enjoy reading more about the work of the
Company and I look forward to seeing you on tour and
at one of our Friend’s events sometime soon.
Best wishes,
David Nixon
Artistic Director
insid
eDavid NixonArtistic Director NBT
Cover image: NBTCoryphée Yi Song.Photo: Merlin Hendy
Phot
o:Ri
char
d M
oran
3Bringing you the newsFrom Royal visits to touring China; it’s
a busy and exciting time at NBT.
5What the papers sayRead reviews of last season’s
productions.
6A Friend indeedWhat are the benefits of being a Friend
or a Patron? Revealing insights in our
‘Q & A’ session.
8Setting the sceneDesigning a set and bringing it to life is
a huge feat. We talk to the people who
make it happen.
10Pull-out posterA handy guide to performances and
Friend’s events throughout the season.
12A fond farewellA review of the spactacular career of
dancer Chiaki Nagao who retires after
16 years at NBT.
16Awarding endeavoursReflecting on our many achievements
and the dedicated people who made
them happen.
17Live and learnWhen ballet meets science exciting
things start to happen! NBT discovers
new ways to intrigue and involve the
younger generation.
18Classical trainingDeveloping the stars of tomorrow.
NBT-INSIDE MAGAZINE2 26/1/11 13:32 Page 2
3
inside: thenews
HappyanniversaryAt the beginning of the year
NBT celebrated the careers of
four long-standing members of
the team. Diane Tabern, PA to
the Directors, joined the
Company in 1986, NBT
Orchestra members Alan
Asquith, Rick Scoates, and Ian
Hood are celebrating 20 years,
24 years and 30 years
respectively.
Read an interview with Diane
Tabern about her 20 years with
the Company by visiting
www.northernballettheatre.co.
uk/friends.html
CompanymovementsComings… NBT welcomes newDancers: Dreda Blow, GiulianoContadini, Isabella Gasparini,Chantelle Gotobed, and KieranStoneley, and Apprentices: ThomasAragones, Daniel Fajardo, RachaelGillespie, Lewis Landini, BenMitchell, Jessica Morgan andJonathan Trick. Read more aboutour new dancers on the NBT website.
And goings… NBT has bid a fondfarewell to the following Companymembers: Chiaki Nagao retires after more than 16 years with theCompany. You will have a chance tosay goodbye to Chiaki when sheperforms the role of Juliet atselected performances of Romeo &Juliet in Nottingham and Bradford.Read our feature article on pages12-15 and visit the NBT website forinformation on casting.
Desiré Samaai and Jonathan ByrneOllivier have moved to Canadawhere Jon has joined AlbertaBallet. David Paul Kierce is pursuinga career in musical theatre. PatrickHowell has returned to the USA tojoin Milwaukee Ballet. Victoria LaneGreen has taken a nine-monthsabbatical with Alberta Ballet andMark Biocca has joined Canada’sRoyal Winnipeg Ballet. We wishRobert Phillips and ApprenticesJulia Davies and James Muller thebest of luck in their future careers.
PromotionsCongratulations to the followingCompany members: MarthaLeebolt and Georgina May havebeen promoted from Junior Soloistto Soloist, while Kenneth Tindallhas been promoted from Coryphéeto Soloist. Hannah Bateman andNathalie Léger have been promotedfrom Coryphée to Junior Soloist.
Staff movementsWe have welcomed Louise Tischleras our new Company Managerfollowing the departure of JohnDuncan who left NBT to joinScottish Opera. Louise waspreviously Company Manager atthe Royal Exchange Theatre andProduction Manager at the ContactTheatre, Manchester.
Tim Anger, Head of TechnicalServices, has joined Opera North asa Production Manager.
Wieke Eringa, Director of Learning& Access, is now Artistic Director ofYorkshire Dance.
Megan McLoughlin has joined NBTas Corporate Fundraising Officer.Dawn Atkinson has joined NBT asMarketing Officer following thedeparture of Julia Barry who left tojoin Warwick Arts Centre. MichaelSchofield has joined NBT as Weband Graphics Officer to replaceAlex Croft who has joined the WestYorkshire Playhouse.
Ruth Burke-Kennedy has joinedNBT as Media & PR Manager andCatherine Mullaney as Media & PRAssistant following the departureof May Goodliffe to travel theworld and Ruth Greenwood to joinWelsh National Opera.
Joe Marchant has joined NBT asFlyman/Rigger, and Alex Froud,Assistant Electrician, has left NBT tojoin Pro Audio Systems in Bradford.
OrchestralmovementsNigel Gaynor has been promotedfrom Resident Conductor toAssistant Music Director. HelenWatkinson has been appointedCompany Pianist, Tom Rathbone asNo 2 Cello, Stella Hartikainen as No3 First Violin, Laura Pennington asSub-Principal Second Violin, and LizChell as Principal Horn. HayleyPomfrett was promoted to PrincipalSecond Violin.
A return to China NBT’s dreams of a return tour to China have become a reality after the
Company secured support from fellow Yorkshire-based organisations.
Leeds City Council, Leeds Metropolitan University and Yorkshire Forward
are supporting NBT’s tour of David Nixon’s Madame Butterfly in December
2007 and January 2008, to six major Chinese cities including: Beijing,
Hangzhou, Shanghai and Guangzhou.
A CBE for ourChairmanCongratulations to our Chairman,
Councillor Bernard Atha, who
received a CBE in the Queen’s
Birthday Honours. Bernard has
been a member of the NBT Board
of Directors since 1991 and took
on the role of Chairman in 1996.
Backstage talentrecognisedNBT’s Deputy Stage Manager,
Chun-Yen Chia, was short-listed for
the Stage Manager of the Year
award by the Stage Management
Association (SMA). This highly
respected award is the annual
opportunity for Stage Managers to
have their skill and talent publicly
recognised. Chun was nominated
for his outstanding work on the
World Première of The Three
Musketeers. Chun was nominated
for the award by David Nixon and
John Kearney, NBT’s Stage Manager,
who said,“The Three Musketeers is a
busy and fast-moving production,
Chun’s unfailing reliability and
calmness were a major
contribution to the overall success
of the production.”
Phot
o:Li
nda
Rich
Phot
o:M
erlin
Hen
dyPh
oto:
Bria
n Sl
ater
Phot
o:Br
ian
Slat
er
NBT-INSIDE MAGAZINE2 26/1/11 13:32 Page 3
4
inside: thenews
New buildingupdateNBT’s quest for a new building took
a dramatic and very positive step
this summer. In June, Leeds City
Council’s Executive Board agreed
that the Council should take over
delivery of the £11.67m project
from the developers to build the
new headquarters at Quarry Hill in
central Leeds for NBT and Phoenix
Dance Theatre. The cost of the
project will be met through a
combination of grant aid from Arts
Council England and other funding
raised by NBT, Phoenix Dance
Theatre, and Leeds City Council. The
building will be a centre of
excellence for dance and will
include a space for a ballet school
so that talented young classical
dancers from the region can be
nurtured and developed locally.
The next edition of Inside will have
more news about this exciting
development.
A Royal BeautyNBT’s Patron, His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex KCVO, attended a
performance of A Sleeping Beauty Tale at Leeds Grand Theatre on 1 March.
HRH was accompanied by members of the production company, RDF
Television, who were documenting his visit for the series ‘A Year with the
Queen’ to be broadcast on BBC One in the autumn.The Earl of Wessex also
visited an NBT workshop at Bramley St Peter’s School in Leeds.
The Three Musketeersreleased on CDThe music of Sir Malcolm Arnold is celebrated by the release of a CD
recording of The Three Musketeers. Performed by the NBT Orchestra
conducted by John Pryce-Jones, and issued on the Quartz label, the CD
contains some of Sir Malcolm Arnold’s most memorable music as used in
David Nixon’s acclaimed production.The recording would not have been
possible without the generous financial support of Katherine Arnold and
Anthony Day. CDs are priced at £9.99 and are available through the shop
section of the NBT website.
Phot
o:N
BT a
rchi
ve
Phot
o:M
erlin
Hen
dy
Discovering NBTNBT will feature in a six-part series
for the Discovery Channel USA. The
series ‘Extreme Body’ (working
title) celebrates the human body
and includes programmes on
strength, sight, digestion and pain.
NBT is participating in the
programme on pain, which will
look at the science and training of
ballet dancers and how dancers
work through pain. Dangerous
Films, the production company
making the series, was behind the
BBC TV programme ‘The Human
Body’. ‘Extreme Body’ is scheduled
for broadcast in the USA in January
2008 with possible transmission on
Channel 5 in the UK later next year.
Phot
o:M
erlin
Hen
dy
YorkshireInternationalBusinessConventionIn June, NBT caught the attention
of some of the leading
representatives from the
business community with an
eye-catching display featuring
costumes and sets from NBT
productions, at the 2007
Yorkshire International Business
Convention. NBT’s Chief Executive
Mark Skipper and Director of
Fundraising Jon Ingham attended
the event where they were
fortunate to hear presentations
by a range of distinguished
speakers including Bob Geldof
who had flown to Harrogate
from the G8 summit in Germany.
Phot
o:Ch
ristin
e Cl
ayto
n
NBT-INSIDE MAGAZINE2 26/1/11 13:32 Page 4
5
inside: reviewing NBT’s Autumn/Winter season 2007
Tales of the unexpectedA Sleeping Beauty Tale premièred on 24 February 2007 at
The Grand Theatre and Opera House, Leeds, and was seen
by 20,000 people at 23 performances across three venues.
“Looking around the packed auditorium, what struck me
most was the youth surrounding me on all sides. This is far
from the norm in a ballet audience, and shows that David
Nixon has seen what is wanted by younger theatre goers
and has delivered the goods.”Dance Expression,May 2007
“Most attractive of all is the strong feeling of commitment
that drenches the stage, a result of the mutual trust
between director and dancers.” Sunday Express, March 2007
“…for many younger people a production like this, so
steeped in culture, will offer a very accessible introduction
both to the work of the company and the ballet in general.”
Yorkshire Evening Post, February 2007
A ripping yarnThe Three Musketeers premièred in 2006, and in 2007 it
was seen by more than 30,000 people at 39
performances, across six venues.
“Northern Ballet Theatre is often seen as the people’s
company, winning awards for audience popularity. It’s easy
to see why. The dancers are technically superb…Best of all,
The Three Musketeers gives us something missing from most
ballets – a really good laugh.” The Scotsman, March 2007
The reviews are in...
top: Kenneth Tindall asKasak and David PaulKierce as Korak in ASleeping Beauty Tale.
Photo: Merlin Hendy
Last season saw the World Première of David Nixon’s fantastical new ballet A Sleeping Beauty Tale, NBT continued to tour The Three Musketeers, andRomeo & Juliet made a welcome return to repertoire after a four-year absence.
“NBT’s hugely talented artistic director David Nixon… has
long been a fan of character dancers and has enshrined the
art of a good story in his company. Cameo egos are actively
discouraged: this is democratic yarn-spinning with entry-
level appeal.”Metro (London), June 2007
Romance isn’t deadRomeo & Juliet premièred in 1991, and so far in 2007 it
has been seen by more than 18,700 people at 26
performances, across four venues.
“Quite simply a spellbinding evening.” Leighton Buzzard
Observer, May 2007
“…tells the story lyrically and poignantly, with the moments
of youthful passion and ancient feud punctuated by bursts
of humour. This is a Romeo and Juliet well worth seeing.”
The Oxford Times, May 2007
NBT-INSIDE MAGAZINE2 26/1/11 13:32 Page 5
6
The Friend’s tale: The Friends
of Northern Ballet Theatre (NBT)
are vital to the ongoing success
of the Company. We organise a
range of exclusive events for our
Friends to enable you to get the
most out of the support you
give us. These events include
‘Dancing with David’ - in which
David Nixon talks about the
creative processes behind his
productions - and the
opportunity to attend dress and
technical rehearsals. As we are
based in Leeds and we usually
open our productions in the
North of England, you could be
forgiven for thinking that it’s
only people local to the
Company who enjoy the
benefits that being a Friend
brings, but you’d be wrong. We
are organising more and more
events at venues throughout
the UK, making connections
with local groups with the idea
of creating a countrywide
network of NBT Friends. One
person who knows all about the
benefits of being a Friend is
Janet McNulty. Janet became a
Friend in 1987, and in the past
20 years has attended events all
over the country. We asked
Janet, who is based in Liverpool,
about some of her experiences as
a Friend, and now a Patron, of NBT.
Inside What do you enjoy
most about being a Friend?
A select viewJanet McNulty I love going to
watch Company training on a
Saturday morning, you can just
call Judith up (Judith Baker,
Friends and Events Manager)
and she organises it with the
Company Manager, Louise
Tischler (Tisch). It’s a privilege to
hear David articulate his thought
processes at the ‘Dancing with
David’ events, and the dancers
are good enough to stay at the
end of a long day of rehearsals
to show us excerpts of the work.
David speaks so well and is such
a lovely person; he always makes
time for us. The dress rehearsals
are also great events and an
opportunity to see something
beyond the performances. One
of the best aspects of following
a ballet company though is that
you get to see the dancers’
career progression.
In March, during NBT’s
Edinburgh season, we
organised a joint event with
the Friends of Scottish Ballet.
Can you tell us about that?
The day started with refreshments
at 9.30am and then we had a
backstage tour of the theatre
with the Company Manager. I’d
been on tours like this before
but it was my first one with
Tisch and it was great to hear
someone new talk about the
Company. We looked in Chiaki
Nagao and Desiré Samaai’s (ex-
NBT Principal Artists) dressing
room, which they were good
enough to vacate for the
duration. We walked on stage
and got a dancers-eye view of
the auditorium; we held the
swords used in The Three
Musketeers and had a chance to
admire their workmanship as
well as appreciate their weight –
they’re really heavy! We also
went into wardrobe to see how
they work. We were lucky
enough to meet that evening’s
Conductor before heading into
the auditorium where we had a
talk by David Nixon and
watched Company training.
There were 12 of us from the
Friends of NBT and we were
joined by about 40 Friends of
Scottish Ballet who watched the
matinée performance. It was
such a great day.
What advice would you give to
people who might be nervous
about attending a Friends
event for the first time?
I was terrified the first couple of
times I attended a Friends event.
The thing to remember is that
everyone has a common interest.
We’re also a friendly bunch and
we will talk to people if we see
someone on their own. My
advice is to join in – you never
know who you might meet and
where it might take you.
Becoming a Patron: At the
end of last year NBT launched its
Patron scheme. For £250 you
receive all the benefits of
Friends membership and
additional benefits including:
exclusive backstage tours,
opportunities to attend post
“With thesupport ofour Friends,we cancontinue toproduce ourvariedprogrammeof high qualityproductionsand maintainour extensivetour.”David Nixon,
Artistic Director
inside:with friends
A Friend and a Patron share their thoughts
NBT-INSIDE MAGAZINE2 26/1/11 13:32 Page 6
7
“NBT never fails to deliver the wow factor.As a Patron I feel I can go and watch the Company and be genuinely involved in what is a very magical experience.”Joanne James, NBT Patron
show receptions and an
opportunity to meet a member
of the Artistic team. The best
people to talk about the
scheme are the Patrons
themselves, so Inside met
Joanne James to ask her why
she became a Patron of NBT.
Inside Why did you become a
Patron of NBT? What do you
feel are the main benefits of
becoming a Patron?
Jo James After the opening
night of Dracula we went to the
bar and all the dancers were
there. It was before I became a
Friend and we sat there open-
mouthed, in awe. As a Patron
you are actively invited to
parties with the dancers, which
for me is brilliant. A friend and I
went to the after show party for
the opening of A Sleeping Beauty
Tale and it was a real privilege to
be there and to be able to go
and talk to the dancers. When
you take them out of the
context of the performance you
get to know their personalities –
now we refer to them by their
first names!
I think the activities NBT
organises for its members are
really quite innovative, you really
involve people with the Company.
Ballet can be perceived to be
snooty but NBT breaks down
those barriers and actively
invites people to get involved.
There is a group of about twelve
of us that go to NBT performances
and I’m the only one with a
background in dance. We’re all
nurses, so on World Première
nights we have a nurses’ night
out and the hospital has a lot of
shift changes to deal with!
What do you enjoy most about
being a Patron?
I love attending the dress
rehearsals because I like hearing
David making corrections and
the dancers’ response to that.
You get to catch a glimpse of
the dancers’ personalities when
they joke about with each other.
It’s also interesting to see
something that doesn’t work
and when you watch the final
performance you then see the
changes David has made.
What would you say to anybody
thinking of becoming a Patron?
Some people might be put off
by the cost of becoming a
Patron but it’s not a huge
amount of money per month. I
pay by direct debit so I don’t
notice it leaving my bank
account. I’m part of a theatre
group so I have a real
appreciation of how much it
costs to move a production
around the country, and I am
also impressed by NBT’s
investment in children.
What advice would you give to
people thinking of attending a
Friends event for the first time?
My advice would be to do as
much as you can. At our first
Friends event we toyed with the
idea of not going for the lunch,
but we did and we sat on a
table with people we didn’t
know but who were absolutely
delightful. Judith was great, she
introduced herself to everyone
and was genuinely interested in
what we had to say. Phot
o:M
erlin
Hen
dy
Read the full interviews with Janet and Joanne by
visiting www.northernballettheatre.co.uk/friends.html
NBT-INSIDE MAGAZINE2 26/1/11 13:32 Page 7
setting thescene
Following his successful set designs for The Three Musketeers,Charles Cusick Smith is returning to work with NorthernBallet Theatre on The Nutcracker. We asked Charles about the design process and Andy Waddington, NBT’s PlanningManager, how those designs are brought to the stage.
Over the years Northern Ballet Theatre (NBT)
has taken its audiences on some magnificent
journeys, from the austere Yorkshire moors
in Wuthering Heights, to the opulent Parisian
palace of King Louis XIII in The Three
Musketeers; the 1940s Flying Scotsman
sleeper train in A Midsummer Night’s Dream
to the streets of Verona in Romeo & Juliet.
These productions are made all the more
believable by the unfailingly high quality
of the sets.
Designer Charles Cusick Smith’s “ravishing”
sets for The Three Musketeers received
widespread praise from audiences and
critics alike, and he has returned to design
the sets for David Nixon’s new production
of The Nutcracker.
A keen painter, Charles trained at the
Glasgow School of Art with a view to
becoming an art teacher, but as his training
drew to a close he was to find another
direction.“By my final year I was creating
paintings that you could actually walk into –
effectively, sets!” he says.
So how does the design come about? “The
Choreographer will decide the period of the
piece, and in most cases that’s the starting
point,” Charles explains.“David Nixon has
decided to do quite a traditional version of
The Nutcracker, but to locate his version in
the Regency period, which is a refreshing
change from the dark colours of the usual
Victorian setting.”
Detail is all-important. Charles’ research for
The Nutcracker has taken him from the
“heritage” colour charts of the period to the
Royal Pavillion in Brighton, studying the
Regency look and style right down to the
cups and saucers. Likewise, with The Three
Musketeers, thorough research was crucial.
“I looked at 17th Century architecture and
even things like flags and banners from
the period.”
One of the main challenges Charles had with
both Musketeers and Nutcracker is the sheer
size of the productions.“The Three Musketeers
was the biggest ballet I had ever designed,
until The Nutcracker!” he says.“Also, with fast-
paced ballets such as these, and lots of set
changes, I’ve had to think of quick scene
changing devices – like a lot of wood
panelling with secret doors for Musketeers.
Space is a key consideration, especially when
the set shares a stage with 30 dancers or
more.”To complicate things further, NBT
travels to around 14 venues in any given year
and the stages are different in size at each
theatre.“I design sets that can be topped and
tailed. They have to shrink or expand as
necessary into the spaces allowed,” Charles
8
Charles Cusick Smith’s setdesign for The Nutcracker.Photo: Charles Cusick Smith
inside:set design
NBT-INSIDE MAGAZINE2 26/1/11 13:32 Page 8
explains. “I am very hands-on on set, so all
issues regarding the practicalities of staging
go by me.”
“Once the set design has been finalised”,
Andy Waddington explains,“we put the set
building project out to tender. On
completion of the tendering process the Set
Designer and Production Manager will sit
down with the chosen set construction
company and work through the designs - we
use companies as near as York and as far
away as Cardiff. Props and the smaller pieces
of set can be made at our workshop and we
have a roster of freelance carpenters, metal
workers, prop makers and painters who can
all be used at some point in the build
process. Depending on the Choreographer’s
requirements for set and props to work with
in rehearsals, the schedule can be quite tight.
Whilst rehearsals are taking place
modifications can be made at the NBT
workshop as we discover new ways of
working with the pieces.
Once built, the sets come to us in the
component parts, which enables them to
be fitted into the trailers for touring. The
pieces required for rehearsals are built in the
rehearsal studios and the rest is stored on
the trailers ready to be built at the first
venue of the tour.
PC Transport is contracted to move the sets,
and everything else we will need for a week
in a theatre, from venue to venue. There can
be five or more trailers transporting one
production’s set, lighting, dance floor, props,
and costumes round the country. Plus we
often tour three productions a season, so
realistically there can be 11 or 12 trailers on
the road at any one time. The amount of time
9
required for building the set in each venue
depends on the scale of the show and size of
the set. Large productions such as Peter Pan
and The Three Musketeers require an extra day
to build, so we would get into a venue at
8am on a Monday morning and the show
will open on Wednesday evening. Shows that
have smaller sets, such as Madame Butterfly
and Romeo & Juliet, can open on the Tuesday.
Each theatre is different in the size of stage
and technical equipment they have and so
every venue we visit has to be approached
on an individual basis.
Once a tour is over, the set from eachproduction is unloaded into our warehouseand any repair work that needs to be donetakes place before it is stored away. The setsmight be in the warehouse for quite sometime before they are revived and so it isimportant to keep them dry and safe.”
NBT-INSIDE MAGAZINE2 26/1/11 13:32 Page 9
Your pull-out-and-keep guide to NBT’s exciting Autumn / Winter Season 2007
Thurs 6 – Sat 15 SeptemberLeeds, West Yorkshire PlayhouseBox Office: 0113 213 7700
Tues 13 – Sat 17 NovemberMilton Keynes TheatreBox Office: 0870 060 6652
Tues 20 – Sat 24 NovemberWoking, New Victoria TheatreBox Office: 0870 060 6645
Friends Events
Sat 8 SeptemberDay at the TheatreWest Yorkshire Playhouse
Thurs 11 – Sun 14 OctoberManchester, Palace TheatreWORLD PREMIÈREBox Office: 0870 401 3000
Weds 17 – Sat 20 OctoberSheffield, Lyceum TheatreBox Office: 0114 249 6000
Tues 6 – Sat 10 November Canterbury, Marlowe TheatreBox Office: 01227 787 787
Tues 27 Nov – Sat 8 Dec* Leeds, Grand TheatreBox Office: 0870 122 2815(*No performance Mon 3 December)
Phot
o:Br
ian
Slat
er
Comedy, tragedy & beyond
inside: friends events
Friends Events
Thurs 27 Sept & Tues 2 Oct Open RehearsalsWest Park Centre, Leeds
Weds 3 OctoberDancing with DavidWest Park Centre, Leeds
Thurs 11 OctoberDress RehearsalManchester, Palace Theatre
Sat 10 NovemberDay at the TheatreCanterbury, Marlowe Theatre
Fri 7 – Sun 9 DecMini Break (Weekend Package)Leeds
Sat 8 DecemberCompany Class, Lunch and Creative WorkshopLeeds, Grand Theatre
NBT-INSIDE MAGAZINE2 26/1/11 13:32 Page 10
Tues 18 – Sat 22 SeptemberNottingham, Theatre Royal Box Office: 0115 989 5555
Tues 23 – Sat 27 October Bradford, Alhambra TheatreBox Office: 01274 432 000
Friends Events
Sat 27 October Class and LunchBradford, Alhambra Theatre
Phot
o:Br
ian
Slat
er
Phot
o:H
AN
SON
edy & beyond
Please note, booking fees may apply
Friends Events
Thurs 27 Sept & Tues 2 Oct Open RehearsalsWest Park Centre, Leeds
Weds 3 OctoberDancing with DavidWest Park Centre, Leeds
Thurs 11 OctoberDress RehearsalManchester, Palace Theatre
Sat 10 NovemberDay at the TheatreCanterbury, Marlowe Theatre
Fri 7 – Sun 9 DecMini Break (Weekend Package)Leeds
Sat 8 DecemberCompany Class, Lunch and Creative WorkshopLeeds, Grand Theatre
NBT-INSIDE MAGAZINE2 26/1/11 13:32 Page 11
floatlike a butterflyThe decision to retire has been a difficult one to make
but Chiaki is glad that she has been able to pursue such a
long career as a dancer, and she is looking forward to
what will be a very different life for her.“I feel fulfilled as
an artist, so in its own way, leaving is a positive thing for
me,” she says,“And now that things are coming to a close
and I have fewer performances ahead of me, I am
enjoying feeling less pressure.”
Although the demanding NBT tour schedule has become
her normal way of life, pre-performance nerves are
something she won’t miss.“I need to be fully ready,
costume, make-up, everything, at least two hours before I
am due to go on,” she says.“Then I can warm up slowly
and build up to the performance with less sense of panic!”
Chiaki’s introduction to ballet arose from physical
necessity. Born with a hip joint dislocation, and having
spent the first three years of her life in a harness, Chiaki’s
doctor suggested that gymnastics or ballet lessons
would help strengthen her body. At the tender age of
three her mother signed her up for ballet classes,
although Chiaki wasn’t immediately keen. Her loud
teacher terrified her and she often left her class in tears,
however, the same teacher’s more alluring practice of
giving out sweets at the end of class enticed her back.“At
first I just went back for the sweets, but then I started to
really enjoy it.”
Her love of dance grew throughout her childhood and
she continued rigorous training. Having been told early
on that she was the wrong physical shape for a ballet
This season we bid a reluctant farewell to Principal Artist, Chiaki Nagao,who is retiring after a career with NBT spanning 16 years. Since joiningthe Company in March 1991, Chiaki has danced countless roles innumerous cities around the UK, as well as overseas. Her heartfeltperformances have delighted and moved audiences and critics alike. Wespoke to Chiaki about her remarkable career and her decision to retire.
dancer she planned to become a ballet teacher and
study in Tokyo. Her parents suggested she audition for
schools in the UK or USA, which were more affordable
than Japan and where she would have an opportunity
to learn English. Chiaki followed their advice, securing a
place at the Central School of Ballet in London where
she trained under Artistic Director Christopher Gable.
Life at Central was hard for Chiaki.“I was really
homesick,” she says.“I just wanted to get back to Japan
and start my career.” In the third year of their training
the students were encouraged to audition for ballet
companies, but still planning to teach, Chiaki didn’t see
any point. However, Christopher Gable, then also Artistic
Director of NBT, encouraged her to think again about a
career as a dancer, and offered her a scholarship for a
further year’s training at the school. Chiaki was
delighted at the opportunity and grateful for the
encouragement, so she gladly took up the offer.
From then, things moved on apace. Towards the end of
her third year at Central, Christopher asked Chiaki to
replace an injured NBT dancer and Chiaki signed a one-
year contract with the Company. Chiaki’s life as a
professional ballet dancer had begun and she
approached it with the tremendous dedication she has
shown throughout her career.“I am very focussed when
it comes to ballet and I worked very hard during those
first few months with NBT. I watched all the Principal
Dancers’ rehearsals even though I was only in the corps,
and I learned a lot from that.”
inside: the big interview
12
Main pic: Chiaki Nagao asButterfly in MadameButterfly.Photo: Linda Rich
Top: Photo: Brian Slater
NBT-INSIDE MAGAZINE2 26/1/11 13:33 Page 12
utterfly
13
“Chiaki is one of the most gracious dancersyou could ever hope to meet.She has no airsand graces and she is the first to offer helpto the rest of the Company on and off stage.As well as being a great performer with NBTshe is a truly dear friend to many of us andshe leaves us with so many fond memories.”Darren Goldsmith, NBT Leading Soloist
NBT-INSIDE MAGAZINE2 26/1/11 13:33 Page 13
14
“...Her delicacyand emotionalqualities enableher to portray acharacter whowins our heartsirrevocably.”(Madame Butterfly)
Dance Europe
notably her nomination for Most
Outstanding Contribution to Dance at the
Laurence Olivier Awards in 2003 for her
performance as Butterfly in David Nixon’s
Madame Butterfly – a role she has
cherished. Then in 2006, Chiaki found
happiness in her personal life when she
married NBT’s Deputy Stage Manager,
Chun-Yen Chia.
So what does the future hold? “I like to be
active, I am not the kind of person who will
sit around and do nothing,” she says.“I am
looking forward to having time to do things
like learning to use a computer and taking
driving lessons. I love to cook, I might do a
cookery course. One thing I will definitely be
doing,” she continues,“is going to the
theatre to watch NBT perform!” Chiaki will
also rehearse members of NBT’s Yorkshire
Young Dancers scheme who are performing
in the The Nutcracker this season.
Chiaki soon became a familiar face to NBT
audiences, rising through the ranks to
Principal Artist, and always feeling at
home with the Company.“People at NBT
are really nice and David and Yoko in
particular have been very supportive of
me, encouraging me to continue dancing
much longer than I thought I would be
able to. And the productions are always
different too, always dramatic,” she says.
Indeed, NBT’s unique style of dance-
theatre has had its challenges for Chiaki,
requiring her to develop her dramatic
abilities and even her voice. However, she
points out that these skills have given her
more range and more confidence as a
performer, skills she might not have had
the opportunity to develop with another
Company.
There have been many highlights for
Chiaki during her career with NBT, most
inside: the big interview
NBT-INSIDE MAGAZINE2 26/1/11 13:33 Page 14
above left: Chiaki Nagao asButterfly in Madame Butterfly.Photo: HANSON
above right: Chiaki Nagao asJuliet and Hironao Takahashi asRomeo in Romeo & Juliet.Photo: Merlin Hendy
right: Chiaki Nagao as Butterflyin Madame Butterfly.Photo: HANSON
15
Chiaki believes that ballet has provided her
with a rich and satisfying life.“I would
definitely encourage my children to take
up ballet, and I would love to teach ballet
to young children.” One of the most
touching aspects of being a dancer has
been the wonderful response she has had
from audiences, with people regularly
writing and sending her cards of
congratulations and thanks.“I have
received such great support from NBT’s
audiences over the years, it makes it so
difficult to stop. I will miss it greatly but I
have decided to leave NBT on a high, while
I am still enjoying every aspect of life with
the Company.”
Chiaki will be greatly missed by her many
friends and colleagues at NBT and we wish
her the very best for a happy retirement.
And next time, keep an eye out for her in
the audience.
Chiaki’s final performance with NBT will
be as Juliet in Romeo & Juliet, on Saturday
27 October 2007 at the Alhambra Theatre,
Bradford, in an evening dedicated to
celebrating her career.
NBT-INSIDE MAGAZINE2 26/1/11 13:33 Page 15
growing recognition
16
An award winning team– Director of the Year Readers of Dance Europe magazine votedNorthern Ballet Theatre’s (NBT) ArtisticDirector David Nixon, Director of the Year2006. David won the same award in 2003,making him the only Director to have won it twice.
Manager of the YearMark Skipper, NBT Chief Executive wasawarded the accolade of Manager of theYear at the 2006 Theatrical Management
top: David Nixon in rehearsalwith Martha Leebolt.Photo: Brian Slater
bottom: Elspeth Jones, MarkSkipper and Chris Bailey infront of the Yorkshire YouthBrass Band. Photo: Leeds Met
In the past year Northern Ballet Theatre has scooped a number of awards andaccolades that recognise our people, our work and our partnerships. Here we reflectfurther on these achievements and the people who help make them possible.
inside: the fundraising department
Leeds MetropolitanUniversity and NBTcelebrate success in Arts& BusinessLeeds Metropolitan University (Leeds Met)
and NBT won the Prudential Arts & Business
Employees Award at the 29th annual Arts
& Business awards in March. 121
partnerships from across the UK were
nominated, with 45 making the short-list for
the nine different award categories.The
partners were also short-listed for the British
Council Arts & Business International
Award, in recognition of the support of
Leeds Met, which enabled NBT to tour to
China for the first time in five years. In
October 2006 Leeds Met and NBT were
awarded the Arts, Business and Employees
Award by Arts & Business Yorkshire.
“The partnership allows us to gain positive
associations with a unique, world-class
company, which has a very wide appeal
and reach.” Chris Bailey, Dean of the faculty
of Arts & Society, Leeds Met
Association (TMA) Management Awards.The awards celebrate the achievementsand high standards of service attained bycompanies and individuals working in theperforming arts industry. In 2006 Markcelebrated his tenth year as Chief Executiveand in that time NBT has seen two changesin Artistic Director, created more than 20new productions, and performed to morethan a million people throughout the UKand overseas.
A triple triumph for NBTIn January NBT received the 2006 AudienceAward at the Critics’ Circle National DanceAwards for the third successive time. Theaward, sponsored by ballet.co, wasannounced at a ceremony at Sadler’s Wells,London attended by a host of personalitiesfrom the world of dance. It is the onlycategory in the National Dance Awards tobe voted for entirely by the public, onceagain making NBT the nation’s favouritedance company. Mark Skipper whocollected the award said:“We are thrilledand delighted, and we would like to thankeveryone who voted for us.”
NBT-INSIDE MAGAZINE2 26/1/11 13:33 Page 16
17
live and learn
Dance DreamsNBT has embarked on a new partnership
project with Leeds-based arts organisation
Pyramid of Arts, which encourages the
integration of people with and without
learning disabilities through the creative arts.
Dance Dreams, led by Caroline Burn, NBT
Dance Education Officer, will use movement
and music to encourage individual and team
development and creativity.
“The project is a fantastic new partnership
for NBT and a great way for us to build
relationships with our local community in Leeds.
Dance Dreams is really exciting because, not
only will it provide an introduction to dance,
but will encourage young people to express
their creative ideas both individually and as
part of a team.” Wieke Eringa, Director of
Learning & Access
Young people dance to education andemployment NBT, Phoenix Dance Theatre, the Northern
School of Contemporary Dance and
Yorkshire Dance teamed up to work together
on Gallery 37 Plus, a national initiative for
young people who are not in full-time
education or employment.The four week
project offered participants aged 16-19 an
excellent foundation in hip-hop/ urban
dance, contemporary dance and ballet.
Participants took part in daily classes with
dance artists Simon Kidd, Douglas Thorpe
and Tiia Ourilla, and created a new dance
work with Choreographer Sharon Watson.
They also received a training grant and, on
completion of the project, a Young People’s
Art Award. NBT hopes to build on the success
of the project with participants and partners
in the future.
So far this year our Learning & Access department has deliveredmore than 40 school workshops, as well as bespoke projects with youth organisations and people with visual impairments anddisabilities… and there are plenty of new and exciting projects on the way…
17
Phot
o:Br
ian
Slat
er
inside:with learning & access
“I rememberedmore when I waslearning like this”.
“I learnt that you need a lot of control in your body.Dance requiresconcentrationand imagination,using creativity.It takes lots ofwork to get thingsorganised andperfect.Pupils from Beckfoot School
Ballet meets science: a formula for successYou wouldn’t usually expect to see dancerspirouetting around a science lab and leapingover Bunsen Burners, but this summer NBTteamed up with Beckfoot School in Bradfordfor a project that used the creative arts toprovide a new formula to approaching GCSE
National Curriculum science.The projectengaged pupils through an extraordinary
combination of dance and science. Aspart of the partnership, NBT held dancetaster sessions at the school, from which
20 Year 9 pupils took part in a week-long residency with NBT Dance
Education Officer Sophie Alder.
The residency explored theformation of the earth,
galaxies and the Big Bangtheory through dance. Sophie worked withthe pupils to create an original dance that they
performed for family and friends at theschool. A scientist from the WellcomeTrust, digital artist Carolyn Mendelsohn,
and composer Richard Coatman alsocollaborated on the project. Later this year
NBT, in partnership with Leeds MetropolitanUniversity, will launch an interactive CD-Romof the project.The resource for teachers andstudents of dance and science will includemusic and visuals from the residency and thepupils’ final performance.
“The project had many successes and the final performance was well received by
friends, family and staff at Beckfoot School.Most importantly it sparked an interest
and enthusiasm in the students to learn,and they found the scientific concepts
easier to understand as a result. Everyoneinvolved put a great deal of hard work into theproject which clearly paid off.The project has
also generated a great deal of national interest from people working in the
fields of dance and science.”Sophie Alder
NBT-INSIDE MAGAZINE2 26/1/11 13:33 Page 17
another outstanding year
inside: the classical training department
Going from strengthto strengthAt the beginning of the new termthere are 120 students studying withNorthern Ballet Theatre (NBT) on ourClassical Training programmes.Auditions took place throughoutJune to search for talented dancersand, as a result, 12 new dancers havejoined Yorkshire Young Dancers(YYD), and 30 new dancers havejoined the Associate programme.There are four academic years ofYYD running simultaneously, takingthe department a step closer to thedream of creating a full-time NBTSchool. All our students receiveexpert training from NBT’s teachingfaculty under the guidance andsyllabus of Ballet Mistress,Yoko Ichino.
Fond farewells 300 students have studied with NBTsince the Classical Training Associateprogramme began in January 1997.This year, three students have leftNBT to study full-time at WhiteLodge, the Royal Ballet LowerSchool. 14 of our Senior Associatestudents have moved on to dance/stage schools across the country,where they will undertake full-timevocational training with the aim ofbecoming professional dancers.These schools include: CentralSchool of Ballet and English NationalBallet School in London, ElmhurstSchool for Dance in Birmingham,and Northern Ballet School inManchester.“I’ve really enjoyed my time at NBTand I’ll be really sad to leave. Theprogramme has an emphasis onpersonal development and individualteaching, which is brilliant as no twodancers are the same. I hope theguidance and encouragement I’ve hadfrom NBT will help me to achieve mydream of becoming a professional
dancer.” Jessica Clyde, ex-NBTAssociate who is continuing hertraining full-time at Elmhurst Schoolfor Dance in Birmingham.
Carnegie Great Student RunIn June, NBT staff and our students’parents took part in the Carnegie GreatStudent Run, organised by NBTpartners Leeds MetropolitanUniversity.Team NBT raised more than£1,700 to support our Classical Trainingprogrammes.We would like to thankeveryone who took part in andsupported the event, and particularlyto Yorkshire Bank who donated £250through its charitable trust.
YYD end the year on a highYYD students from NBT and theNorthern School of ContemporaryDance (NSCD) showcased theirtalents at a sell out end of yearperformance on 23 June at the RileyTheatre in Leeds. 74 studentsperformed a range of dances anddemonstrations, choreographed byNBT Artistic Director David Nixon, andfreelance artists Hilary Stainsby,Catherine Bennett and JonathanPoole from the NSCD. The eveningwas a huge success and the perfectway for the dancers to come togetherand celebrate another fantastic year.(see main photo)
Young dancers descend on NBT70 aspiring dancers from across theUK took part in NBT’s annualintensive Summer School for youngpeople who are already in or lookingto start full time dance training.
18
In the last edition of Inside we introduced you to our Classical Trainingdepartment. This time we look forward to another exciting year for ourstudents and take a look back at some of the achievements from 2006-7.
NBT-INSIDE MAGAZINE2 26/1/11 13:33 Page 18
below: Amy Flemming,Andrew Tomlinson andDevon Hartley.
Photo: Darren Goldsmith
inside is published biannually by Northern Ballet Theatre
Northern Ballet TheatreWest Park CentreSpen LaneLeeds LS16 5BE Telephone +44 (0)113 274 5355Fax +44 (0)113 274 5381www.northernballettheatre.co.uk
BOARD OF DIRECTORSCouncillor Bernard Atha CBE (Chairman)Dr Jo ButterworthGraham DewhirstJudith Donovan CBEDavid ForbesJon HammondJuliet JowittProfessor Simon Lee
ARTISTIC DIRECTORDavid Nixon
CHIEF EXECUTIVEMark Skipper
MUSIC DIRECTORJohn Pryce-Jones
INSIDE EDITORIAL TEAMLaraine Penson Ruth Burke-KennedyCatherine Mullaney
Northern Ballet Theatre is a touring narrativedance company whose distinctive blend ofclassical dance and theatre is renowned forcaptivating new audiences. For up to 30 weeks ofthe year NBT’s company of 40 dancers tour acombination of new work and acclaimed repertorypieces to all four UK countries and overseas.Thisextensive touring schedule demonstrates NBT’scommitment to providing opportunities for allpeople to have access to excellence in danceperformance and participation.
Designed by Andrassy Design01484 434844
Printed by Axis01484 722 732
Supported by:
Charity No: 259140VAT No: 146 6307 66Company Registration No: 947096Registered in England and WalesCompany limited by guarantee and share capital
Please note that information is correct at the time of publication but is subject to change.
These rising ballet stars aretraining on the YYD scheme andregularly take part in masterclasses to improve their classical,contemporary and Jazz dancetechniques,and prepare themfor a career in dance.
NBT-INSIDE MAGAZINE2 26/1/11 13:34 Page 19
Phot
o:M
erlin
Hen
dy
NBT-INSIDE MAGAZINE2 26/1/11 13:34 Page 20