Company Promotions (with immediate effect)

Dancers
Elena Glurdjidze, Daria Klimentová, Agnes Oaks, Erina Takahashi,
Thomas Edur and Dmitri Gruzdyev all promoted from Principal to the newly created position of Senior Principal.

César Morales* and Fernanda Oliveira* both promoted from First Soloist
to Principal.

Fabian Reimair promoted from Soloist to First Soloist.

Zhanat Atymtayev* and Maria Kochetkova* both promoted from Artist to Soloist.

Désirée Ballatyne promoted from First Artist to Soloist.

Kei Akahoshi, Jenna Lee, Daniel Kraus, Laurent Liotardo and James Streeter all promoted from Artist to First Artist.

*Further information about these dancers can be found in notes to the editor

Ballet Staff
Maina Gielgud has joined the ballet staff as Guest Teacher and Repetiteur.

Thomas Edur and Agnes Oaks will continue as Senior Principal Guest Artists, and will also join the ballet staff as Guest Repetiteurs.

Spring Tour 2007 casting announced*

Will Tuckett’s The Canterville Ghost
Michael Corder’s Melody on the Move
Christopher Hampson’s Sinfonietta Giocosa
David Dawson’s A Million Kisses to my Skin

High Wycombe 20 – 25 February
Stoke on Trent 28 February – 3 March
Sadler’s Wells 6 – 10 March


The Canterville Ghost – Principal Casting
First Night Cast
Canterville Ghost André Portasio James Streeter
Virginia Elena Glurdjidze Begoña Cao
Otis Twins Simone Clarke Lisa Probert
Yat-Sen Chang Pedro Lapetra
Cecil Juan Rodriguez Ivan Dinev

Melody on the Move – Principal Casting
First Night Cast
Agnes Oaks Daria Klimentová
Thomas Edur Arionel Vargas

A Million Kisses to my Skin – Full Cast
First Night Cast
Asta Bazevičiūtė Elisa Celis
Elena Glurdjidze Fernanda Oliveira
Laura Bruna Maria Kochetkova
Daria Klimentová Désirée Ballantyne
Agnes Oaks Begoña Cao
Erina Takahashi Laura Bruna
Thomas Edur Esteban Berlanga
Dmitri Gruzdyev Cesar Morales
Fabian Reimair Laurent Liotardo

Sinfonietta Giocosa – Full Cast
First Night Cast
Venus Villa Adela Ramirez
Fernanda Oliveira Senri Kou
Sarah McIlroy Elena Glurdjidze
Adela Ramirez Lisa Probert
Maria Kochetkova Kei Akahoshi
Alison Mcwhinney Désirée Ballantyne
Nicholas Reeves Ivan Dinev
César Morales Laurent Liotardo
James Forbat Daniel Kraus
Zhanat Atymtayev Esteban Berlanga
Esteban Berlanga Van le Ngoc
Arionel Vargas Fabian Reimair

*all casting is subject to change

Winter Fundraising Gala 2007 Starry, Starry Night

On Monday 19 February, The Dorchester Hotel on Park Lane will play host to English National Ballet’s annual fundraising event.

This year the Ballroom of The Dorchester will be transported into the world of Hollywood glamour. Guests will be treated to exclusive excerpts from the Company’s repertoire, including new works choreographed specially for the event.
English National Ballet’s keen supporter Natasha Kaplinsky will host the event, which will include a special one off performance by 80s pop legend Rick Astley.

A three course dinner will be followed by a silent auction with lots including a specially commissioned Sonata for piano trio composed by Paul Gladstone Reid and a commission by artist, George Lewis.

The annual gala raises vital funds for English National Ballet to ensure the Company can continue to produce the best possible performances of the classical repertoire and new works, all around the world.

For the latest national and international touring information and to book online, visit English National Ballet’s website at www.ballet.org.uk

I find a bit strange to create a new 'senior principal' level. What does that say about the dancers who were promoted to principal before this change - which was the old highest level - and are now 'just' principals? It's one thing to create demi or first soloists or coryphee type levels, but to all of a sudden raise the roof seems very odd, if not unfair, to me.

English National Ballet celebrates Derek Deane’s spectacular production of Swan Lake with performances in Versailles.


“This is a sumptuous spectacle……The buzz of excitement in an audience of thousands is a real thrill. Let no-one say that classical ballet is a dying art.”
The Sunday Times

English National Ballet is delighted to announce that it will perform Derek Deane’s Swan Lake on one of Europe’s most spectacular stages. The Palace of Versailles will play host to English National Ballet in July 2007 when the full Company will perform Swan Lake on a pontoon on the Bassin de Neptune with the spectacular Chateau de Versailles as a backdrop.

Audiences will be seated in the open air with special guests watching from boats afloat on the lake – all will have an amazing view of the production. This promises to be one of English National Ballet’s most breathtaking overseas tours and will be the first time the Company has performed in Paris since 1987.

Arguably the most popular ballet ever created, Swan Lake tells the story of Prince Siegfried’s powerful love for the Swan Queen, Odette, and their battle against the evil magician, Rothbart.

This Swan Lake was originally produced for English National Ballet by Derek Deane in 2000, based on a reworking of his 1997 in the round version. The in the round production has delighted audiences around the world and has been seen by an audience of nearly 400,000 in the ten years since its premiere.

Derek Deane’s traditional production brings the romance and high drama of the grand Russian ballet tradition alive. Swan Lake is set to Tchaikovsky’s magnificent score, which features some of the most beautiful music in the classical ballet repertoire. Swan Lake features the entire Company of 64 dancers, with the music played live by the full Orchestra of English National Ballet. Set design is by Peter Farmer and lighting by Howard Harrison.

Listings
Versailles, Chateau de Versailles
Derek Deane’s Swan Lake
Thursday 26 July, Friday 27, Saturday 28 at 8.30pm

Tickets go on sale 1 March priced from 35€
To book: Tel 0033 (0)1 30 83 78 89 Fax 0033 (0)1 30 83 78 90
Book online: www.chateauversailles-spectacles.fr

For the latest national and international touring information and to book online, visit English National Ballet’s website at www.ballet.org.uk

Angelina Ballerina takes to the stage with English National Ballet

Angelina’s Star Performance to tour the UK throughout Autumn 2007

English National Ballet and HIT Entertainment, one of the world’s leading independent children's entertainment producers and rights-owners, has today announced a new partnership to create a family ballet starring the popular children’s character Angelina Ballerina™.

Angelina’s Star Performance brings the magic of Angelina Ballerina to life in her first live performance on stage. The production features a cast of eight dancers from English National Ballet with over 100 performances over three weeks in 20 venues across the UK.

Angelina’s Star Performance follows Angelina as she prepares to stage her own performance of The Sleeping Beauty, at the request of the King and Queen in their splendid palace. She even has a real life Princess, Princess Valentine, to star alongside her in the show. It’s Angelina's biggest challenge yet… will she manage to pull it off?

Angelina’s Star Performance will be a special introduction to ballet for children from the age of 3+ and the tour will be complemented by an education programmed designed to give children the opportunity to experience ballet. The performances will also feature fun activities and workshops in the venues including the opportunity to take part in Angelina Ballerina Dance Academy™ classes.

The stellar creative team behind the production includes ex Principal dancer and Head of Dance at English National Ballet School Anthony Dowson who will choreograph the two act children’s ballet Angelina’s Star Performance. The writers behind Angelina Ballerina’s Star Performance are acclaimed children’s writers Paul Larson (Thomas & Friends™, Angelina & the Royal Dance™, Bob the Builder™) and Laura Beaumont (Angelina Ballerina & the Royal Dance, Bob the Builder). Costumes will be based on the Angelina Ballerina character and designed by Wizzy Shawyer. The set will be created by Al Riches and based on the beautiful Angelina Ballerina Carrousel Books.

Katie Rollings VP Consumer Products & International Marketing commented,
“We are thrilled to be working with English National Ballet in bringing Angelina to life through her very own stage show. Angelina’s Star Performance has a cast and crew that is world class and we hope that through Angelina Ballerina, dance will be more accessible to children around the country.”

Craig Hassall Managing Director of English National Ballet added,
“English National Ballet’s mission has always been to bring ballet to the widest possible audience; our collaboration with HIT Entertainment is a great way to do this by encouraging children to get involved and to enjoy ballet with Angelina Ballerina, who is such a good role model for today’s children. A project of this scale also gives us the opportunity to perform in venues that we wouldn’t be able to visit with the full Company, allowing more people to enjoy the performances.“

HIT Entertainment, owners of the Angelina Ballerina brand around the world, are seeking sponsorship partners for Angelina’s Star Performance.

Angelina’s Star Performance will have its world premiere at the New Wimbledon Theatre on 6 September 2007 before beginning a major UK tour visiting over 20 regional venues.

Angelina’s Star Performance runs for 1 hour and 20 minutes including a 20 minute
Interval.