English National Ballet have released details of their Autumn 2016 and Spring 2017 programmes, that includes news that they are to become only the second company in the world beyond Tanztheater Wuppertal to perform Pina Bausch’s masterpiece and hugely dramatic The Rite of Spring. It will be part of a powerful triple bill to be seen at Sadler’s Wells in March 2017 that also includes William Forsythe’s In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated and Adagio Hammerklavier by Hans van Manen.
English National Ballet have also announced that they will present two versions of Giselle in the same season, by Mary Skeaping and Akram Khan. The world premiere of Khan’s ballet will take place at the Palace Theatre, Manchester before touring. It is the first full length ballet choreographed by Khan and sees Academy-Award winning designer Tim Yip create the set and costumes, while composer Ben Frost creates an adaptation of the original score by Adolphe Adam.
Mary Skeaping’s Giselle returns to the repertoire with a run at the London Coliseum in January 2017.
Artistic Director of English National Ballet, Tamara Rojo said: “Ballet, and art, has the potential of interpretation and reinterpretation, and this is vital to drive our art form forward. And so I am thrilled that this season we will present the world premiere of Akram Khan’s reimagining of the iconic story of Giselle, as well as performing Mary Skeaping’s classical production.”
Also on the schedule is Wayne Eagling’s Nutcracker, which will also visit Milton Keynes and Liverpool.
The dates and venues:
Giselle (Akram Khan)
Palace Theatre, Manchester – September 27-October 2
Bristol Hippodrome – October 18-22
Mayflower Theatre, Southampton – October 26-29
Sadler’s Wells – November 15-19
Nutcracker Milton Keynes Theatre – November 22-26
Liverpool Empire – November 29-December 3
London Coliseum – December 14-January 7, 2017
Giselle (Mary Skeaping)
London Coliseum – January 11-22
Pina Bausch/William Forsythe/Hans van Manen
Sadler’s Wells – March 23-April 1