Northern Ballet on-line digital season

Northern Ballet has announced that whilst the company is not performing live, a selection of ballets from its repertoire plus a new original dance film will be available to watch online or on television as part of the company’s Pay As You Feel Digital Season.

Over the next few weeks people will be able to tune into 1984, Little Red Riding Hood and Dracula from the comfort of their home. The Company has already released a new dance film, Kenneth Tindall and Dan Lowenstein’s EGO plus the extended highlights of their 50th Anniversary Celebration Gala which took place at Leeds Grand Theatre at the beginning of the year.

Northern Ballet make no secret of the financial issues that the coronavirus restrictions are placing on the company. Lost income from cancelled performances could affect Northern Ballet’s ability to pay their workforce, many of whom are freelancers, as well as their ability to present new ballets, including Merlin which is planned to première this autumn. As such, they are asking audiences to consider making a donation as they watch content from the Pay As You Feel Digital Season. Those who wish to support the Company can donate at northernballet.com/pay-as-you-feel.

Kenneth Tindall and Dan Lowenstein’s new dance film EGO kicks off the season and is already available to watch online today at northernballet.com/ego.

EGO explores parallel versions of one couple’s relationship. At first appearing the perfect Hollywood romance, the couple’s alter egos tell a different story filled with raw animalistic emotion, asking ‘How much does your ego control your behaviour?’

First premiered in 2015 to critical acclaim, Jonathan Watkins’ award-winning 1984 will be available to watch from Friday April 3. Based on George Orwell’s masterpiece, the ballet follows the story of Winston Smith and his life of conformity under the watchful eye of Big Brother.

CBeebies will screen their special version of Mariana Rodrigues’ Little Red Riding Hood on Friday April 10 at 9.30am. Created especially for children, Little Red Riding Hood retells the classic fairytale with a Northern Ballet twist.

From Friday April 17, extended highlights from Northern Ballet’s 50th Anniversary Celebration Gala will be available to watch. This sell-out performance featured excerpts of productions from Northern Ballet’s history and brought together dancers from The Royal Ballet, English National Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Scottish Ballet, The Joffrey Ballet and Phoenix Dance Theatre alongside Northern Ballet’s dancers.

David Nixon’s Dracula will make its television debut as part of the BBC’s Culture in Quarantine Season. Seducing countless generations, Bram Stoker’s legendary vampire lives on in this extraordinary ballet which will be available to watch in the coming weeks on BBC Four and iPlayer.

And lots more, including The Making of EGO – an exclusive behind-the-scenes documentary into the making of Kenneth Tindall and Dan Lowenstein’s new dance film; exclusive content from our new ballet Geisha, extended footage from Victoria; and exclusive dancer Q&As and behind-the-scenes content.

To find out more about Northern Ballet’s Pay As You Feel Digital Season, visit northernballet.com/pay-as-you-feel.