Leeds's own Northern Ballet launches digital season of dance

Leeds's own Northern Ballet has launched a new digital season of dance.
Matthew Topliss and Sarah Chun in Northern Lights. PIC: Emily NuttallMatthew Topliss and Sarah Chun in Northern Lights. PIC: Emily Nuttall
Matthew Topliss and Sarah Chun in Northern Lights. PIC: Emily Nuttall

The dance company has created innovative digital content away from the stage which will be showcased through its new spring programme runs from Friday, February 5, until Friday, March 19, 2021.

Highlights include What Used To, No Longer Is, an original dance film by Olivier Award-winning Mthuthuzeli November as well as premieres of two more original films; Northern Lights and Have Your Cake, by Northern Ballet’s Artistic Director of Digital and Choreographer in Residence, Kenneth Tindall.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The season also includes Cathy Marston’s Victoria which will be released on-demand, whilst an excerpt of Kenneth Tindall’s States of Mind, part of the BBC and Sadler’s Wells’ Dancing Nation, will be available to watch online.

The films will be released on digitaldance.org every two weeks.

All films will be available to stream for free, but viewers are encouraged to pay what they can to help the Company on its mission to bring world-class dance to everyone, everywhere. Contributions can be made at: northernballet.com/PAYCThe programme is as follows:

Northern Lights (première) | February 5

The second collaboration of Kenneth Tindall and filmmaker Dan Lowenstein, Northern Lights injects the beauty and art of ballet into the streets of Leeds. Converting the city’s walls and landscapes into an imaginative playground painted by movement and creativity, the artists’ longing to perform and connect resiliently shines through.

Victoria | February 19

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Winner of the South Bank Sky Arts Award for Dance, Cathy Marston’s Victoria is a glimpse into the life of Queen Victoria whose diaries revealed a story so fascinating that her daughter Beatrice tried to rewrite history. Previously released in cinemas and on BBC Four, this full-length award-winning ballet is captured splendidly for the screen in partnership with The Space and is available for free on-demand.

Have Your Cake (première) | March 5

Partly inspired by the nation’s enthusiasm for baking banana bread during lockdown, Kenneth Tindall’s Have Your Cake is a light-hearted, tongue-in-cheek short film exploring the playfulness of a group of friends making the best of it. Friendship, love and togetherness shines bright on the darkest days.

What Used To, No Longer Is (première) | March 19

Olivier award-winning Ballet Black artist Mthuthuzeli November makes his choreographic debut with Northern Ballet with What Used To, No Longer Is. Choreographed and created entirely remotely in a Northern Ballet first, this new work explores the evolution of life, the passing of time and the human response to the beauty of an ever-growing life, even in the most difficult of circumstances.

States of Mind (excerpt) | Until February 26

Inspired by a collection of thoughts, feelings and news headlines from lockdown, Kenneth Tindall’s States of Mind is an abstract response to a selection of experiences from the events of 2020. Available as part of the BBC and Sadler’s Wells’ Dancing Nation, the film of this striking stage work was captured during its première as part of Northern Ballet’s first and only post-lockdown live performances at Leeds Playhouse in October 2020.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Kenneth Tindall, Northern Ballet’s artistic director of digital, said: “Northern Ballet has turned a challenging situation into an incredibly creative and inspired time. While we have not been to hold live performances due to Covid-19 restrictions, we have been able to establish a safe way to continue working to create new digital dance and experiment with filming away from the stage. I am especially excited that we commissioned the hugely talented Mthuthuzeli November to work with us for the first time. Developing and innovating with our digital offering is integral to the evolution of our artform and I am proud of what the Company has delivered.”

For details of all Northern Ballet’s available and upcoming digital works visit: digitaldance.org*********************

A message from the Editor:

Leeds has a fantastic story to tell - and the Yorkshire Evening Post has been rooted firmly at the heart of telling the stories of our city since 1890. We believe in ourselves and hope you believe in us too. We need your support to help ensure we can continue to be at the heart of life in Leeds.

Subscribe to our website and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Click here to subscribe. For more details on our newspaper subscription offers click here.

Thank you

Laura Collins

Related topics:

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.