September eNewsletter

With Hamlet opening at West Yorkshire Playhouse this Friday whet your appetite with our exclusive film.

Thanks to your help our landmark new building has reached the finals of The National Lottery Awards 2011 for Best Arts Project. We'll now appear on a special BBC One show this November and we're one step away from winning a National Lottery Award trophy and £2000 prize. To do this we need you to please vote again. You can vote any time between now and 12 noon on Monday 26 September. Vote free online or by phone on 0844 836 9674.

On 26 August Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles broadcast his Breakfast Show live from BBC Yorkshire. As he was just next door we sent Chris and the team breakfast and a cheeky slice of cake from our Café Bar and from their discussion on air it definitely went down a treat!

Northern Ballet Soloist Ashley Dixon recently joined the judging panel on CBBC's new dance show presented by Strictly Come Dancing judge Alesha Dixon. Three young street dance crews were given the challenge of including ballet moves in their choreography. To see if they impressed Ashley watch CBBC's Alesha's Street Dance Stars from 1 September on iPlayer.

Artist Dudley Edwards has launched a stunning new exhibition of photographic prints at the 4th Floor Café in Harvey Nichols in Leeds, based on Northern Ballet dancers. The prints are available to buy, with a percentage of profits going to Friends of Alfie Martin - a charity working to improve facilities for newborn babies requiring urgent neonatal equipment and transportation facilities.

Friday 2 September saw our third annual performances on Briggate in the centre of Leeds. Performing on stage were Northern Ballet dancers, Phoenix Dance Theatre, Northern Ballet Academy students, Phoenix Youth Academy students, the Association of Dance of the African Diaspora (ADAD), Kala Sangam and Manasamitra.

On 15 September the first NSC (Northern Spirit Creative) Theatre Awards will celebrate new writing performed and directed by talented individuals. Then from 22 - 24 September Phoenix Dance Theatre perform their eclectic mixed programme, Declarations. This is the first time Phoenix will perform a full evening production in our new home.

We think it's about time you found out a little more about Northern Ballet dancers and staff so each month we're going to bring you an exclusive insight into a member of the team. To kick us off ahead of his debut as Hamlet this week we met up with First Soloist Tobias Batley.