< PreviousOpposite: Photos Justin Slee In 2018/19 the Academy of Northern Ballet continued to inspire and train the dancers of the future and nurture a passion for dance in 2,137 people aged from 18 months to 80+. We also delivered 49 Spotted! workshops in 22 schools across Yorkshire engaging a diverse range of students in ballet. A Royal Visit Some of our Centre for Advanced Training (CAT) students were able meet and perform for HRH The Earl of Wessex when he visited Northern Ballet in March 2019. Kittens make progress After the successful introduction of our Kitten Programme last year to train young dancers who are not yet old enough to become CAT students, we introduced additional weekly classes for five of our ‘kittens’ who then all successfully auditioned to join the CAT programme for 2019/20. Student Success Our CAT students gained places at top vocational schools including English National Ballet School, Central School of Ballet and Northern Ballet School. Our Associate programme students also celebrated success after being accepted into some of the country’s top schools for 2019/20 and two of our Professional Graduate Programme students were offered Apprentice contracts to join Northern Ballet in summer 2019. Dancers of the future 20 | Northern Ballet Annual Review 2018/19 Northern Ballet Annual Review 2018/19 | 21Ballet for all Opposite: Burberry Inspire. Photo Gavin Joynt Working non-stop to engage people in dance from all walks of life, this year our Learning team worked with 22,249 people. This included working with 133 schools, 12 children’s centres and running 57 events at venues across our tour. After 10 fantastic years working with 7,860 pupils at 208 schools, we also said a fond farewell to our START Schools project to make way for Rise, a new project that will pilot in September 2019. Our Highlights: Burberry Inspire We launched a four-year partnership with the Burberry Foundation to work with 8 schools in West Yorkshire to develop students’ aspirations for creative careers both on and off stage. In year one, we worked with 1,928 students in 2 schools offering dance workshops, opportunities to learn about sets, costumes and lighting, as well as visiting the theatre, many for the first time, to see Victoria. ‘The Victoria trip has to be the highlight… Many of the children didn’t even know the Grand Theatre existed and I couldn’t find any that had been to a ballet before, so in terms of broadening their horizons, it was invaluable.’ Teacher Dance for Parkinson’s We launched our first Dance for Parkinson’s programme helping people living with Parkinson’s to develop strength, balance, coordination and confidence in their own bodies. The participants and their companions dance together to live music and explore characters and movements from Northern Ballet’s productions whilst having the opportunity to alleviate isolation and improve their quality of life by building a community. ‘The fact that your carer can take part is very different to other activities as we don’t usually get to do the same thing together.’ Participant ‘The course has been so cleverly thought out. To see a class of Parkinson sufferers, rise from their chairs at the first attempt when they are swaying like flowers is incredible. And now, at home, if Melvyn has trouble turning around, I simply tell him to be a Russian Prince!’ Participant’s wife 22 | Northern Ballet Annual Review 2018/19 Opposite: Photos David Lindsay and Justin Slee. IIn 2018/19, thanks to the generous contributions of our individual, trust, foundation and corporate supporters we raised an incredible £1.2M towards the development of our work. After nine years of partnership, first direct continued to grow their commitment by making an additional contribution to our new digital dance programme and becoming our National Stage & Screen Sponsor. Our digital dance programme is also generously supported by The Foyle Foundation. Other highlights: • The Liz and Terry Bramall Foundation renewed their commitment to support artistic and outreach work for the next five years • The Emerald Foundation renewed their commitment to the creation of new productions across every strand of our touring for the next three years • We received new multi-year grants from the Garfield Weston Foundation to support three new productions and from The Linbury Trust for three new children’s ballets • We secured a new three-year grant from The Leverhulme Trust for the Academy of Northern Ballet providing bursaries for Centre for Advanced Training students • We launched our new Benefactor programme for individual giving and welcomed 10 new supporters at this level • With first direct we won Best Corporate Partnership at the 2018 Emcees Awards • We were shortlisted for the Achates Philanthropy Prize Individual Award • Leeds2023 made a two-year commitment to support Expressions, our inclusive dance platform • The ‘Making Memories Christmas Appeal’ raised over £3,000 to support our Let’s Dance project, delivered in partnership with Martin House Children’s and Young People’s Hospice • We welcomed new supporters from the corporate sector including bdb and Brewster Partners Supporting our future 24 | Northern Ballet Annual Review 2018/19 At home 2018/19 saw a 7% increase in the number of performances held at the Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre with the world première of Northern Ballet’s Puss in Boots, Phoenix Dance Theatre’s Phoenix at Home and performances by visiting companies including Yorke Dance Project, Ballet Cymru, Ballet Black and James Wilton Dance. Performances 81 Live audience 12,205 We held 151 meetings, conferences and events at our headquarters in Leeds city centre, more than double the previous year. Across these events we welcomed over 3,200 guests with clients including: • Yorkshire Water • BBC Fierce Women in Media • Leeds City Council International Women’s Day Event • Birdseye • Stage Coach • Yorkshire Building Society • first direct • Lloyds Bank • One Dance UK Conference • Jacobs • JN Bentley We also held some special events of our own including ‘Behind the Veil’ an exclusive live-streamed event offering a behind the scenes insight into the creation of our 2019 world première of Cathy Marston’s Victoria. 26 | Northern Ballet Annual Review 2018/19 Rosie Kay Dance Company in MK Ultra. Photo Brian Slater. Event photos Justin Slee and Lauren Godfrey. Northern Ballet Annual Review 2018/19 | 27Leeds Dance Partnership Leeds Dance Partnership continued to grow and develop in its mission to establish Leeds as an international centre of dance excellence. With core members including Leeds Beckett University, Leeds Playhouse, Northern Ballet, Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Phoenix Dance Theatre and Yorkshire Dance, a commitment to diversity, ambition, skill, talent, export and research underpins our work. Our highlights Leeds Light Night We curated an exhilarating dance programme in the Quarry Hill zone of Leeds with performances by Tom Dale Company, Rita Marcalo and students of Northern School of Contemporary Dance. The One Dance UK Conference In association with One Dance UK, we contributed significant resources to develop and host their annual conference in Leeds. The event culminated in the presentation of the inaugural One Dance UK Awards at which a new regional award was given to Ian Rodley and Dance Action Zone Leeds for excellent dance practice in communities. Supported by Leeds Dance Partnership We supported a performance and workshop programme in Leeds which included 13 organisations from five countries across the world including the UK, Norway, Hungary, Morocco and Japan. Walking with Leeds In March 2019, we hosted a cultural walking tour event with producing partners Walking Talking Project. The participants, who were guests of the Informal Network for Contemporary Performing Arts Plenary conference in Hull, joined us from as far afield as Australia and Canada. The event was held in association with Absolutely Cultured Hull and the British Council. Artist Fellowships We provided a number of artist and choreographer development opportunities ensuring that the future generation of dance leaders can thrive in Leeds and the North. This included Fellowships linking artists with major organisations, bursaries and performing opportunities and working with Phoenix Dance Theatre on their international choreographer and composer research labs. 28 | Northern Ballet Annual Review 2018/19 Photo David Lindsay.Northern Ballet Annual Review 2018/19 | 29Next >