Dancer in a black leotard stands en pointe against a black background with one arm extended above her and one to her side.

New season of Dance at the Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre

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20 February 2023

We're delighted to announce a new season of dance opening in March 2023 at our home, the Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre. The season will include work from local, national, and international choreographers and companies, each with a unique style and vision, making this season a truly exciting one.

Andersson Dance and Scottish Ensemble will kick off the season with their acclaimed reimagining of J.S. Bach’s masterpiece on Thursday 9 March. Goldberg Variations – ternary patterns for insomnia adds a fresh visual dimension to this revered work – fusing music and movement to profound and joyous effect, and showing off its humour, humanity and beauty in an entirely new way. 

Violinists and a cellist in casual clothes play to a dancer in bare feet, shiny trousers and a yellow top

This will be followed by Sketches, a showcase of new choreography from Northern Ballet’s Company of dancers on Friday 5 May. Alongside the dancers, Leeds based choreographer, Jamaal Burkmar will present a new work developed with the classical technique of Northern Ballet.

A preceding choreographic workshop will allow the dancers to explore, develop and experiment with movement, ideas and storytelling under the mentorship of Artistic Director, Federico Bonelli, and three established choreographers: Mthuthuzeli November, creator of Wailers and the Olivier Award-winning Ingoma; Kenneth Tindall, Northern Ballet’s Choreographer in Residence; and Sharon Watson MBE DL, CEO and Principal of Northern School of Contemporary Dance.

'Sketches is Northern Ballet’s choreographic workshop that will culminate in an evening performance in our home at Quarry Hill. It will provide our Company dancers, at different stages in their choreographic practice, the unique opportunity to develop their craft while working with their colleagues. 

We are also thrilled to welcome renowned choreographer Jamaal Burkmar to collaborate with our dancers for Sketches. As an established contemporary choreographer, he is eager to work with classically trained dancers at Northern Ballet, and this promises to be a mutually enriching experience for all involved.

Sketches is part of our desire to support creatives at every stage of their choreographic journey, both in house and from the Leeds dance ecology, as they develop their practice and go on to contribute to future work for Northern Ballet and the ballet sector.’

Federico Bonelli, Artistic Director Northern Ballet

In celebration of their 30th year, Quebec-based Cas Public will present The Monsters on Wednesday 17 May. Performed in semi-darkness, the dancers will explore the monsters that inhabit our childhood imagination. Paired with intricate lighting works, unexpected and surprising elements come alive in this compelling piece which will deceive your sense of perception, as you are immersed in Cas Public’s unique world.

A man and two young children wearing colourful toule around their necks. They are surrounded by smoke with a dark grey background behind them.

Families can enjoy the return of DeNada Dance Theatre, this time with The Bull & the Moon on Sunday 4 June. The show is an endearing family-friendly production that celebrates anyone who dances to their own tune. A fun, fiery, and magical dance performance that blends contemporary dance, flamenco and theatre, this is a heart-warming story about the importance of being oneself, family and LGBTQ+ inclusivity. 

Two dancers on a stage, surrounded by red pieces of set including a small stair case. One dancer is nelt down behind the stair case wearing a red jacket and bull ears on their hat. They look shocked. The other dancer is stood up with their right foot on the staircase, wearing a gold outfit, looking shocked and they have pulled away a red cape.

The season will wrap up with McNicol Ballet Collective, making its Leeds debut with Devotions on Wednesday 21 June. Led by Yorkshire-born Artistic Director Andrew McNicol, the Company will perform a programme of three modern ballets, devoted to the power of music and dance. The programme features an eclectic mix of works including the ethereal Moonbend, an exploration of hope and belonging, Of Silence and the exuberant and energetic, Bates Beats.

A man is floating in the air wearing a sheer white jacket, which is long sleeve and goes down to their ankles. The are looking up towards the sky with their palms faced to the front. There is a grey semi-cirle graphic added to the image behind the dancer.