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14th February 2019

Central School of Ballet | National Centre for Circus Arts | Circus Arts | Dance | Students

Ballet Central dancers attend workshops at National Centre for Circus Arts

Ballet Central dancers have been attending unicycle and hulahoop workshops at the National Centre for Circus Arts as part of their preparations for the 2019 Ballet Central tour. This year’s programme will include Carousel Dances by Artistic Director Christopher Marney, a piece with circus influences inspired by the 1945 musical Carousel by Richard Rodgers and […]

14th February 2019

BOVTS | Drama | Alumni | Awards

BOVTS alumna Olivia Colman wins BAFTA for Best Actress

The Conservatoire is delighted to congratulate Bristol Old Vic Theatre School alumna Olivia Colman, who has been awarded a BAFTA for Best Actress for her performance in period comedy-drama The Favourite. Coming just weeks after her Golden Globe triumph, Olivia again won over press and viewers alike with her unique style during her acceptance speech, […]

Coming just weeks after her Golden Globe triumph, Olivia again won over press and viewers alike with her unique style during her acceptance speech, which can be watched in full on the BBC’s YouTube channel.

The Favourite has won widespread praise from film critics and dominated Sunday’s awards, winning in seven categories of the 12 for which it received nominations. Set at the opening of the eighteenth century, Olivia plays the eccentric Queen Anne, supported by a stellar cast of Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz who play cousins vying for the Queen’s affection.

Commenting on her win, Olivia said: “As far as I’m concerned, all three of us are the same and should be the leads, and it’s weird we can’t do that. This is for all three of us. It’s got my name on it but we can scratch in some other names.”

The film has also received ten nominations for the upcoming 91st Academy Awards – the Oscars – including a further nomination for Olivia as Best Actress. The awards take place in Hollywood on 24 February.

Olivia trained at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, graduating in 1999 from the Professional Acting course. Commenting on Olivia’s recent successes, Artistic Director Jenny Stephens said: “We are delighted that Olivia is getting the recognition that she so thoroughly deserves. She is a great credit to our school.”

Olivia became a household name for her supporting role in Channel 4 comedy Peep Show (2003 – 2015) followed by a starring role in ITV’s Broadchurch (2013 – 2017). She also stars in the much-anticipated upcoming season of Netflix’s The Crown, where she takes over the reins from Claire Foy to play Queen Elizabeth II.

Remarkably for the School, fellow alumni Josh O’Connor (God’s Own Country; The Durrells) and Erin Doherty (Call the Midwife) also play leading roles in the forthcoming drama as Prince Charles and Princess Anne, respectively. Perhaps even more extraordinarily, all three have recently appeared together in BBC’s Les Misérables.

Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and the Conservatoire would like to wish Olivia and fellow cast and crew of The Favourite all the best for the forthcoming Oscars.

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6th February 2019

Expressions of Interest: Survey of Conservatoire Graduate Success

The Conservatoire for Dance and Drama is inviting expressions of interest for the development of a Survey of Conservatoire Graduate Success. This survey will form phase two of a multi-phase project which aims to explore in greater depth the career pathways of Conservatoire graduates who have trained in dance, drama, circus arts or technical theatre. […]

1st February 2019

Alumni round up – February 2019

Resolution, The Place’s annual festival of new choreography, continues this month with a number of graduates presenting new work: Kayleigh Price (NSCD) presents The Left One Out on Friday 1 February. Panos Malactos (Rambert) presents 4YEARS on Saturday 2 February. FUBU Dance Company present Ruins on Saturday 2 February, with choreography by Rhys Dennis (LCDS). […]

Resolution, The Place’s annual festival of new choreography, continues this month with a number of graduates presenting new work:

Kayleigh Price (NSCD) presents The Left One Out on Friday 1 February.

Panos Malactos (Rambert) presents 4YEARS on Saturday 2 February.

FUBU Dance Company present Ruins on Saturday 2 February, with choreography by Rhys Dennis (LCDS).

Mara Vivas (LCDS) presents time/less on Tuesday 12 February.

Charlie Hendren Dance Theatre (LCDS) presents A Light in the Backwoods on Wednesday 13 February.

Declan Whitaker (LCDS) presents To Those Who Wait on Wednesday 13 February, with dancers Simea Cavelti, Celina Liesegang and Riccardo Tarocco (LCDS).

Li’An Dance – choreographers and dancers Livia Massarelli and Anna Borini (LCDS) – present Sorella Mia on Thursday 14 February.

BdBlaq Dance present Cool Breeze on Friday 15 February, with choreography by Rikkai Scott (LCDS).

Satoko Fukuda (Rambert) presents About the leaves on Saturday 16 February.

Nathan Johnston (LCDS) and Emily Nicholl present Levels on Tuesday 19 February.

Fraser Buchanan (Rambert) presents there won’t be glitter with fraser and friends on Wednesday 20 February.

Rosie Kay (LCDS) is touring the critically acclaimed 5 Soldiers, with performances this month in Salisbury (1 Feb), Scarborough (7 Feb), Bracknell (12 Feb) and Canterbury (14 Feb).

Jyuddah Jaymes and Taheen Modak (BOVTS) feature in The American Clock at the Old Vic, 4 February – 30 March.

Olivia Williams (BOVTS) features in Tartuffe at the National Theatre from 9 February.

Alix Dunmore (BOVTS) features in Bodies at Southwark Playhouse, from 13 February – 9 March.

Imogen Knight (NSCD, LCDS) is Movement Director for Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train at the Young Vic, from 14 February – 30 March.

Ira Mandela Siobhan (NSCD) features in Equus at the Theatre Royal Stratford East from 15 February – 23 March.

Rambert dance company are on tour with Life is a Dream, choreographed by Kim Brandstrup (LCDS), performing this month in Glasgow (14 – 16 February), Inverness (21 – 22 February) and Leicester (28 February – 2 March). The company features graduates from Rambert, Central and LCDS.

Phoenix Dance Theatre present The Rite of Spring at Leeds Grand Theatre on 16, 23, 28 February. The company features dancers Vanessa Vince-Pang (Rambert), Carmen Vazquez Marfil (Central, NSCD), Natalie Alleston (Rambert, NSCD), and NSCD Apprentices Jasmine Gordon, Frances Shepherdson and Elliott Augustine.

LCDS alumna and Artistic Director Siobhan Davies invites three guests to respond to her creative process in Transparencies: A Process in Company, at Siobhan Davies Studios on 28 February.

Barely Methodical Troupe (National Centre for Circus Arts) present Kin at The Point, Eastleigh, from 28 February – 1 March.

[Image: 5 Soldiers, Rosie Kay Dance Company]

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29th January 2019

Central School of Ballet | Dance | Performances and Exhibitions | Students

Central students perform in English National Ballet’s Manon

Four second year Central School of Ballet students – Olivia, Karya, Erin & Jessica – appeared in English National Ballet’s production of Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon in its opening week in London. Manon comes to the London Coliseum following a tour to Manchester, Milton Keynes and Southampton. The students performed the roles of beggars during the […]

23rd January 2019

NSCD | Dance | Awards

NSCD Kick Off Boys project nominated for Child Friendly Leeds Award

Kick Off Boys Youth Dance Project, a joint partnership between Northern School of Contemporary Dance (NSCD), Dance Action Zone Leeds (DAZL), Phoenix Dance Theatre and Leeds City College, has been shortlisted for the 6th Child Friendly Leeds Award in the Youth Group of the Year category. A record number of nominations for the awards were […]

7th January 2019

BOVTS | Drama | Alumni | Awards | Film & Television

BOVTS alumna Olivia Colman wins Golden Globe Award for The Favourite

Congratulations to Bristol Old Vic Theatre School alumna Olivia Colman, who won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Musical or Comedy at last night’s awards ceremony. Colman receives the award for her critically acclaimed role as Queen Anne in The Favourite. You can hear Colman talking about the film on BBC Front Row […]

7th January 2019

LCDS | Dance | Alumni | Awards

A Knighthood for London Contemporary Dance School alumnus Richard Alston

London Contemporary Dance School alumnus Richard Alston has been awarded a knighthood by Her Majesty the Queen for Services to Dance as announced in the 2019 New Year’s Honours List. The award is a wonderful acknowledgement of the remarkable contribution to the art form Richard has made over five decades as one of the most inspiring […]

Richard has been a strong advocate for learning and dance in education for as many years as he has been dancing and choreographing, giving his time and energy through teaching, supporting and critiquing young dancers to help them progress in the dance world. He was the Chair of Youth Dance England and his work has been on the GSCE and A Level AQA Dance syllabus for several years influencing thousands of young dancers all over the country.

“I am of course delighted to receive such a tremendous honour, not only for myself but also for dance, the art form to which I have devoted the greater part of my life and which I love so much. “ – Richard Alston.

Clare Connor, Chief Executive of The Place says:

“Richard occupies a special place in the hearts and minds of dance and music lovers the world over. His sense of artistry combined with his deep commitment to young people and their learning through dance is rare. This is a wonderful and fitting celebration of decades of dedication to dance.”

Perhaps more than any other choreographer, Richard is known for his instinctive musicality and his very close relationship with music. Born in Sussex in 1948, Richard was educated at Eton where he discovered his passion for music in the school gramophone library, listening to Bach and Billie Holliday, or blasting Wagner’s Ring at the cows grazing outside. He then studied fine art and theatre design at Croydon College of Art in 1965, before becoming one of the very first students at the newly established London Contemporary Dance School in 1968, where he first started to choreograph under the ground breaking teaching of Robert Cohan and leadership of Robin Howard at The Place.

He went on to choreograph for The Place’s resident company London Contemporary Dance Theatre before forming the UK’s first independent dance company, Strider, in 1972. In 1975 he left for New York to study at the Merce Cunningham Dance Studio and on his return two years later he worked throughout the UK and Europe as an independent choreographer and teacher. Richard was Artistic Director of Ballet Rambert from 1986 – 1992 before taking up the post of Artistic Director of The Place and launching his Richard Alston Dance Company in November 1994.

He was made an Honorary Doctor of the Arts by the University of Kent (2015), an Honorary Doctor of the Arts by Kingston University (2016) and an Honorary Fellow of Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance (2017). Alston was made Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in France (1995) and received the CBE in the New Year Honours list (2001). Alston received the De Valois Award for Outstanding Achievement from the Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards (2008). He was presented with the Award for Excellence in International Dance by the International Theatre Institute (2012).

As 2018 comes to a close, the year that saw Richard celebrating his 70th birthday as well as his company’s 25th anniversary now marks a high point in his wonderful long career.

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1st January 2019

Alumni round up – January 2019

January sees the start of Resolution, The Place’s annual festival of new choreography, with graduates performing and presenting work throughout the festival. Hopeless Shokunin present A tribute to Ólafur on Saturday 12 January, choreographed by NSCD graduate James Olivo. Wayward Thread present Proxy on Tuesday 15 January, with dancer Dan Phung (NSCD). Follow Through Collective […]

January sees the start of Resolution, The Place’s annual festival of new choreography, with graduates performing and presenting work throughout the festival.

Hopeless Shokunin present A tribute to Ólafur on Saturday 12 January, choreographed by NSCD graduate James Olivo.

Wayward Thread present Proxy on Tuesday 15 January, with dancer Dan Phung (NSCD).

Follow Through Collective present Common Ground on Wednesday 16 January, choreographed by LCDS postgraduate student Greta Gauhe.

Christopher Thomas (Rambert School) presents Blood’s Thicker Than Water on Thursday 17 January.

Matsena Performance Theatre present Lies To Be The Truth on Saturday 19 January, with Anthony Matsena (LCDS) and Amukelani Matsena (BOVTS).

Bridget Lappin (LCDS) presents Where We’ve Been, Little One on Tuesday 22 January.

Company Concentric present Play On on Wednesday 23 January, with dancer Yanaëlle Thiran (LCDS).

Grace Nicol (LCDS) presents I Only Laugh To Keep From Weeping on Saturday 26 January.

Vendetta Vain (National Centre) presents Butterface on Tuesday 29 January.

Ben & Fred (National Centre) present The Juggling of Science on Tuesday 29 January.

Elsewhere on stage, Eleanor Jackson (BOVTS) features in Aspects of Love at the Southwark Playhouse, 7 January – 9 February.

Barely Methodical Troupe (National Centre for Circus Arts) present SHIFT at The Platform Theatre, Central St Martins, from 9 – 12 January.

Maanuv Thiara (BOVTS) features in Approaching Empty at the Kiln Theatre, 9 January – 2 February.

Choreographer and Artistic Director Akram Khan (NSCD) gives his final performance of Until The Lions at the Roundhouse from 11 – 17 January.

Stephen Dillane (BOVTS) features in When We Have Sufficiently Tortured One Another at the National Theatre, 16 January – 2 March.

Alex Jennings (BOVTS) is the narrator for Rêverie: The life and loves of Charles Debussy alongside pianist Lucy Parham at the Salisbury Playhouse on 18 January.

Ellis Dubois (National Centre) presents No Show at Soho Theatre from 22 January – 9 February, with performers Francesca Hyde, Kate McWilliam, Michelle Ross and Alice Gilmartin (National Centre).

Katherine Farmer (BOVTS) directs Heisenberg at the Rubicon Theatre, Ventura California, from 30 January – 17 February.

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29th December 2018

Veronica Lewis awarded CBE for Services to Higher Education in Dance, Drama and Circus Arts

Veronica Lewis, former Joint Principal of the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama, has been awarded a CBE in the New Year Honours List for 2019 for Services to Higher Education in Dance, Drama and Circus Arts in the UK and Abroad. Veronica’s lifelong belief in the power of the performing arts to enrich lives from […]

Veronica’s lifelong belief in the power of the performing arts to enrich lives from toddlers to elders has led to a career focussed on forging accessible pathways into these disciplines.

In her early career, Veronica worked across England as a Gulbenkian Dance Fellow, and was one of the first dance animateurs – highly skilled practitioners whose role was to encourage greater participation in the arts – in a nationwide programme funded by the Arts Council. She was a pioneering force in establishing the national Centres for Advanced Training (CATS) in Dance which enable aspiring young dancers to attend regular classes with their peers from the age of ten, and the Dance and Drama Awards (DaDAs) which help talented students with the cost of performing arts training.

Veronica was Principal of London Contemporary Dance School at The Place for 19 years. During this time, she was instrumental in the founding of the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama, now a thriving Higher Education Provider comprising specialist schools delivering world-leading education and vocational training in the performing arts. The Conservatoire model has enabled young people from all backgrounds to access training at these outstanding schools, contributing to the UK’s worldwide reputation for innovative leadership in performing arts education. Veronica served as Joint Principal for the Conservatoire until 2014 and retired from her role as Principal of LCDS in December 2017.

Veronica Lewis said: “I feel honoured to receive this award. It has been my life mission to make education in the performing arts available to all, regardless of personal circumstance. The founding of the Conservatoire was a central part of that mission and it’s been wonderful to see how the institution has grown and thrived in the higher education sector.”

James Smith, Chair of the Conservatoire Board of Governors, said: “The Conservatoire could not have got going nor prospered without Veronica. Her love of the arts and of students from all backgrounds shines through in all she does.”

[Image: Veronica Lewis with the recipients of the Principal’s Award Alethia Antonia and Frankie Hickman at London Contemporary Dance School leavers Ceremony 2017. Photo by Alicia Clarke.]

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Ballet Central dancers attend workshops at National Centre for Circus Arts

BOVTS alumna Olivia Colman wins BAFTA for Best Actress

Expressions of Interest: Survey of Conservatoire Graduate Success

Alumni round up – February 2019

Central students perform in English National Ballet’s Manon

NSCD Kick Off Boys project nominated for Child Friendly Leeds Award

BOVTS alumna Olivia Colman wins Golden Globe Award for The Favourite

A Knighthood for London Contemporary Dance School alumnus Richard Alston

Alumni round up – January 2019

Veronica Lewis awarded CBE for Services to Higher Education in Dance, Drama and Circus Arts

Conservatoire in Action