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3rd April 2019

Conservatoire graduates feature in BBC Arts #DancePassion Live

Dance companies from across the UK will come together for a major on-air and online celebration of dance on Friday 5 April. #DancePassion is a new dance festival organised by BBC Arts in collaboration with One Dance UK along with leading names and exciting new talent from across the dance scene. The day will feature […]

All of the events in Leeds – featuring DAZL, RJC, Möbius Dance, Akeim Toussaint Buck, Phoenix Dance Theatre, Northern Ballet, DeNada Dance Theatre, and Gracefool Collective – will be hosted by Northern School of Contemporary Dance.

Check out the full running order for the day on the BBC website and look out for Conservatoire graduates in the below features:

10:00 – Company Class with Candoco Dance Company

At London’s Studio Wayne McGregor contemporary company Candoco Dance Company present a company class with their disabled and non-disabled professional dancers and invited guests. Candoco was founded by LCDS alumna Celeste Dandeker-Arnold. Company dancers include Toke Strandby and Fabian Jackson (NSCD).

12:15 – Autobiography in rehearsal with Company Wayne McGregor

Company Wayne McGregor rehearse Autobiography, which is choreographed by Wayne McGregor CBE, and based on his own DNA and 25 year archive. Company dancers include graduates Jordan James Bridge, Fukiko Takase (LCDS), Jessica Wright (Central), and Jacob O’Connell (Rambert).

13:00 – Rambert and Marion Motin

Rambert presents a sneak peek of their brand new work by Marion Motin. Company dancers include graduates Sharia Johnson, Adam Park, Stephan Quildan, Kym Sojourna (Rambert), Pierre Tappon, Nancy Nerantzi (LCDS), Brenda Lee Grech and Jacob Wye (Central).

13:15 – RJC Dance Youth Provision Carnival troupe ‘ROOTS, RESPECT AND STILL RISING’

This first of three Leeds performances is inspired by and honours 25 years of RJC Dance, founded by NSCD graduate Kathy Williams, and is presented by young people aged 9-12 years.

Möbius Dance: Time Moves Slow

A new commission by NSCD alumnus Jamaal Burkmar ‘Time Moves Slow’, performed by NSCD graduates Ana Fernández Melero, Stefania Pinato and current NSCD third year students Charlie Hogan and Iolanda Portogallo.

Windows Of Displacement (excerpt)
Using his own journey of migration from Jamaica to the UK as a catalyst, NSCD graduate Akeim Toussaint Buck brings together dance, spoken word and song to tell a story that is both deeply personal and universal.

13:45 – The Science of Lifting with Motionhouse

Motionhouse performers demonstrate lifts and showcase the strength and physicality of their performers, notably their strong women. Artistic Director Kevin Finnan MBE and Rehearsal Director Junior Cunningham (NSCD) talk about how the dancers work together to execute a lift.

Company dancers include graduates Martina Knight, Alasdair Stewart, Naomi Tadevossian (LCDS), Junior Cunningham, Daniel Massarella, Rebecca Williams, Aaron Watkinson, Joel Pradas, Beth Pattison (NSCD), Chris Knight (NSCD, LCDS), Shannon Kate Platt (Rambert), and Apprentice Rebecca Knight (NSCD).

13:30 – Akram Khan Company

At Sadler’s Wells in London, Akram Khan Company invite you to check out the rehearsals for their new company production, Outwitting the Devil. Acclaimed choreographer and NSCD alumnus Akram Khan recently won a record eighth National Dance Award.

14:45
State of Mind by ACE Youth
Centred around schizophrenia, State of Mind explores the status of our consciousness, our perception of our intuition and the outside world and how it affects our actions, behaviour and body movements. The work is choreographed by Douglas Thorpe and performed the youth dance company of ACE dance and music, founded by NSCD alumna Gail Parmel.

15:00 – English National Ballet

Dancers from English National Ballet rehearse Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Broken Wings. Company dancers include graduate Sarah Kundi (Central).

15:45 – Phoenix Dance Theatre in Rehearsal: Left Unseen

Get an insight into studio activity in Leeds as Phoenix Dance Theatre’s company dancers rehearse contemporary dance piece Left Unseen by Amaury Lebrun. This is a unique opportunity to hear from the Company’s Artistic Director, Sharon Watson (LCDS and NSCD). The piece was originally commissioned by Northern School of Contemporary Dance.

Company dancers include graduates Vanessa Vince-Pang (Rambert), Carmen Vazquez Marfil (CSB, NSCD), Natalie Alleston (Rambert, NSCD), and Apprentices Jasmine Gordon, Frances Shepherdson, Elliott Augustine (NSCD).

National Dance Company Wales: Rygbi – Annwyl I Mi/ Dear to Me

In Swansea see NDCWales dancers and local Ospreys Rugby Club in rehearsals for NDCWales’ new production. Company dancers include graduates Ed Myhill, Mathew Prichard (Rambert), and Apprentice Aisha Naamani (LCDS).

16:15 – Rosie Kay Dance Company: Telling the Stories of Frontline Soldiers with Dance

After experiencing a career-threatening injury, Commonwealth Games Handover choreographer and LCDS alumna Rosie Kay was drawn to the parallels between soldiers’ and dancers’ training, and the commitment, discipline and strength required. Ahead of the premiere of 10 SOLDIERS at Birmingham Hippodrome in May see the dancers perform whilst Rosie discusses her ideas.

17:30 – The Night is Young, So Are We

In a second Leeds trilogy choreographer and Central alumnus Kenneth Tindall creates a contemporary ballet duet for Northern Ballet’s Ayça Anil and Harris Beattie (Central) in response to Ella Eyre’s version of We Don’t Have to Take Our Clothes Off.

DeNada Dance Theatre

DeNada Dance Theatre is a UK-based dance company that exports, explores and subverts Hispanic and Latin culture in Britain and beyond. In this session they present an in rehearsal excerpt from their new show Mariposa, a transgender tragedy inspired by Puccini’s Madame Butterfly. It is choreographed by the company’s director and NSCD alumnus Carlos Pons Guerra. Company dancers include graduates Marivi Da Silva (NSCD) and Antonette Dayrit (Central).

Gracefool Collective

Using their unique concoction of wildly entertaining dance theatre, NSCD graduate company Gracefool invite YOU to be guests at the non-wedding event of the year as they attempt to come to terms with coming of age in a high pressure, low tolerance, zero hour contract society. Four bridal-clad women attempt to entertain, delight and maintain their dignity in a desperate last ditch effort to work out what the hell it all means.

18:30 – Scottish Ballet – Celebrating 50 years

For the big day, tune in LIVE on Facebook from the Glasgow dressing rooms of Scottish Ballet’s Spring! tour. Meet the dancers as they prepare to go on stage. Company dancers include Central graduates Thomas Edwards, Jamiel Lawrence, Aisling Branagan, Amy McEntee, and Rishan Benjamin.

You can watch all these amazing performances live on Friday 5 April, then on demand at bbc.co.uk/dance

[Image: Kenneth Tindall’s The Night is Young, So Are We for Northern Ballet, photograph by Emma Kauldhar]

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2nd April 2019

Alumni round up – April 2019

Katherine Kingsley (BOVTS) stars in Top Girls at the National Theatre, now running until 22 June. Charlie Cox (BOVTS) stars in Betrayal at the Harold Pinter Theatre, now running until 8 June. Alleyne Dance – Kristina Alleyne and Sadé Alleyne (NSCD) – present The Other Side of Me at The Place on 3 April. Russell Maliphant […]

1st April 2019

Virtual Conservatoire delivers simultaneous performances of Otis and Eunice across two cities

Bringing together four years dedicated to redefining the boundaries of conservatoire training, simultaneous performances of Otis and Eunice were performed to audiences at both Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and the Royal College of Music on 29 and 30 March. Otis and Eunice was the culmination of the Virtual Conservatoire project, committed to creating new […]

Otis and Eunice was the culmination of the Virtual Conservatoire project, committed to creating new potential for live performance and performing arts collaboration.

The project has been an ambitious four-year collaboration between Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Central School of Ballet, London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA), Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), Royal Academy of Music (RAM) and Royal College of Music (RCM). The project has been backed by HEFCE / Office for Students Catalyst Fund.

Created with immersive theatre makers Raucous, Otis and Eunice is a modern retelling of Orpheus and Eurydice featuring actors from RADA, LAMDA and Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, dancers from the Central School of Ballet, and music written and performed by RCM and RAM musicians.

The production was performed as two different standalone shows. Staged simultaneously at the RCM’s Britten Theatre and the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, the shows were linked through dual narratives concerning the disappearance of Eunice. Audiences in each venue were also able to see the partner narrative unfold onscreen, through a live high definition video link using Low Latency (LOLA) technology.

Sharon Clarke, Raucous explains:

‘The process for making Otis and Eunice followed an unknown path. Trying to write a meaningful script that encapsulated live streaming, while working between six partner organisations, in two cities while engaging over 50 students was, to put it mildly, a challenge.

The main challenge for me as a writer, though, was how to knit together two different stories that collided through live streaming and ended up making sense to both audiences. Then I needed to work out how to introduce original composition, dance and musicians to an already complicated play. All within a matter of months.

The composers, working to a pretty strict brief from me, weaved their magic into original songs and score, the technical team problem solved this behemoth of a project with great humour and superb ingenuity, the performers just got stuck in and started to play as soon as the script was in their hand, the ingenious designers and directors, all lecturers, were stalwarts in making the pieces fit and making me laugh when the going got mind-bendingly complicated.

This is new theatre. This is a new way of teaching theatre. It has been a bold and brave undertaking from the Virtual Conservatoire team, who are preparing students to work in the digital age and introducing two audiences across two cities.’

Over the last four years, conservatoire facilities have been transformed into state-of-the-art digital spaces that enable creative collaboration between the consortium’s students and partners across multiple locations, in real time. The result is a new template for conservatoire training, which pioneers digitally enabled pedagogy and practice, and the scope to transform live performance art into a multi-location experience.

The Creative Process

Hear more about the theatre-making process behind the show in the trailer, featuring interviews with Bristol Director, Technical Producer and the cast.

Photographs by Chris Christodoulou.

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28th March 2019

BOVTS | Drama | Alumni | Awards

BOVTS alumnus Alex Jennings nominated for BAFTA Television Award

Congratulations to Bristol Old Vic Theatre School alumnus Alex Jennings, who has been nominated for a BAFTA Television Award for Supporting Actor for his role in ITV’s Forgotten. Jennings is a three-time Olivier Award winner and the only person to have won three Best Actor Olivier Awards for Comedy (Too Clever by Half in 1988), […]

27th March 2019

Students announced as Category Finalists for BBC Young Dancer 2019

We are delighted that six Conservatoire dance students have been announced as category finalists for BBC Young Dancer 2019. The prestigious competition searches for the country’s most talented dancers aged 16-21, and twenty contestants now remain to compete in the four Category Finals; Ballet, Contemporary, South Asian Dance and Street Dance. Keiko Tsuchiya, a second […]

Keiko Tsuchiya, a second year student at Central School of Ballet, has been shortlisted as a Finalist in the Ballet Category.

Max Revell, a second year student at Northern School of Contemporary Dance, has been shortlisted as a Finalist in the Street Dance Category.

Courtesy of BBC Young Dancer. L-R: Max Revell (NSCD), Christian Griffin, Kate Morris, Louie Juster and Thomas Carsley.

In the Contemporary Dance category, four of the five Finalists are currently training at Conservatoire schools: first year student Hana Kato at London Contemporary Dance School, second year student Adanna Lawrence at Northern School of Contemporary Dance, and third year student Max Cookward and second year student Matthew Rawcliffe at Rambert School.

Courtesy of BBC Young Dancer. L-R: Max Cookward (Rambert School), Hana Kato (LCDS), Adanna Lawrence (NSCD), Hannah Connor, and Matthew Rawcliffe (Rambert School)

All of the students will be mentored by leading dance professionals in preparation for the BBC Young Dancer 2019 Category Finals.

Category Finals and Grand Final

The Category Finals will be broadcast on BBC Four weekly from the 19 April. These episodes follow the young dancers behind the scenes as they prepare for their performances with the help of teachers and mentors.

Presented by Ore Oduba and Anita Rani, the Grand Final will be broadcast on BBC Two on the 18 May live from Birmingham Hippodrome. The overall winner of the competition receives a trophy and a £3,000 cash prize to help further their dance education. Finalists also receive confidential, bespoke career transition support and aftercare courtesy of Sadler’s Wells.

BBC Young Dancer 2019: TV Broadcast Dates

Friday 19 April, BBC Four – South Asian Category Final
Friday 26 April, BBC Four – Contemporary Category Final
Friday 3 May, BBC Four – Ballet Category Final
Friday 10 May, BBC Four – Street Dance Category Final
Saturday 18 May, BBC Two – LIVE GRAND FINAL

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5th March 2019

BOVTS and NSCD alumni nominated for Olivier Awards 2019

Nominations for the Olivier Awards 2019 were announced today and we are delighted to see alumni from Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and Northern School of Contemporary Dance recognised in the nominations across four categories. Robert Hands (BOVTS) is nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical for his performance in Come […]

2nd March 2019

Central School of Ballet | Dance

Central School of Ballet announces the commencement of works at new South Bank premises following successful fundraising campaign

Central School of Ballet has announced the commencement of works for the bespoke fit-out of their new premises in London’s flourishing arts community on the South Bank in Southwark following a successful fundraising campaign. This is a £9million project that involves the full relocation of the school to its new premises including the fit-out of […]

This is a £9million project that involves the full relocation of the school to its new premises including the fit-out of the building. In March 2017 Central announced a campaign to raise £6million to finance the development and now, less than two years later, under £1million is required for the final stages of the Paris Gardens building. Support to date has come from individuals, major Trusts and Foundations and from two loans; £3million from Southwark Council and £600,000 from the Arts Impact Fund. Fundraising continues in earnest to repay the two loans.

Students on Central’s undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes will begin using the new South Bank premises during the academic year 2019/20.

The new Paris Gardens premises will feature amenities to rival dance training facilities anywhere in the UK; seven studios, a fully-equipped studio theatre, study and resource centres. The fit-out will include a state-of-the-art health suite providing psychology, nutrition, physiotherapy, Pilates and recovery from injury programme. The aim is to become a hub for a dynamic dance community combining excellence in dance training for those aiming for a professional career and a programme of opportunities for the local Southwark community.

Central currently runs a thriving community at its current premises in Clerkenwell. Over 1,200 people use Central’s facilities each week; from students training for a professional career in dance to children taking their first steps in ballet and adults using dance to improve fitness and wellbeing. The new premises in the South Bank will over the next five years allow the school to offer dance classes to thousands more in the Southwark area and give the local community opportunity to see and take part in dance and other performances in the new Studio Theatre alongside a range of other programmes in the building.

Heidi Hall, Director of Central School of Ballet, said: “The response to the capital campaign to finance our move announced less than two years ago has been exceptional. It has been most encouraging that organisations and individual arts enthusiasts believe in our ambition for wider access to dance for the public and improved training facilities for those aiming for a professional dance career. I am particularly grateful to Cllr Peter John and Southwark Council for their interest in and support of Central’s work, and to all our loyal supporters who have believed in our passion and determination to deliver this project.”

Cllr Peter John, Leader of Southwark Council, said: “This is wonderful news and we look forward to seeing the finished building and officially welcoming the Central School of Ballet as part of Southwark’s growing reputation as a cultural destination. It is one of our key commitments that local people are able to benefit from the regeneration happening across the borough, and as well as offering local people access to world class entertainment, the school is already running a satellite Ballet school at the Alfred Salter school which has been established since 2012 in anticipation of their move.”

Seva Phillips, Head of Arts & Culture Finance, Nesta commented: “Central School of Ballet’s continued fundraising success will mean that more young people will be able to benefit from the majesty of ballet for many years to come. The state-of-the-art Paris Gardens building will also be springboard for professional dancers, making an important contribution to London’s thriving artistic and cultural ecosystem. Through the Arts Impact Fund’s involvement with this project, we have been keen to demonstrate the value of social investment to long-standing cultural institutions embedded in their communities.”

[Image: Central School of Ballet dance student Erin King (17) poses for a photograph at their new premises on London’s South Bank, Feb 20, 2019. Photograph by Paul Hackett]

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1st March 2019

Alumni round up – March 2019

Joanna Riding (BOVTS) stars in Follies at the National Theatre, playing until 11 May. Richard Alston Dance Company tour this month to Sadlers Wells, Octagon Theatre Yeovil, Exeter Northcott and Virginia Arts Festival, with company dancers Ellen Yilma (LCDS), Jennifer Hayes (NSCD), Monique Jonas, Nicolas Shikkis, Melissa Braithwaite and Jason Tucker (Rambert School). Stuart Waters […]

Joanna Riding (BOVTS) stars in Follies at the National Theatre, playing until 11 May.

Richard Alston Dance Company tour this month to Sadlers Wells, Octagon Theatre Yeovil, Exeter Northcott and Virginia Arts Festival, with company dancers Ellen Yilma (LCDS), Jennifer Hayes (NSCD), Monique Jonas, Nicolas Shikkis, Melissa Braithwaite and Jason Tucker (Rambert School).

Stuart Waters (NSCD) presents Rockbottom, touring this month to Brighton Marlborough Pub & Theatre, Oxford Old Fire Station and Prema Arts Centre.

BalletBoyz present Them/Us at Sadlers Wells from 5 – 9 March, with company dancers Benjamin Knapper, Bradley Waller (Rambert) and Liam Riddick (LCDS).

James Cousins (LCDS) presents Epilogues at The Place from 6 – 8 March. The company features dancers Lisa Welham (NSCD), Chihiro Kawasaki, Gareth Mole (LCDS) and Georges Hann (Rambert).

Natalie Reckert (National Centre for Circus Arts) features in A Taste of Berlin at Jacksons Lane on 7 March.

Rudolphe Mdlongwa (BOVTS) features in Barber Shop Chronicles, at Royal Exchange Manchester from 7 March and then on tour.

Alexander Mushore (BOVTS) features in the RSC’s The Taming of the Shrew, at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, 8 March – 31 August.

Northern Ballet are on tour with Victoria from 9 March – 1 June. The company features Central School of Ballet graduates Rachael Gillespie, Ashley Dixon, Hannah Bateman, Harriet Marden, Harris Beattie, Ayca Anil, and Apprentices Matthew Morrell and Julie Nunes.

Ballet Black perform at the Barbican from 14 – 17 March, with a programme including choreography by company dancer Mthuthuzeli November (Central), Martin Lawrence (LCDS), and Sophie Laplane, current student on the MA Choreography at Central School of Ballet.

Erin Doherty (BOVTS) features in Wolfie at Theatre503 from 20 March – 13 April.

The Place presents an evening with LCDS alumnus Anthony Van Laast on 21 March.

Patfield & Triguero (National Centre for Circus Arts) present Gibbon at Jacksons Lane on 27 March.

Billy Howle (BOVTS) features in BBC Two drama MotherFatherSon, now airing Wednesdays at 9pm.

[Image: Patfield & Triguero – Gibbon]

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26th February 2019

NSCD | Dance | Alumni | Awards

NSCD alumnus Akram Khan wins eighth National Dance Award

Congratulations to Northern School of Contemporary Dance alumnus Akram Khan, who has won a record eighth National Dance Award for his performance in XENOS. The Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards for 2018 were presented this month at a ceremony in London’s Barbican, hosted by Mbulelo Ndabeni and Cira Robinson. Conservatoire school graduates received ten nominations […]

25th February 2019

BOVTS | Drama | Alumni | Awards

BOVTS alumna Olivia Colman wins the Oscar for Best Actress

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

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

The Favourite has won widespread praise from film critics and also picked up several BAFTA and Golden Globe awards. 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 affections.

Commenting on her win, Olivia said: “This is hilarious!”. She also commented on the future for anyone at home dreaming of such a win, “Any little girl who’s practising their speech on the telly – you never know!”

Olivia trained at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, graduating in 1999 from the Professional Acting course. Speaking to Lizo Mzimba, the BBC’s Entertainment Correspondent, Pam Rudge, Head of Music and Singing, who taught Olivia, expressed her delight: “It’s lovely for an alumni to have won such a prestigious award. Personally, it’s lovely because I taught her and remember her as a student; she was mischievous, she had a twinkle in her eye and she was always fun to have in the room.” Pam also commented on Olivia’s generous spirit and ability to empathise with the characters she played, adding “she had an immediacy with any script she was given.”

BOVTS students have also spoken of the “buzzing” atmosphere today when the news spread and of the inspiration Olivia has provided. Speaking to the BBC about the impact Olivia’s win has had on students at the School, final year acting student Moronké Akinola said “It’s inspiring to know that Olivia has opened a gateway for women to come out and be as real as they can with how they look, how they act, and to be truthful to themselves.”

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.

Olivia joins Sir Daniel-Day Lewis and Jeremy Irons to become the School’s third Oscar-winning acting alumnus. Artistic Director Jenny Stephens added: “We are delighted that Olivia is getting the recognition that she so thoroughly deserves. She is a great credit to our school.”

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Conservatoire graduates feature in BBC Arts #DancePassion Live

Alumni round up – April 2019

Virtual Conservatoire delivers simultaneous performances of Otis and Eunice across two cities

BOVTS alumnus Alex Jennings nominated for BAFTA Television Award

Students announced as Category Finalists for BBC Young Dancer 2019

Category Finals and Grand Final

BOVTS and NSCD alumni nominated for Olivier Awards 2019

Central School of Ballet announces the commencement of works at new South Bank premises following successful fundraising campaign

Alumni round up – March 2019

NSCD alumnus Akram Khan wins eighth National Dance Award

BOVTS alumna Olivia Colman wins the Oscar for Best Actress

Conservatoire in Action