“Across the eight pieces of dance, and their different dance styles, what remains a constant pleasure is the skill and dedication of the New English Ballet Theatre dancers.” – Seen and Heard International
Genesis Dance Project and New Works
Performed in October & November 2023.
Choreography by Ruth Brill, Daniela Cardim, Wayne Eagling, Peter Leung, Kristen McNally and Valentino Zucchetti
New Works
Baroque meets contemporary ballet in Baroque Encounters, a new work by one of our Associate Choreographers, NEBT’s Assistant Director Daniela Cardim, set to music by Johann Sebastian Bach. This commission follows the great international acclaim she achieved in 2022 for her choreographies Stabat Mater and Reset, which she created for Poznań Opera Ballet, Poland, and West Australian Ballet.
“Cardim … chose beautiful harpsichord music by Bach and her choreography for seven dancers was rich in imagery and musicality and elegantly layered with exquisite transitions. April Dalton’s long red skirts for both men and women enhanced the movement’s slick flow.” Bachtrack
“Baroque Encounters is a lovely watch and made for a fine opening.” Seeing Dance
All in Passing by British choreographer / stage director and House of Makers’ Director Peter Leung explores the way relationships shift and change with the passing of time, accompanied by an atmospheric electronic score by Nicholas Thayer.
“Leung’s language communicates as a successful hybrid of classical principles and modern approaches. He has a gift for making movement connect and flow.” Broadway World
Genesis Dance Project
The world premiere of the electrifying Genesis Dance Project formed the second half of the programme, a collection of works by four different choreographers set to music by the legendary band Genesis.
Created with the band’s generous permission, this new dance suite showcases six of Genesis’ most popular songs, ranging from their 1970s prog-rock era to some of their 1990s chart topping tunes.
I Can’t Dance
Choreography: Kristen McNally
“… witty work of Kristen McNally who choreographed a slinky Pan’s People number to the memorable Phil Collins’ vocals of I Can’t Dance … Her tight formation of rocking, sinuous movement fitted the song like a close-fitting glove.” Bachtrack
Ripples
Choreography: Wayne Eagling
“Ripples is … a super trio for Ana Freire, Eric Caterer-Cave and Nicholas Vavrečka in which the dance surfs the music with Freire often carried by the two men … It’s a fine, very musical piece of choreography.” Seeing Dance
The Cinema Show
Choreography: Ruth Brill
“If I had to pick a favourite, I’d plump for ‘The Cinema Show’, whose lyrics told a mini story in any event, capitalised on by Ruth Brill’s choreography and Lou Cope’s dramaturgy.” London Theatre
Invisible Touch
Choreography: Kristen McNally
“… outstanding … Genevieve Heron and Nicholas Vavrečka traverse the stage in various angular lines of close formation but without ever touching as if kept apart by an invisible magnetic force. It was a fascinating example of pop choreography, superbly performed.” Bachtrack
Firth of Fifth
Choreography: Valentino Zucchetti
“Valentino Zucchetti’s aim … is to re-create ‘that after-party atmosphere you get once the club shuts down’. He achieves this most effectively during Steve Hackett’s extended guitar solo towards the end, when Andrew Ellis makes the lights go red and dancers stand at the sides of the stage watching other dancers, as they do in the work of Alexei Ratmansky and Kenneth MacMillan.” See and Heard International
Genesis Dance Project and New Works
See our 2023 company of dancers
Baroque Encounters
Choreography: Daniela Cardim
Music: Johann Sebastian Bach
Costume Design: April Dalton
Lighting Design: Andrew Ellis
All in Passing
Choreography: Peter Leung
Music: Nicholas Thayer
Costume Design: Peter Leung and Sara Mackenzie
Lighting Design: Andrew Ellis
Watcher of the Skies
Choreography: Wayne Eagling
Music: Genesis
Costume Design: Nina Kobiashvili
Lighting Design: Andrew Ellis
I Can’t Dance
Choreography: Kristen McNally
Music: Genesis
Costume Design: Nina Kobiashvili
Lighting Design: Andrew Ellis
Ripples
Choreography: Wayne Eagling
Music: Genesis
Costume Design: Nina Kobiashvili
Lighting Design: Andrew Ellis
The Cinema Show
Choreography: Ruth Brill
Music: Genesis
Costume Design: Nina Kobiashvili
Lighting Design: Andrew Ellis
Invisible Touch
Choreography: Kristen McNally
Music: Genesis
Costume Design: Nina Kobiashvili
Lighting Design: Andrew Ellis
Firth of Fifth
Choreography: Valentino Zucchetti
Music: Genesis
Costume Design: Nina Kobiashvili
Lighting Design: Andrew Ellis
Schedule
29th & 30th September, All in Passing premiere at Ballet Nights, Lantern Studio Theatre
14th October, preview performance, Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance
19th October, Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch
2nd & 3rd November, Lilian Baylis Theatre at Sadler’s Wells
For this season, we gratefully acknowledge support from
Sue Butcher for Baroque Encounters, Karen Storey for All in Passing and Deborah Loeb Brice for the Genesis Dance Project.
