Information For Schools Booklet - Yorkshire

National Tour Partner

Dance Autumn 2009

Northern Ballet Theatre Tour Venues

Welcome to Northern Ballet Theatre

At Northern Ballet Theatre (NBT) we are passionate about dance and giving young people the opportunity to access high quality dance education. We believe that participation in dance helps people to become confident with their bodies, communicate with others and be creative. Enabling young people to access dance is at the heart of NBT’s work and we are proud to be able to offer schools and community groups the opportunities available in this brochure. We have an enthusiastic and highly skilled Learning & Access team who have experience of delivering dance nationally and internationally to a wide range of people of all ages and abilities. West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds

Dance is for all, get moving and join in the fun.

Selina McGonagle Director of Learning & Access

David Nixon Artistic Director

LEARNING & ACCESS

imagine discover

enjoy

A creature who should inspire repulsion in every living thing, but who has seduced countless generations. David Nixon’s ballet reveals the tormented world of the immortal Count. Images and moments from Bram Stoker’s legendary novel are brought alive in sensuous and sinister dance and theatre uncovering our most basic desires and fears. Not suitable for under 12s. Touring to Leeds

As children Cathy and Heathcliff are inseperable, running wild and free on the Yorkshire moors, but over time their childish affection deepens into a passionate and obsessive love. With an original score by celebrated composer Claude-Michel Schönberg (Les Miserables, Miss Saigon) see this turbulent love story brought to life in NBT’s adaptation of Emily Brontë’s romantic masterpiece. A Christmas treat for everyone, A Christmas Carol combines traditional ballet and captivating theatre in a production that has delighted NBT audiences for over a decade. Colourful sets and costumes, conjuring up a traditional Victorian Christmas, are perfectly complemented by Carl Davis’ festive score, which blends classical music, played live by the Northern Ballet Theatre Orchestra, with well-known Christmas carols sung by the Company.

Touring to Bradford

A

Christmas

Touring to Sheffield & Leeds

Northern Ballet Theatre is a touring ballet company whose distinctive blend of classical dance and theatre is renowned for captivating audiences across the UK. The Learning & Access team work to widen the enjoyment of dance and increase appreciation of NBT. We aim to give everyone access to dance through a variety of opportunities including: workshops in schools and communities, professional performances and activities in theatres and resources on our website.

Escape to Neverland with NBT… Join Wendy, John, and Michael as they soar into the night sky with Peter, to a magical land of mermaids and fairy dust, where children can fly and adventures happen every day. But beware – danger is just around the corner; Captain Hook and the pirates are looking for revenge and Peter Pan is top of their list. Touring to Leeds

Get Closer Events Our Get Closer events offer you the chance to learn more about the productions and provide greater access to dance. Turn overleaf to see which of the following talks and events are available at your nearest theatre:

Pre-performance Talks Find out more about the production and the Company from NBT staff.

Ballet Explored – Great Collaborations An informal talk and introduction to the production and the Company, focusing on the Company’s history of successful artistic collaborations, and the chance to watch the dancers’ daily class on stage.

Open Adult Workshop A chance to be creative and learn some of the repertoire from the production, led by an NBT Dance Artist and accompanied by live music. No experience is required.

Production Event A unique half hour event, giving an insight into how the production is created. Meet our technical team and find out more about sound, lighting and set. Free to school groups with a ticket to a performance.

A Christmas Carol Family Fun Day Creative fun for the whole family. Dance and music workshops based on the magical production of A Christmas Carol, led by an NBT Dance Artist and accompanied by live music. Children must be accompanied by a participating adult and no experience is required.

Open Day Celebrate NBT’s 40th Anniversary with this free open day including talks about the Company, movement workshops, a chance to watch the dancers’ class,

and a book and poster signing by NBT dancers. Refreshments and birthday cake will be available to buy throughout the day.

Wuthering Heights Workshop Weekend A weekend of creative activities based on Wuthering Heights for young people aged 12 – 16. Including dance workshops led by NBT Dance Artists and accompanied by live music, and a ticket to see the matinee performance of Wuthering Heights.

Tinkerbell Magic Workshop A fun and creative movement workshop for under 5s. Led by an NBT Dance Artist and accompanied by live music, little Tinkerbells will get their chance to shine. No experience is required. Children must be accompanied by a participating adult.

Peter Pan Fun Days Creative fun for the whole family. Choose from either the ‘Pirates and Lost Boys’ or ‘Journey to Neverland’ movement workshops followed by a craft workshop. Led by an NBT Dance Artist and accompanied by live music, children must be accompanied by a participating adult. No experience is required.

Touch Tour and Workshop for the visually impaired A chance to walk on stage and get close to the set and the costumes. Then learn movement from the production with the help of some of our dancers. The workshop is accompanied by live music and is free of charge to visually impaired people and their companion.

Audio Described Performance Hear the action on stage described live through headphones.

Leeds, West Yorkshire Playhouse

Sheffield, Lyceum Theatre

Box Office: 0113 213 7700 www.wyp.org.uk School tickets: Groups of 10+, £10 each. Mon – Fri eves. 1 teacher free with every 10 pupils.

Box Office: 0114 249 6000 www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk School tickets: Groups 10+, £8.50 each, Tue, Wed & Thu only. 1 teacher free with every 10 pupils.

Dracula

A Christmas Carol

Open Day Sat 12 Sep, 10am – 1.30pm. Free

Open Adult Workshop Mon 9 Nov, 6.30 – 8pm. Cost £8. (Participants receive a £5 discount on ticket price to see the performance Tue – Thu eve.) Ballet Explored – Great Collaborations Thu 12 Nov, 11.15am – 12.45pm. Cost £3.50

Thu 10 – Sat 19 September Eves: 7.30pm Mats: Sat 12 & Sat 19 2pm

Open Adult Workshop Mon 14 Sep, 6.30 – 8pm. Cost £8 Pre-performance Talk Thu 17 Sep, 6.30 – 7pm. Free Touch Tour and Workshop for the visually impaired Sat 19 Sep, 10.30am – 1pm. Free Audio Described Performance Sat 19 Sep, 2pm

Bradford, Alhambra Theatre Box Office: 01274 432 000 www.bradford-theatres.co.uk School tickets: Wed eve, groups of 10+, £7.50 each in rear stalls or upper circle. Thu mat, groups of 10+, £6 each. 1 teacher free with every 10 pupils.

Wuthering Heights

Tue 20 – Sat 24 October Eves: 7.30pm Mats: Thu 2pm & Sat 2.30pm Ballet Explored – Great Collaborations Thu 22 Oct, 10.45 – 12.15pm. Cost £3.50 Production Event Thu 22 Oct, post matinee performance. School groups only. Free Pre-performance Talk Thu 22 Oct, 6.30 – 7pm. Free Touch Tour and Workshop for the visually impaired Sat 24 Oct, 10.30am – 1pm. Free Audio Described Performance Sat 24 Oct, 2.30pm Wuthering Heights Workshop Weekend Sat 24 & Sun 25 Oct, 10am – 3pm. Ages 12 – 16. Cost £25 incl. Sat matinee ticket.

Tue 10 – Sat 14 November Eves: 7.30pm Mats: Thu & Sat 2.30pm

Pre-performance Talk Thu 12 Nov, 6.15 – 6.45pm. Free Production Event Thu 12 Nov, post matinee performance. School groups only. Free

Leeds, Grand Theatre Box Office: 0844 848 2701 www.leedsgrandtheatre.com School tickets: Groups 10+, £7.50 each in stalls, Wed eve and Thu mat only. 1 teacher free with every 10 pupils.

A Christmas Carol

Tue 1 – Thu 10 December Eves: 7pm Mats: Thu 3, Wed 9 & Thu 10, 2pm and Sun 6 4pm Ballet Explored – Great Collaborations Thu 3 Dec, 10.45am – 12.15pm. Cost £3.50 Pre-performance Talk Thu 3 Dec, 6 – 6.30pm. Free Family Fun Day Sat 5 Dec, 10am – 12.45pm. Ages 6+, to be accompanied by participating adult. Cost £7 per child, participating adults free. Touch Tour and Workshop for the visually impaired Wed 9 Dec, 10.30am – 1pm. Free Audio Described Performance Wed 9 Dec, 2pm Production Event Thu 10 Dec, post matinee performance. School groups only. Free

Peter Pan

Thu 17 – Sun 27 December Eves: 7pm Mats: Fri 18, Sat 19, Tue 22, Wed 23 & Thu 24 2pm and Sun 20 & 24 4pm There will be no performances on Mon 21 & Fri 25 and no eve performance on Thu 24 Tinkerbell Magic Workshop Fri 18 Dec, 10am – 12pm. Ages 5 and under, to be accompanied by participating adult. Cost £5 per child, participating adults free.

To book a place on any of the events, please call the relevant Box Office. All tickets may be subject to booking fee

Peter Pan Fun Day Sat 19 Dec, 10am – 12.45pm. Ages 8+, to be accompanied by participating adult. Cost £7 per child, participating adults free. Peter Pan Fun Day Tue 22 Dec, 10am – 12.45pm. Ages 8+, to be accompanied by participating adult. Cost £7 per child, participating adults free.

“They thoroughly enjoyed the workshops. They loved learning the repertoire and this made the theatre visit even more exciting.” A-Level teacher, Cardinal Newman College, Preston. The Nutcracker workshop

Workshops

Previous projects

A Northern Ballet Theatre repertoire workshop day is delivered by a dance artist, accompanied by a musician and consists of activity for one or two groups (up to 30 participants in each).

We are constantly investigating new ways to engage and inspire people to appreciate and participate in dance. We work with schools and organisations to create innovative education packages that meet the needs of the participants and the aims of NBT.

The workshops include a warm-up to introduce basic ballet technique, creative work based on the themes and characters from the production and a cool down. All workshops are tailored to the needs of your group and will challenge the participants physically and creatively. All our workshops are fully inclusive of pupils with disabilities. The cost of the day is £375 + VAT Affiliated schools price is £310 + VAT Affiliation is free and offers a closer link with NBT. To book a workshop or if you have ideas for a dance project please contact the Learning & Access team on 0113 274 5355.

You can also visit Learning & Access at our website www.northernballettheatre.co.uk for case studies of previous projects and teaching resources for our productions.

Shaping Space A cross-curricular dance and science project based on Key Stage 2 - the earth and the solar system.

Dancition A programme of work including teacher training, workshops, theatre visits and a dance festival aimed at easing the transition from primary to secondary school.

Talking Dance An inter-generational dance project for people with and without visual impairments.

What the teachers say... “Ballet! Science! It really helped to push the learning points through… this should be a must for every school.” Year 6 Class Teacher, Hawksworth Wood Primary School, Leeds. Shaping Space, Science and Dance Project.

“I enjoyed the insight into the ballet it helped so much with the appreciation of the performance.” Participant Ballet Explored, Get Closer Activity, Norwich.

Northern Ballet Theatre Learning & Access Department

West Park Centre Spen Lane Leeds West Yorkshire LS16 5BE 0113 274 5355 [email protected] www.northernballettheatre.co.uk Northern Ballet Theatre Registered Charity Number 259140 A Company limited by guarantee and share capital. Company Registration No: 947096 VAT No. 146 6307 66 Unless otherwise stated all workshop and ticket prices include VAT at 15% All information is correct at the time of printing but Northern Ballet Theatre reserves the right to make changes at any time. Workshop and production photos: HANSON, Brian Slater, Richard Farley, Tim Smith & Shelagh Ward.