New dancers join Birmingham Royal Ballet

News and features index

News items

	On-line auction 2008 September 4, 2008
	Robert Parker to rejoin the Company August 20, 2008
	David Bintley on choreographic development July 28, 2008
	David Bintley on the programming process July 23, 2008
	Dancer galleries updated July 23, 2008
	Barry Wordsworth leaves Birmingham Royal Ballet July 18, 2008
	Company announcements July 15, 2008
	2007-08 comes to a close July 14, 2008
	Desmond Kelly Gala July 4, 2008
	Desmond Kelly Gala raffle results July 4, 2008
	David Bintley takes on role with New National Theatre, Tokyo June 26, 2008
	Christopher Barron adds to praise for Desmond Kelly June 26, 2008
	David Bintley on Desmond Kelly June 14, 2008
	On sale date for autumn performances in London June 13, 2008
	Individual tickets for 2008-09 Birmingham season on sale 2 June June 1, 2008
	David Bintley to speak at Ikon Gallery, Wednesday 4 June 2008 May 30, 2008
	London autumn dates confirmed May 29, 2008
	David Bintley praises increased fitness standards May 9, 2008
	2008 split tour comes to a close May 8, 2008
	Desmond Kelly OBE Appointed as Artistic Director of Elmhurst May 7, 2008
	Swan Lake greets Secretary of State for Culture April 10, 2008
	2008-09 repertory announced April 4, 2008
	Dancer promotions April 2, 2008
	Sunderland autumn season on sale from Tuesday 11 March March 7, 2008
	2008-09 Birmingham dates announced March 7, 2008
	Desmond Kelly Gala March 1, 2008
	Iain Mackay and Silvia Jimenez to leave Company after Swan Lake February 18, 2008
	New Bintley ballet to premiere in Japan February 11, 2008
	Desmond Kelly and Marion Tait judge Young Dancer Awards regional heat February 5, 2008
	Swan Lake debuts confirmed February 4, 2008
	All South-West and North-East tour dates on sale now February 1, 2008
	Company indicates further international intent January 31, 2008
	New dancers join Birmingham Royal Ballet January 31, 2008
	Dual success at National Dance Awards January 23, 2008
	Freefall season review December 15, 2007
	Christmas season comes to a close December 14, 2007
	Japan 2008 December 7, 2007
	April/May tour 2008 November 15, 2007
	Michael Corder: initial stages November 13, 2007
	Birmingham Royal Ballet appears on BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing November 1, 2007
	Michael Corder visit November 1, 2007
	Birmingham Royal Ballet awarded for 'Outstanding Achievement in Dance' October 22, 2007
	Company to return to Cardiff September 15, 2007
	Jenny Murphy joins BRB Education department September 6, 2007
	John Craxton oversees Daphnis and Chloë amends August 20, 2007
	Oxford 2008 dates now on sale August 11, 2007
	BRB dancers guesting at Royal Festival Hall June 22, 2007
	Travelling to see Birmingham Royal Ballet June 8, 2007
	Robert Parker's final performances confirmed May 31, 2007
	Ballet on the buses May 23, 2007
	Dynamic Dance designers May 14, 2007
	Company launches 2007-08 subscription season in Birmingham April 18, 2007
	Sunderland autumn season goes on sale March 12, 2007
	Plymouth autumn season announced February 27, 2007
	Additional choreographics participant confirmed February 22, 2007
	The show must go on! February 16, 2007
	Choreographics participants confirmed February 7, 2007
	Guests artists for spring season January 20, 2007
	Cyrano: setting the scene December 29, 2006
	Cyrano receives additional firepower December 26, 2006
	Cyrano swordplay December 22, 2006
	Further new choreography for 2007 December 21, 2006
	Curtain falls on most successful Nutcracker yet December 14, 2006
	2007 split tour confirmed December 13, 2006
	BRB dancers to choreograph in 2007 December 6, 2006
	Evening of Music and Dance 2007 December 7, 2006
	USA performances revealed December 7, 2006
	Ballet Hoo! rebroadcast December 5, 2006
	Nutcracker breaks own box office record December 1, 2006
	All Spring 2007 tour dates now on sale December 1, 2006
	BRB receives nominations for classical output November 22, 2006
	Ballet Hoo! Phase 3 November 20, 2006
	Cyrano: early stages October 20, 2006
	Ballet Hoo! graduation October 19, 2006
	Nutcracker gala presentation October 9, 2006
	BRB nominated for TMA Award October 6, 2006
	Lady MacMillan's Ballet Hoo! speech September 30, 2006
	David Bintley's Ballet Hoo! speech September 30, 2006
	David Bintley leads Ballet Hoo! applause September 29, 2006
	Ballet Hoo! - the final stage September 28, 2006

Features
Interviews and background articles.

Press releases
Read BRB's current press releases

Reviews
Look up external reviews and articles on the Company.

Discussion forum
Join in the discussions on Birmingham Royal Ballet and its performances, hosted by ballet.co.uk

New dancers join Birmingham Royal Ballet

January 31, 2008

Birmingham Royal Ballet welcomes two new dancers this season. Matthew Lawrence joins as Principal, and Gaylene Cummerfield as Senior Soloist. Both join from the Australian Ballet.

Speaking of the appointment Company Director David Bintley described both performers as 'strong, experienced and hard working'. He praised the Australian Ballet's own high standards, and expressed confidence that the new dancers would fit in very well with Birmingham Royal Ballet due to the similarities between the two Companies.

'It's hard to explain exactly' he said, 'but there's a family resemblance between these Companies, and I think that we share a lot of similarities in our training and in our performance styles. When you think of the early days of Birmingham Royal Ballet, then Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet, a high percentage of the makeup was dancers from Australasia, from Canada, from South Africa. There was a way of approaching ballet that was common amongst these dancers which I think remains, even to this day.

Referring to his own commitment to nurture young talent, David commented: 'The signing of these dancers in no way affects the policy I have pursued over the past few years to bring on talent through the ranks; that will continue to the highest levels, and is I believe the best way to build a Company.'

The new dancers will make their debuts in the Company's forthcoming performances of Swan Lake at Birmingham Hippodrome. More details of the performances, and the rest of the spring UK tour, can be found by clicking here.

ENDS