HOME FROM HOME
We're working hard to create new content and re-share some of our favourites from past years to help keep you entertained during #selfisolation.
We're posting highlights below, but you can keep up to date with everything by following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Or Else We Are Lost is a new work created by Kit Holder, Dan Lowenstein and Tom Rogers. It speaks to both the frustration of enforced confinement and the necessity of dancing.
The film features Birmingham Royal Ballet dancers Céline Gittens and Max Maslen with an electronic score by Dave Crowe. Creative team Kit Holder, Tom Rogers and Dan Lowenstein.
Alone I Together - a short dance film
Premiered on 29 April 2020 to mark #InternationalDanceDay
Creative Director Tom Rogers; Choreographer Kit Holder; Editor Dan Lowenstein
#SundaySoundtrack
In the first of a new series from colleagues across the Company, the Royal Ballet Sinfonia's First Trombone Amos Miller shares his Isolation Playlist. 'I am totally obsessed with listening, and have compiled around 50 playlists so far. This one for Birmingham Royal Ballet is a stream-of-thought “first-come, first-served” of music I have been loving recently.'
#SundaySoundtrack
Continuing our series of #SundaySoundtrack Isolation Playlists, Royal Ballet Sinfonia Principal Tuba David Gordon-Shute talks us through his selection.
#SundaySoundtrack
Royal Ballet Sinfonia Second Violin Robert Simmons talks us through his selection. 'I could have made this a double album for sure! I think it’s eclectic and I hope you enjoy it. Music makes a difference and I’m missing playing with the Sinfonia and Birmingham Royal Ballet.'
Beauty and the Beast:
A lovely rehearsal clip from David Bintley's glorious Gothic ballet production Beauty and the Beast, danced by Principal Dancer Brandon Lawrence and First Soloist Yvette Knight.
Cinderella: Act II pas de deux
Taking another look back at Sir David Bintley's Cinderella, this time with former dancers Jenna Roberts and William Bracewell rehearsing part of the gorgeous and wonderful Act II pas de deux.
The Shakespeare Suite: Romeo and Juliet
Take another look at Sir David Bintley's Duke Ellington inspired The Shakespeare Suite as former Principals Jenna Roberts and Jamie Bond rehearse the roles of Romeo and Juliet.
#BeRightBack
We have been touched by the many kind messages of solidarity and support from our friends across the UK, and beyond. Many have asked how they can help during this uncertain time. Donations to the #BeRightBack appeal will help enormously. Thank you for being with us.
Creating a storm: looking back at The Tempest
We're delighted to give you another opportunity to see the short documentary made in the lead up to the world premiere of Sir David Bintley's final work as Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet, The Tempest. Delve behind the scenes of a new three-act ballet and see choreography, music, design and lighting all come together into a brand-new ballet.
Looking back to Ballet Hoo!
Birmingham Royal Ballet's extraordinary, ground-breaking 2006 project, Ballet Hoo! Ballet Changed My Life, proof, if any were needed, of the power of dance to change lives. Filmed by Channel4 as a four-part documentary, more than 60 young people stayed with the project through to the final stage: a slightly adapted, but unforgettable performance of Romeo and Juliet with full sets, costumes and orchestra, and with the great majority of the roles danced by the young people themselves.
We were thrilled to collaborate with award-winning choreographer/director Corey Baker and Hong Kong Ballet on this new dance film, Spaghetti Junction, launched on 22 April to celebrate Earth Day 2020. Filmed on location beneath Birmingham’s (in)famous interchange Spaghetti Junction, the film brings attention to the climate change crisis. It features our own Augustus Payne and Haoliang Feng alongside Forrest Rain Oliveros from Hong Kong Ballet #SpaghettiJunctionDanceFilm
Director/Choreographer Corey Baker
Music FKJ, Lying Together (Interlude)
Supported by Arts Council England, West Midlands Growth Company, Birmingham Hippodrome, Southside BID
Giselle Makeup Challenge
As part of last year's World Ballet Day, First Artists Alys Shee and Daria Stanciulescu went head to head in a Giselle-inspired makeup challenge.
Who would reign supreme? Watch to find out!
Edward II
On 15 April 1995, Stuttgart Ballet gave the world premiere of Sir David Bintley's epic Edward II, with a score by the late John McCabe.
Here we look back at the ballet as danced by Birmingham Royal Ballet, including members of the original UK cast.
Music performed by the Royal Ballet Sinfonia and Barry Wordsworth, and used by kind permission of Hyperion Records.
Rehearsing The Dream
#ThrowbackThursday We're throwing back over a decade, to 2009, when Dame Antoinette Sibley and Sir Anthony Dowell joined us to coach Oberon and Titania, the roles they originally created for Sir Frederick Ashton in The Dream.
This seven-minute film features former Principals Natasha Oughtred and Joseph Caley, and is introduced by Assistant Director (then Ballet Mistress) Marion Tait.
Llinos Owen plays Bach
Continuing our celebrations of the music of J.S. Bach, Llinos Owen, of Birmingham Royal Ballet's Royal Ballet Sinfonia, recorded an arrangement of the Courante from his First Cello Suite on her Contra Bassoon.
Pavane pas de deux
This beautiful rehearsal from 2013 of Sir Kenneth MacMillan's exquisite, tranquil Pavane pas de deux features former Principals Jenna Roberts and Iain Mackay. We hope it gives you a moment of peace as the bank holiday comes to an end.
La Fille mal gardée
We can't promise you any Easter eggs, but there are chickens aplenty in this clip from Frederick Ashton's La Fille mal gardée.
Watch our HOME FROM HOME: THE SWAN by clicking the play button above. Or catch up with our HOME FROM HOME, Ballet Class: LIVE broadcast here.
Slaughter on Tenth Avenue
This excerpt from a 2014 stage rehearsal of George Balanchine's Slaughter on Tenth Avenue features Samara Downs and Lachlan Monaghan.
Hobson's Choice
This clip from David Bintley's Hobson's Choice features the original cast of Michael O'Hare as Will Mossop and Karen Donovan as Maggie Hobson.
Click to watch.
#BeRightBack
We have been touched by the many kind messages of solidarity and support from our friends across the UK, and beyond. Many have asked how they can help during this uncertain time. Donations to the #BeRightBack appeal will help enormously. Thank you for being with us.
Robert Gibbs, Leader of the Royal Ballet Sinfonia, plays Bach's Chacona in D minor: Allemande; Courante; Sarabande; Gigue. The final movement will be added here as it is published.