Birmingham Royal Ballet and National Ballet of Canada Strengthen International Relationship with Don Quixote

NBC Principal Dancer Genevieve Penn Nabity and BRB Principal Dancer Mathias Dingman rehearsed and performed together for the first time in this run of Carlos Acosta's Don Quixote. Here's what they have to say about their experience.

It’s been an incredible experience. The process was much easier than I expected, largely because Matt [Mathias Dingman] is such a brilliant partner. We very quickly understood how each other dances and were able to read one another, which is something that usually takes much longer when learning how someone prefers to be partnered. 

It’s also been wonderful being in Birmingham and exploring a new place. Everyone at BRB has been so kind and welcoming, helping me find my way around, and the studios are beautiful. I’ve really enjoyed rehearsing and performing here.

Genevieve Penn Nabity, NBC Principal Dancer

What I’ve especially enjoyed about guesting and exchanging partners has been experiencing different styles of dance and new ways of moving. Each company performs the same steps and shares the same language, but the way the dancers move, hold their bodies and execute those steps can feel completely different.

I had watched Gen [Genevieve Penn Nabity] dance when I guested with NBC in 2023, so I already had a sense of what to expect when she came to Birmingham. We had a busy week of rehearsals that went really well, and we grew more and more accustomed to each other as the process continued. The performances themselves were very rewarding, and it was wonderful to reconnect after performing in Toronto with NBC – an experience I truly valued.

Mathias Dingman, BRB Princpal Dancer

NBC Principal Dancer Siphesihle November and BRB Principal Dancer Momoko Hirata first danced together as Basilio and Kitri during NBC’s 2023 performances of Carlos Acosta’s Don Quixote. They have now reunited to perform the title roles in BRB’s current run. Here’s what they have to say about their experience.

I made my debut as Basilio in Carlos Acosta’s Don Quixote with Momoko in Toronto 2023, so returning to the role alongside her feels like a wonderful opportunity to reflect on how I’ve grown since that first performance. It's also been special to deepen our partnership and continue getting to know one another as dancers, which makes the storytelling and flow of the performance feel much more natural.

I love this production because it is so full of life. It’s incredibly vibrant – not only in the choreography, but in the spirit of the work itself, with the use of voice, musicians and instruments on stage. It creates a truly immersive experience for the audience. It’s rare to find a ballet that is both technically demanding and filled with such joy, and that’s what makes this production so special to me.

Everyone at BRB has been so kind and authentic, and they’ve made me feel genuinely welcome as a guest. Although the weather in Birmingham has been a little gloomy, this production feels like the sunshine everyone needs.

Siphesihle November, NBC Principal Dancer

Siphesihle and I previously danced together when Matt and I guested in Toronto in 2023, and it feels like it was only yesterday that we were performing there. Dancing together again has brought back many wonderful memories of my time with NBC and of sharing the stage with Siphesihle. Returning to the role of Kitri has felt easier this time, as we already have that experience of partnering one another.

I was here in Birmingham when Carlos first created Don Quixote for BRB, and although it was the same production when I performed it in Toronto, dancing with a new partner and within a different company made it feel like a completely fresh and exciting experience. I truly love performing this production. It is certainly challenging – not only for the Principal Dancers, but for the entire Company, as everyone is involved almost constantly and the dancing is non-stop. Yet alongside that technical demand is an overwhelming sense of joy, which is what makes this production so unique.

Momoko Hirata, BRB Principal Dancer

The dancers weren't the only ones to enjoy the guesting experience, as BRB CEO Paul James and Director Carlos Acosta joined NBC Executive Director Charlotte Geeves and Artistic Director Hope Muir for a cheerful breakfast, discussing the companies’ relationship and future plans.