 Dance
I`ve been inspired by the world of Dance and all its diversity for many years and have enjoyed the privilege of working with many principal dancers in the classical, traditional and contemporary disciplines.
BALLET
My experiences with classical ballet started with the Royal Ballet principal dancer Miyako Yoshida whilst she was working with the Birmingham Royal Ballet and later with the world famous ballerina Darcey Bussell. Their commitment and dedication to the perfection of their art stimulated me into endeavoring to capture the exquisite grace, line and beauty of dancers in rehearsal and performance.
CONTEMPORARY DANCE
I experienced the dynamic energy of contemporary dance whilst working with Rambert Dance particularly the extraordinary creativity of choreographers Christopher Bruce and Wayne McGregor.
FLAMENCO FUSION
I was invited to the Royal Albert Hall to witness the sensation that is Joaquín Cortés on his first UK tour. The classically trained dance prodigy emerged in his early twenties to revolutionize the look sound and style of Flamenco.
CLASSICAL INDIAN DANCE
Due to the meteoric rise in interest in the UK of the phenomenon that is Bollywood I decided to research Indian dance. During 1999 I was introduced to Sonia Sabri and Chitraleka Bolar the two leading interpreters of Classical Indian Dance.
The following are examples of new and relatively recent work in various mediums. Availability is indicated on enlargements.
QUANTUM LEAPS
Birmingham Royal Ballet`s 2009 - 10 season heralds the start of celebrations to commemorate the company`s 20 years in the city.The season opened with BRB`s triple bill `Quantum Leaps`. Three strongly contrasting ballets beginning with the fluid and sensual `Powder` followed by the intriguing and exhilarating `E=mc²` and finally the very contemporary and dramatic `The Centre and its Opposite`.
POWDER
First conceived and choreographed in 1998 by the Australian choreographer Stanton Welch.
This 18th century-meets-modern day fantasia is set to Mozart`s Clarinet Concerto in A major. Welch described the ballet as loosely based on the idea that the muses that inspired Mozart were given new life each time the music was played.
`There was clearly a sadness and a passion and a sex to it but there was also a twinkle in his eye`
The ballet is fluid and sensual, celebrating nostalgia, beauty and joy.
  
 
  
  
E =mc²
This brand new ballet choreographed by David Bintley had its World Premiere in September 2009. Inspired by Einstein`s `Theory of Relativity` Bintley, a choreographer in his prime, is attempting to stretch and challenge himself. The ballet evokes the component elements of the equation broken into four parts.
`E` for energy, musically colossal and extremely powerful.
`M` for mass, exploring gravity, heaviness, slowness and stillness.
`Manhattan Project` featuring an all-white Geisha with a red fan dancing traditionally while a huge theatre-shaking explosion rumbles on and finally
`C` for celeritas, speed of light, squared.
The whole being a ballet of breathtaking energy and speed.
   
  
 
  
THE CENTRE AND ITS OPPOSITE
A new work by internationally acclaimed contemporary choreographer Garry Stewart, Artistic Director of the Australian Dance Theatre.
Aiming to push dance beyond its conventional limits it`s probably the most extreme piece the BRB has ever done. The result is a very exciting, stylish and dramatic piece set to a rhythmically powerful electronic soundscape.
The audience is presented with an intense explosion of rapid fire classical ballet fused with hard-edged contemporary dance.
  
 
MOZARTIANA
Georges Balanchine`s Mozartiana is a sparkling piece of classical dance to similarly effervescent music from the great ballet composer Pyotr Illyich Tchaikovsky in his homage to Mozart. Premiered in 1981 towards the end of Balnchine`s career, this is clearly the work of a master of his art, who truly deserves the accolade of `Father of the modern ballet`.
   
  
  
THE KIROV BALLET
Arguably one of the greatest ballet companies in the world The Marinsky Ballet was founded in the 19th century. More popularly known by their soviet name The Kirov the company is based in The Marinsky Theatre St Petersburg Russia. Their tour of Great Britain in 2008 allowed us to experience some of their great classical ballet traditions.
KINGDOM OF THE SHADES
(Act 111 from La Bayadere)
Choreographed originally by the fabled Marius Petipa, La Bayadere is the story of an Indian temple dancer betrayed by her love Solar. She is killed by a bite from a venomous snake and he dreams that her ghost dances in the Himalayan forest known as The Kingdom of the Shades.
  
JEWELS
A three- act abstract ballet choreographed by George Balanchine depicting three gems, Emeralds, Rubies and Diamonds.
 
DIVERTISSEMENTS
A selection of solo performances demonstrating ballet bravura and technique.
   
STRAVINSKY - A CELEBRATION - 2007
Part of a collaboration between Birmingham Royal Ballet, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Birmingham arts companies to perform all the work of Igor Stravinsky in a series of ballets and concerts from 2005 to 2009.
  
 
THE TWO PIGEONS
Sir Frederick Ashton`s romantic ballet at its most charming, based on a fable by La Fontaine, it tells the story of young love tempted to stray and of homecoming and forgiveness.
   
VOCES Y ECOS (Voices & Echoes)
Flamenço from the world famous Paco Pena Dance Company. Studies and paintings from their UK Tour during 2004.
  
  
ARTHUR
A ballet that tells the story of Camelot and the tragic love triangle between Arthur, Guinevere and Lancelot. Created by David Bintley with Costumes by Jasper Conran.
   
CARMINA BURANA
A gripping morality play for our times, based on the Opera by Carl Orff, Choreography by David Bintley, performed by BRB.
 
 
FAÇADE
Based on Edith Sitwell`s deliciously nonsensical poetry, Ashton`s ballet embraces the fun of it all with wholehearted and wilful abandon.
 
  
POWDER
Performed by the Royal Ballet, Stanton Welch`s ballet brilliantly celebrates nostalgia, beauty and joy.
 
ROMEO & JULIET
The impetuous passion of Shakespeare`s star-cross`d lovers pulls at our heart strings. Kenneth McMillan`s majestic production performed by the Royal Ballet.
   
New release of studio editions
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