English National Ballet - Swan Lake

Published on Mar 16, 2015

Rating:

Genre: NCPA

Dates: May 9-10, 2015

Prices: 180, 240, 300, 500, 600, 700, 800, 1000

Features: Beloved for its exquisite dancing, beautiful sets and Tchaikovsky's glorious music. From May 9th - May 10th, English National Ballet's acclaimed production of Swan Lake will be performing at Opera House of NCPA.

BRIEF INTRODUCTION

Choreographer - Derek Deane
Music - Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Costume Design - Peter Farmer
Lighting Design - Howard Harrison
With Symphony Orchestra of National Ballet of China

The story of Prince Siegfried's love for the Swan Queen Odette, their battle against the evil sorcerer, Rothbart, and a fateful encounter with the manipulative Odile is revealed in English National Ballet's acclaimed production of Swan Lake. Beloved for its exquisite dancing, beautiful sets and Tchaikovsky's glorious music, played by the Orchestra of National Ballet of China, this Swan Lake is a thrill for the dedicated ballet fan or first-time ballet-goer.

English National Ballet

Alicia Markova, Anton Dolin and Julian Braunsweg founded Festival Ballet in 1950. It arose from successful gala programmes featuring Markova and Dolin that had been presented throughout the previous year. The Company's original title was chosen by Markova to reflect the imminent Festival of Britain. From the start, touring throughout England has been at the heart of the Company's activities and from 1951 the Company has toured abroad on a regular basis. In 1951 the Company began touring both nationally and internationally. The first appearance in Manchester was on the 5 February 1951 at the Opera House which is where English National Ballet had been on the pre-company tour which consisted of the Gala Performances.

1988 saw the opening of English National Ballet School, (now in its own premises in Hortensia Road in Chelsea), to provide a dependable source of talent for the first time in its history. With the Company’s ability to field two tours at once and thus increase substantially the number of towns visited each year and a reduction in the length of its London Seasons, as well as changes in the funding system, it was decided in 1989 to change the Company's name to English National Ballet.

1997 also saw the start of a new relationship with the London Coliseum. After more than four decades of performing the annual Nutcracker seasons at the Royal Festival Hall, the Company moved its five-week Christmas Season to the London Coliseum, providing it with the opportunity to perform in the best venue for dance in London.

The 2001-02 season sees the start of a new era for English National Ballet as Matz Skoog and Christopher Nourse join Angela Rippon at the helm of the Company. They have exciting plans for the years ahead. The Company will however continue to tour throughout England performing in towns and cities including Manchester, Liverpool, Oxford, Bristol and Southampton. The original 1950s aspiration for the Company - to take popular ballet to the widest geographical audience at a price they can afford - remains as valid today as when first expressed by the Company's founders.

In 2006, Wayne Eagling took over as director of English National Ballet. In February 2012, Eagling announced his resignation. The company celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2010. Following Eagling’s leave in 2012, Tamara Rojo announced her return to English National Ballet as Artistic Director beginning in the Autumn 2012 season. Along with Tamara’s new position, the Company also began re-branding. George Williamson became Associate Artist of the company. His first commission for English National Ballet was The Firebird in March 2012 and his future works will include My First Ballet: Cinderella in 2013.