northen ballet inside 7

insidethe magazine from Northern Ballet Theatre

NBT GALACELEBRATIONSin pictures

SIZE ISN’TEVERYTHINGthe vitality ofNBT’s perfectly

formed Orchestra

MATTHEW KOONNBT’s rising star

Issue 7 Spring 2010

issue 7

inside: NBTnews

2 Company News

4 NBT Alumni

6 NBT Gala Photo album

8 Size isn’t everythingNBT Orchestra profile

10 Pull-out-and-keepYour pull-out-and-keep schedule of

tour dates and Friends events

12 Friends of NBTMeet Judith Baker, NBT’s Friends and

Events Manager

14 A new home for danceAn update on developments

16Building partnershipsLearning & Access at NBT

18Dance is who I am!Profile of Matthew Koon, NBT’s

rising dance star

Cover image:NBT dancer Rym Kechacha.

Photo: LisaStonehouse

New Years Honour for David NixonWe’re delighted that David Nixon received an OBE for

services to dance in the Queen’s New Year Honours list.

David has made a significant artistic contribution to

narrative dance in the UK and has been instrumental to the

continued growth and success of NBT since taking over as

Artistic Director in 2001.

“I was overwhelmed that I had been chosen to receive this

Honour. Coming at the end of NBT’s 40th Anniversary year it

was the icing on the cake to a wonderful year for the Company

and for me personally. I would like to thank everyone who

endorsed my nomination, the team at NBT for their hard work

and dedication and especially my wife,Yoko Ichino, for her

unwavering support.”

David’s creative output is prolific; in the past nine years he

has choreographed nine new full-length ballets for NBT.

David is committed to taking the highest quality dance to

audiences throughout the country, bringing together

collaborators at the top of their field to create new ballets

with exceptional production values. He has also placed great

importance in providing opportunities for young people

throughout the North of England to access high quality

classical dance training without having to leave home,

through the expansion of NBT’s Academy programmes.

Dame Monica Mason, DBE, Director of The Royal Ballet

supported David’s nomination: “David Nixon has made

the most tremendous contribution to Northern Ballet Theatre

and to classical dance in the UK. His energy and his

capabilities are astonishing and he is held in the highest

regard within the profession.”

Claude-Michel Schönberg, celebrated composer of Les

Miserables and NBT’s Wuthering Heights added: “David

Nixon creates new works with original stories, newly

commissioned scores and innovative choreography; its

modernity remaining accessible to a wide ranging public.

His work reaches out to the British public, bringing culture to

towns and cities far from the main cultural centres of the UK.

In 20 years time a young British dancer will explain his

vocation in the theatre as a result of attending, one night,

the performance of a ballet by David Nixon in a small town

where he grew up.”

Dance recognitionThe honour is the latest in a string of awards

recognising David’s work since taking up the role

of Artistic Director at NBT. David was voted

Director of the Year by readers of Dance Europe

in 2003 and 2006; he remains the only Artistic

Director to ever have won the accolade twice.

Under his direction NBT received the audience

award at the Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards

for three successive years (2004, 2005, 2006), this

is the only award voted for by members of the

public. In 2009 NBT received the Patron’s award

recognising the work the Company has done to

raise the profile of dance in the UK.

Fond farewellsWe have said a fond farewell to two of NBT’s

longest serving dancers.

After two final emotional performances as the

Nurse in Romeo & Juliet at the Grand Theatre in

February, Ginnie Ray has hung up her pointe

shoes to be a full time mum to her daughter

Rebecca. She has been a valued member of the

Promotions and new members of the NBT familyCongratulations to: Laraine Penson who has

been promoted from Head of Media & PR to

Director of Communications; Ruth Burke-

Kennedy to Head of Communications, Catherine

Mullaney to Communications Manager: Media &

PR and Emma Mooney who has been promoted

to Communications Manager: Marketing; Jo

Dean who has been promoted to Learning &

Access Project Manager and Cara O’Shea who

has joined the NBT Academy Teaching Faculty

full-time. Congratulations also to Megan

McLoughlin who has been promoted to Trusts

and Foundations Manager. Steve Hughes who

was our Company Manager is now Head of

Planning and Operations while we welcome Al

Buchan as NBT’s new Company Manager.

Welcome also to Hannah Walker who has joined

us as Individual Giving Manager and Philippa

Plumtree-Varley who is our new Learning &

Access Co-ordinator.

Company News

Company for 11 years and has danced many roles

including Lady Capulet in Romeo & Juliet, Mrs

Darling in Peter Pan and Milady de Winter in The

Three Musketeers.

Christopher-Hinton Lewis has left NBT to live and

work in New Zealand and has joined the Royal New

Zealand Ballet. Christopher has been dancing

with the Company for 10 years and has given many

memorable performances including

Romeo, Heathcliff and Hamlet. Listen to an

interview with Chris on NBT’s website

www.northernballettheatre.co.uk

We’ve also said a sad farewell to Head of Marketing

Amy Dutton who has moved on to be Head of

Communications at Leeds Theatres; Melanie Aram

has taken up the role of Head of Development at

the Citizens Theatre, Glasgow and Stephanie Bell

who has joined the Almeida Theatre in London as

Marketing Assistant. Physiotherapist Anna Evans

has left NBT to join the Nuffield Hospital in Leeds

and we welcome Adam Rowland as our new Physio.

And finally, farewell to Chief Electrician Matt

Millward who has been replaced by Al West.

Main: David Nixon in rehearsal.

Photo: Brian Slater

In this issue we’re replacing the usual

Welcome from David to bring you some

exciting news about our Artistic Director.

issue 7

inside: NBTnews

2 Company News

4 NBT Alumni

6 NBT Gala Photo album

8 Size isn’t everythingNBT Orchestra profile

10 Pull-out-and-keepYour pull-out-and-keep schedule of

tour dates and Friends events

12 Friends of NBTMeet Judith Baker, NBT’s Friends and

Events Manager

14 A new home for danceAn update on developments

16Building partnershipsLearning & Access at NBT

18Dance is who I am!Profile of Matthew Koon, NBT’s

rising dance star

Cover image:NBT dancer Rym Kechacha.

Photo: LisaStonehouse

New Years Honour for David NixonWe’re delighted that David Nixon received an OBE for

services to dance in the Queen’s New Year Honours list.

David has made a significant artistic contribution to

narrative dance in the UK and has been instrumental to the

continued growth and success of NBT since taking over as

Artistic Director in 2001.

“I was overwhelmed that I had been chosen to receive this

Honour. Coming at the end of NBT’s 40th Anniversary year it

was the icing on the cake to a wonderful year for the Company

and for me personally. I would like to thank everyone who

endorsed my nomination, the team at NBT for their hard work

and dedication and especially my wife,Yoko Ichino, for her

unwavering support.”

David’s creative output is prolific; in the past nine years he

has choreographed nine new full-length ballets for NBT.

David is committed to taking the highest quality dance to

audiences throughout the country, bringing together

collaborators at the top of their field to create new ballets

with exceptional production values. He has also placed great

importance in providing opportunities for young people

throughout the North of England to access high quality

classical dance training without having to leave home,

through the expansion of NBT’s Academy programmes.

Dame Monica Mason, DBE, Director of The Royal Ballet

supported David’s nomination: “David Nixon has made

the most tremendous contribution to Northern Ballet Theatre

and to classical dance in the UK. His energy and his

capabilities are astonishing and he is held in the highest

regard within the profession.”

Claude-Michel Schönberg, celebrated composer of Les

Miserables and NBT’s Wuthering Heights added: “David

Nixon creates new works with original stories, newly

commissioned scores and innovative choreography; its

modernity remaining accessible to a wide ranging public.

His work reaches out to the British public, bringing culture to

towns and cities far from the main cultural centres of the UK.

In 20 years time a young British dancer will explain his

vocation in the theatre as a result of attending, one night,

the performance of a ballet by David Nixon in a small town

where he grew up.”

Dance recognitionThe honour is the latest in a string of awards

recognising David’s work since taking up the role

of Artistic Director at NBT. David was voted

Director of the Year by readers of Dance Europe

in 2003 and 2006; he remains the only Artistic

Director to ever have won the accolade twice.

Under his direction NBT received the audience

award at the Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards

for three successive years (2004, 2005, 2006), this

is the only award voted for by members of the

public. In 2009 NBT received the Patron’s award

recognising the work the Company has done to

raise the profile of dance in the UK.

Fond farewellsWe have said a fond farewell to two of NBT’s

longest serving dancers.

After two final emotional performances as the

Nurse in Romeo & Juliet at the Grand Theatre in

February, Ginnie Ray has hung up her pointe

shoes to be a full time mum to her daughter

Rebecca. She has been a valued member of the

Promotions and new members of the NBT familyCongratulations to: Laraine Penson who has

been promoted from Head of Media & PR to

Director of Communications; Ruth Burke-

Kennedy to Head of Communications, Catherine

Mullaney to Communications Manager: Media &

PR and Emma Mooney who has been promoted

to Communications Manager: Marketing; Jo

Dean who has been promoted to Learning &

Access Project Manager and Cara O’Shea who

has joined the NBT Academy Teaching Faculty

full-time. Congratulations also to Megan

McLoughlin who has been promoted to Trusts

and Foundations Manager. Steve Hughes who

was our Company Manager is now Head of

Planning and Operations while we welcome Al

Buchan as NBT’s new Company Manager.

Welcome also to Hannah Walker who has joined

us as Individual Giving Manager and Philippa

Plumtree-Varley who is our new Learning &

Access Co-ordinator.

Company News

Company for 11 years and has danced many roles

including Lady Capulet in Romeo & Juliet, Mrs

Darling in Peter Pan and Milady de Winter in The

Three Musketeers.

Christopher-Hinton Lewis has left NBT to live and

work in New Zealand and has joined the Royal New

Zealand Ballet. Christopher has been dancing

with the Company for 10 years and has given many

memorable performances including

Romeo, Heathcliff and Hamlet. Listen to an

interview with Chris on NBT’s website

www.northernballettheatre.co.uk

We’ve also said a sad farewell to Head of Marketing

Amy Dutton who has moved on to be Head of

Communications at Leeds Theatres; Melanie Aram

has taken up the role of Head of Development at

the Citizens Theatre, Glasgow and Stephanie Bell

who has joined the Almeida Theatre in London as

Marketing Assistant. Physiotherapist Anna Evans

has left NBT to join the Nuffield Hospital in Leeds

and we welcome Adam Rowland as our new Physio.

And finally, farewell to Chief Electrician Matt

Millward who has been replaced by Al West.

Main: David Nixon in rehearsal.

Photo: Brian Slater

In this issue we’re replacing the usual

Welcome from David to bring you some

exciting news about our Artistic Director.

inside:NBT alumni performance

The idea of an alumni performance generated great

excitement for the dancers as well as the audience. Ex-

NBT leading artist and current NBT Academy teacher Viki

Westall worked closely with David Nixon bringing the

performance to the stage.

“The response was amazing, over 35 dancers got in

touch wanting to be involved. I think that is a wonderful

tribute to the Company. People make very tight bonds at

NBT, because of the touring and the nature of the work,

so this performance was a great opportunity for dancers

and audiences to reunite.”

On 5 December Leeds Grand Theatre

was buzzing with excitement when a

host of NBT alumni returned to the

stage for a one-off performance of

A Christmas Carol with the current

Company. This unique night was part

of NBT’s 40th Anniversary

celebrations and it linked past, present

and future to capture the spirit and

character that all the dancers have

brought to NBT over its 40 years.

Created in 1992 A Christmas Carol tells the story of

Ebineezer Scrooge and his transformation from covetous

old sinner to champion of Christmas spirit. The dancers

returning to perform with NBT took up roles they made

their own during their career with the Company and some

were original cast members.

Rehearsals took place at the Company’s studios at West

Park, which had been home to many of the alumni

dancers for some time, with much fun and camaraderie.

On the night of the performance the Grand Theatre was

packed to the rafters with ex-dancers, friends, new faces

and many old ones who have known the Company a long

time. The performance, both spectacular and emotional,

received rapturous applause from an electrified audience.

One friend commented:“I don’t think I’ve ever sat in a

theatre with an atmosphere like that before!”

The alumni dancers included Jeremy Kerridge as Scrooge;

William Walker as Bob Cratchit; Polly Benge as Mrs Cratchit;

Viki Westall as the Nephew’s wife; Shannon Parker as Belle;

Omar Gordon as Young Scrooge; Matthew Hunt as Mr

Fezziwig; Fiona Beale as Mrs Fezziwig; Graciela Kaplan,

Charlotte Talbot and Chiaki Nagao as the Hags; Lynsey and

Simon Kidd as the tavern pas de deux; Lorena Vidal as the

Ghost of Christmas Past; David Kierce as the Ghost of

Christmas Present and Steven Wheeler as the Ghost of

Christmas Future.

Main: NBT dancers frompast and present.

Photos: Brian Slater

Inset photos clockwise from topright: Rehearsals for the AlumniPerformance at the West Parkstudios, NBT and Central School ofBallet alumni, David Nixon on stageafter the performance, JeremyKerridge and NBT’s returning dancerswith Ballet Master Daniel deAndrade, rehearsals at West Park.

NBT alumni performance

inside:NBT alumni performance

The idea of an alumni performance generated great

excitement for the dancers as well as the audience. Ex-

NBT leading artist and current NBT Academy teacher Viki

Westall worked closely with David Nixon bringing the

performance to the stage.

“The response was amazing, over 35 dancers got in

touch wanting to be involved. I think that is a wonderful

tribute to the Company. People make very tight bonds at

NBT, because of the touring and the nature of the work,

so this performance was a great opportunity for dancers

and audiences to reunite.”

On 5 December Leeds Grand Theatre

was buzzing with excitement when a

host of NBT alumni returned to the

stage for a one-off performance of

A Christmas Carol with the current

Company. This unique night was part

of NBT’s 40th Anniversary

celebrations and it linked past, present

and future to capture the spirit and

character that all the dancers have

brought to NBT over its 40 years.

Created in 1992 A Christmas Carol tells the story of

Ebineezer Scrooge and his transformation from covetous

old sinner to champion of Christmas spirit. The dancers

returning to perform with NBT took up roles they made

their own during their career with the Company and some

were original cast members.

Rehearsals took place at the Company’s studios at West

Park, which had been home to many of the alumni

dancers for some time, with much fun and camaraderie.

On the night of the performance the Grand Theatre was

packed to the rafters with ex-dancers, friends, new faces

and many old ones who have known the Company a long

time. The performance, both spectacular and emotional,

received rapturous applause from an electrified audience.

One friend commented:“I don’t think I’ve ever sat in a

theatre with an atmosphere like that before!”

The alumni dancers included Jeremy Kerridge as Scrooge;

William Walker as Bob Cratchit; Polly Benge as Mrs Cratchit;

Viki Westall as the Nephew’s wife; Shannon Parker as Belle;

Omar Gordon as Young Scrooge; Matthew Hunt as Mr

Fezziwig; Fiona Beale as Mrs Fezziwig; Graciela Kaplan,

Charlotte Talbot and Chiaki Nagao as the Hags; Lynsey and

Simon Kidd as the tavern pas de deux; Lorena Vidal as the

Ghost of Christmas Past; David Kierce as the Ghost of

Christmas Present and Steven Wheeler as the Ghost of

Christmas Future.

Main: NBT dancers frompast and present.

Inset photos clockwise from topright: Rehearsals for the AlumniPerformance at the West Parkstudios, NBT and Central School ofBallet alumni, David Nixon on stageafter the performance, JeremyKerridge and NBT’s returning dancerswith Ballet Master Daniel deAndrade, rehearsals at West Park.

NBT alumni performance

inside:NBT Gala in pictures

Northern Ballet Theatre celebrated 40 years of dance making in great

style when luminaries from the world of dance joined the Company

for a one-off Anniversary Gala Performance in aid of momentum, the

fundraising campaign for the Company’s new building.

Artists from the Royal Ballet, English National Ballet, Birmingham

Royal Ballet, Rambert Dance Company and Phoenix Dance Theatre

joined the Company along with others from Les Ballets de Monte

Carlo, Ballet Du Rhin and Zurich Ballet who had travelled to the UK

especially for the performance.

NBT performed new works by David Nixon and Gillian Lynne to an

audience of over 1,400 people and the event raised £60k for

momentum.

NBT Gala photo album��

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Photos: Bill Cooper and Lisa Stonehouse

inside:NBT Gala in pictures

Northern Ballet Theatre celebrated 40 years of dance making in great

style when luminaries from the world of dance joined the Company

for a one-off Anniversary Gala Performance in aid of momentum, the

fundraising campaign for the Company’s new building.

Artists from the Royal Ballet, English National Ballet, Birmingham

Royal Ballet, Rambert Dance Company and Phoenix Dance Theatre

joined the Company along with others from Les Ballets de Monte

Carlo, Ballet Du Rhin and Zurich Ballet who had travelled to the UK

especially for the performance.

NBT performed new works by David Nixon and Gillian Lynne to an

audience of over 1,400 people and the event raised £60k for

momentum.

NBT Gala photo album��

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�� !� � ��" �

#��$��

%�� &��

$�� $��

&��

Photos: Bill Cooper and Lisa Stonehouse

inside:Northern Ballet Theatre Orchestra

Main pic: Northern Ballet Theatre Orchestra performing.

Photo: Brian Slater

“We are used to trying to makeourselves sound several times ourtrue size: most people, evencolleagues from other orchestraswho have heard the NBT Orchestrawithout knowing its size, areastonished when they find out howfew of us there actually are,” saysPrincipal flautist, David Sumbler.

Made up of 27 professional musicians,instrumentation includes violins, violas,cellos and double bass, flute, piccolo,oboe, cor anglais (English horn),clarinets, bassoon, horns, trumpet,trombone, tuba, timpani, percussion,harp and keyboard.

A typical symphony size orchestrawould comprise 16 first violins,14 second violins, 10 violas, 8 cellosand 6 or 7 double bass. NBT has 5 firsts, 3 seconds, 2 violas, 2 cellosand 1 double bass.

“It’s a small band,” says OrchestraManager Barry Collarbone,“but whatmakes it unique is the ability to tacklea diverse repertoire with outstandingresults, and with a sound quality torival much larger ensembles.”

The size of the band, as the memberscall it, is a practical decision, many ofthe theatres that NBT tours to don’thave an orchestra pit large enough toaccommodate a full size symphonyorchestra. But while the NBT bandmay be small, it still thinks big. NBTMusic Director, John Pryce-Jones, andAssistant Music Director, Nigel Gaynor,explains the many ways a biggersound is achieved.

Nigel says:“Our string players have to have the technical proficiency toproduce strong dynamics withoutlosing the quality of sound. They also need the stamina to sustain

the energy throughout aperformance week.”

John explains further:“When we playmainstream ballets, written originallyfor a much larger orchestra, the musicis re-orchestrated for our Orchestra,usually by John Longstaff who isexceptionally clever at re-distributingthe notes so as to maximise ourefforts. Such is his success that theOrchestra sounds a lot larger than it is.

“When we perform new ballet scores,written specifically for our forces, wework closely with the composer inorder to achieve the best possibleresults. However, the bottom line is thequality, commitment and enthusiasmof the players both individually andcorporately.The reputation of theOrchestra now is very high, and whenwe have a vacancy there are manycandidates for the position. Our

principal horn who left to play in theHallé for some years, has been unableto resist the pull of the NBT Orchestraand has re-joined us!”

When the Company was originallyformed, in 1969, most performanceswere given to pre-recorded music, butas the repertoire developed and thecompany grew, so too did theOrchestra. By the time ChristopherGable was Artistic Director, most if notall productions were performed tolive music.

These days the Orchestra tours to allvenues with the Company, on theroad for around 23 weeks giving inthe region of 165 performances peryear. It has recorded a range of balletscores, new and old, and received arecord of the year award fromGramophone magazine in December2000 for its recording of Great

Small, but perfectly formed, the Northern Ballet

Theatre Orchestra is a jewel in the Company’s crown.

Expectations.The Orchestra is alsomuch-loved in Leeds for its annualClassical Fantasia performance atKirkstall Abbey.

The nature of the work, and the factthat the band are on the roadtogether so much has createdtremendous loyalty from its members.

John says:“Like the dancers and all theother departments, the Orchestra isalways striving to give the best resultpossible, and it is this teamwork thatmakes for a very special atmosphere”.

David Sumbler has been playing withthe Orchestra for over 20 years.Therelationship with the people he workswith is crucial to him. “This is evenmore important than it would be in anormal job, because since we arestaying away from home for a week ata time, we tend to spend much of our

free time with our colleagues, so theyneed to be good friends too.”

The NBT Orchestra discographyincludes: 20th Century English Ballets

and Dracula (Naxos); The Hunchback

of Notre Dame (Black Box); Great

Expectations (NPC Records); A

Streetcar Named Desire (Doyen);Stephen Warbeck’s Peter Pan

(Quartz); Sir Malcolm Arnold, The

Three Musketeers (Quartz).

Read more about the Orchestra onDavid Sumbler’s webloghttp://northernballettheatre.wordpress.com and in the NBT AnniversaryBook which can be purchased on lineat www.northernballettheatre.co.uk

Size isn’t everything

inside:Northern Ballet Theatre Orchestra

Main pic: Northern Ballet Theatre Orchestra performing.

Photo: Brian Slater

“We are used to trying to makeourselves sound several times ourtrue size: most people, evencolleagues from other orchestraswho have heard the NBT Orchestrawithout knowing its size, areastonished when they find out howfew of us there actually are,” saysPrincipal flautist, David Sumbler.

Made up of 27 professional musicians,instrumentation includes violins, violas,cellos and double bass, flute, piccolo,oboe, cor anglais (English horn),clarinets, bassoon, horns, trumpet,trombone, tuba, timpani, percussion,harp and keyboard.

A typical symphony size orchestrawould comprise 16 first violins,14 second violins, 10 violas, 8 cellosand 6 or 7 double bass. NBT has 5 firsts, 3 seconds, 2 violas, 2 cellosand 1 double bass.

“It’s a small band,” says OrchestraManager Barry Collarbone,“but whatmakes it unique is the ability to tacklea diverse repertoire with outstandingresults, and with a sound quality torival much larger ensembles.”

The size of the band, as the memberscall it, is a practical decision, many ofthe theatres that NBT tours to don’thave an orchestra pit large enough toaccommodate a full size symphonyorchestra. But while the NBT bandmay be small, it still thinks big. NBTMusic Director, John Pryce-Jones, andAssistant Music Director, Nigel Gaynor,explains the many ways a biggersound is achieved.

Nigel says:“Our string players have to have the technical proficiency toproduce strong dynamics withoutlosing the quality of sound. They also need the stamina to sustain

the energy throughout aperformance week.”

John explains further:“When we playmainstream ballets, written originallyfor a much larger orchestra, the musicis re-orchestrated for our Orchestra,usually by John Longstaff who isexceptionally clever at re-distributingthe notes so as to maximise ourefforts. Such is his success that theOrchestra sounds a lot larger than it is.

“When we perform new ballet scores,written specifically for our forces, wework closely with the composer inorder to achieve the best possibleresults. However, the bottom line is thequality, commitment and enthusiasmof the players both individually andcorporately.The reputation of theOrchestra now is very high, and whenwe have a vacancy there are manycandidates for the position. Our

principal horn who left to play in theHallé for some years, has been unableto resist the pull of the NBT Orchestraand has re-joined us!”

When the Company was originallyformed, in 1969, most performanceswere given to pre-recorded music, butas the repertoire developed and thecompany grew, so too did theOrchestra. By the time ChristopherGable was Artistic Director, most if notall productions were performed tolive music.

These days the Orchestra tours to allvenues with the Company, on theroad for around 23 weeks giving inthe region of 165 performances peryear. It has recorded a range of balletscores, new and old, and received arecord of the year award fromGramophone magazine in December2000 for its recording of Great

Small, but perfectly formed, the Northern Ballet

Theatre Orchestra is a jewel in the Company’s crown.

Expectations.The Orchestra is alsomuch-loved in Leeds for its annualClassical Fantasia performance atKirkstall Abbey.

The nature of the work, and the factthat the band are on the roadtogether so much has createdtremendous loyalty from its members.

John says:“Like the dancers and all theother departments, the Orchestra isalways striving to give the best resultpossible, and it is this teamwork thatmakes for a very special atmosphere”.

David Sumbler has been playing withthe Orchestra for over 20 years.Therelationship with the people he workswith is crucial to him. “This is evenmore important than it would be in anormal job, because since we arestaying away from home for a week ata time, we tend to spend much of our

free time with our colleagues, so theyneed to be good friends too.”

The NBT Orchestra discographyincludes: 20th Century English Ballets

and Dracula (Naxos); The Hunchback

of Notre Dame (Black Box); Great

Expectations (NPC Records); A

Streetcar Named Desire (Doyen);Stephen Warbeck’s Peter Pan

(Quartz); Sir Malcolm Arnold, The

Three Musketeers (Quartz).

Read more about the Orchestra onDavid Sumbler’s webloghttp://northernballettheatre.wordpress.com and in the NBT AnniversaryBook which can be purchased on lineat www.northernballettheatre.co.uk

Size isn’t everything

to NBT’s 2010 tourYour pull-out-and-keep guideinside: friends events

Wed 2 – Sat 5 JuneTheatre Royal, Glasgow

Box office: 0844 871 7647

Wed 9 – Sat 12 JuneNew Theatre, Cardiff

Box office: 0292 087 8889

Tues 7 - Sat 12 SeptemberWest Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds

Box office: 0113 213 780

Friends event

Day at the theatreTheatre Royal, Glasgow

Sat 5 June

Friends event

Class and coffeeNew Theatre, Hull

Sat 22 May

Wed 19 – Sat 22 MayNew Theatre, Hull

Box office: 0148 222 6655

Please note, booking fees may apply

Wed 29 September – Sat 2 OctoberAlhambra Theatre, Bradford

Box Office: 01274 432 000

Tue 5 – Sat 9 October New Victoria Theatre, Woking

Box Office: 0870 606 6645

Tue 12 – Sat 16 October Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury

Box Office: 0844 817 7607

to NBT’s 2010 tourYour pull-out-and-keep guideinside: friends events

Wed 2 – Sat 5 JuneTheatre Royal, Glasgow

Box office: 0844 871 7647

Wed 9 – Sat 12 JuneNew Theatre, Cardiff

Box office: 0292 087 8889

Tues 7 - Sat 12 SeptemberWest Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds

Box office: 0113 213 780

Friends event

Day at the theatreTheatre Royal, Glasgow

Sat 5 June

Friends event

Class and coffeeNew Theatre, Hull

Sat 22 May

Wed 19 – Sat 22 MayNew Theatre, Hull

Box office: 0148 222 6655

Please note, booking fees may apply

Wed 29 September – Sat 2 OctoberAlhambra Theatre, Bradford

Box Office: 01274 432 000

Tue 5 – Sat 9 October New Victoria Theatre, Woking

Box Office: 0870 606 6645

Tue 12 – Sat 16 October Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury

Box Office: 0844 817 7607

inside: friends of NBT

Inset portrait:

Judith Baker

Photo: Brian Slater

What does your job involve?

I administer all aspects of the Friends ofNBT scheme and organise all the Friendsevents. I also organise all the corporatehospitality for NBT’s partners. I book theirtickets and liaise with them about theirevents including organising drinks and thefood. This sometimes involves food tasting– it’s a hard job but someone has to do it!

What is your favourite aspect

of your job?

I enjoy organising events, especially seeingthe finished product and the satisfiedcustomers, who of course include theFriends.

What are the challenges?

Confirming dates and numbers can betricky and this needs to be done as soon aspossible so I can reserve tickets andorganise everything else.

We’ve also just had a new databaseinstalled which has caused some hiccupsrecently with late mailings etc, (sorry!), butthis will ultimately make life a lot easier.

What is the feedback from Friends

about the scheme?

Our Friends particularly enjoy the manyopportunities to get closer to the Company.NBT offers a very comprehensive, value-for-money membership package.

Because we open most of our newproductions in Leeds and our dressrehearsals take place here, our Leeds-basedFriends sometimes have more opportunityto see the Company. About a quarter of our600 Friends are Leeds-based, so this means Ineed to make sure I can organise all I canfor the other three-quarters who are spreadaround the country.

Organising events for the Friends is a fairlycomplex business and involves most of thetouring team at NBT. Anything we organisehas to work for them.

I tend to organise two or three Days at theTheatre at different venues on each tourand I work with the theatre to open theseup to the Friends of the Theatre as well ourFriends. Dancing with David and the dressrehearsals are always well attended.

How will the Friends of NBT benefit from

the Company’s new building?

NBT will become more easily accessible tothe Friends who will be able to pop in to seethe Company at any time, as long as they letme know in advance. The building is morecentral than our current base at West Parkso it will be easier to travel to. The Friendscan also have the satisfaction of knowingthat they have supported the Company andhelped it reach its long-held dream of apurpose-built headquarters in Leeds citycentre.

What are your aims for the

Friends of NBT?

I hope to continue to build the membershipof the Friends of NBT and organise moreevents for them to attend.

I am also looking for volunteers to act asambassadors for NBT at the theatre. It isimpossible for me to attend everyperformance so what we are looking for issomeone to be at the theatre to act as afocal point for Friends attending aperformance. This was very popular in thepast when we had two volunteers who usedto tour with the Company. The Friends ofNBT are the best possible advocates for theCompany – there is nothing moreimpressive than a Friend talking animatedlyabout the Company. It’s brilliant.

So if you do want more Friends events totake place in your local theatre, pleasesupport them and help us recruit for them.

What would be your dream job if

you weren’t Friends & Events co-

ordinator for NBT?

I’m really happy where I am at the moment,especially with the prospect of the newbuilding. I live close to Quarry Hill so mycommute is going to be so much better.

I guess I’d like to be an events organiser fora big corporation. Someone I know has ajob like this and gets to travel all over theplace, she attends fantastic events and hasunusual experiences; I’d love to do that. But,I’d miss the Friends of NBT, some of them Iknow very well, they’re like my friends toonow and there are not many jobs where youcan say you’ve made over 600 friends!

“I’ve made a group offriends through theFriends and we tend tobook for eventsseparately. Whenallocating seats for thedress rehearsals,Judithalways tries to seat ustogether (and usuallysucceeds).I know shetries to do this for anygroups that she knowsof and it shows hercommitment to her joband to trying toenhance the enjoymentof Friends. We reallyappreciate her efforts.”Janet McNulty,Friend and Patron of NBT

Friendsof NBTThe Friends of Northern Ballet Theatre are an

essential part of the Company. They are our best

advocates. Their support contributes towards the

cost of new productions, costumes, sets and other

projects, and helps us introduce ballet to as many

people as possible.

The touchstone for all our Friends is Judith Baker,

NBT’s Friends and Events Manager. Judith joined

NBT in 1998 as a part-time receptionist, a job

which included looking after the administration of

the Friends. After making the decision to work full-

time, Judith worked across many departments at

NBT including Finance, Learning & Access,

Marketing and Fundraising before settling full-time

in the Fundraising department where she

continued her long-association with the Friends as

part of her responsibilities. Judith applies her

extensive knowledge of each department at NBT

to her work as Friends and Events Manager

ensuring the whole Company works together to

make all events as successful as possible.

inside spoke to Judith about her work with the

Friends of NBT.

inside: friends of NBT

Inset portrait:

Judith Baker

Photo: Brian Slater

What does your job involve?

I administer all aspects of the Friends ofNBT scheme and organise all the Friendsevents. I also organise all the corporatehospitality for NBT’s partners. I book theirtickets and liaise with them about theirevents including organising drinks and thefood. This sometimes involves food tasting– it’s a hard job but someone has to do it!

What is your favourite aspect

of your job?

I enjoy organising events, especially seeingthe finished product and the satisfiedcustomers, who of course include theFriends.

What are the challenges?

Confirming dates and numbers can betricky and this needs to be done as soon aspossible so I can reserve tickets andorganise everything else.

We’ve also just had a new databaseinstalled which has caused some hiccupsrecently with late mailings etc, (sorry!), butthis will ultimately make life a lot easier.

What is the feedback from Friends

about the scheme?

Our Friends particularly enjoy the manyopportunities to get closer to the Company.NBT offers a very comprehensive, value-for-money membership package.

Because we open most of our newproductions in Leeds and our dressrehearsals take place here, our Leeds-basedFriends sometimes have more opportunityto see the Company. About a quarter of our600 Friends are Leeds-based, so this means Ineed to make sure I can organise all I canfor the other three-quarters who are spreadaround the country.

Organising events for the Friends is a fairlycomplex business and involves most of thetouring team at NBT. Anything we organisehas to work for them.

I tend to organise two or three Days at theTheatre at different venues on each tourand I work with the theatre to open theseup to the Friends of the Theatre as well ourFriends. Dancing with David and the dressrehearsals are always well attended.

How will the Friends of NBT benefit from

the Company’s new building?

NBT will become more easily accessible tothe Friends who will be able to pop in to seethe Company at any time, as long as they letme know in advance. The building is morecentral than our current base at West Parkso it will be easier to travel to. The Friendscan also have the satisfaction of knowingthat they have supported the Company andhelped it reach its long-held dream of apurpose-built headquarters in Leeds citycentre.

What are your aims for the

Friends of NBT?

I hope to continue to build the membershipof the Friends of NBT and organise moreevents for them to attend.

I am also looking for volunteers to act asambassadors for NBT at the theatre. It isimpossible for me to attend everyperformance so what we are looking for issomeone to be at the theatre to act as afocal point for Friends attending aperformance. This was very popular in thepast when we had two volunteers who usedto tour with the Company. The Friends ofNBT are the best possible advocates for theCompany – there is nothing moreimpressive than a Friend talking animatedlyabout the Company. It’s brilliant.

So if you do want more Friends events totake place in your local theatre, pleasesupport them and help us recruit for them.

What would be your dream job if

you weren’t Friends & Events co-

ordinator for NBT?

I’m really happy where I am at the moment,especially with the prospect of the newbuilding. I live close to Quarry Hill so mycommute is going to be so much better.

I guess I’d like to be an events organiser fora big corporation. Someone I know has ajob like this and gets to travel all over theplace, she attends fantastic events and hasunusual experiences; I’d love to do that. But,I’d miss the Friends of NBT, some of them Iknow very well, they’re like my friends toonow and there are not many jobs where youcan say you’ve made over 600 friends!

“I’ve made a group offriends through theFriends and we tend tobook for eventsseparately. Whenallocating seats for thedress rehearsals,Judithalways tries to seat ustogether (and usuallysucceeds).I know shetries to do this for anygroups that she knowsof and it shows hercommitment to her joband to trying toenhance the enjoymentof Friends. We reallyappreciate her efforts.”Janet McNulty,Friend and Patron of NBT

Friendsof NBTThe Friends of Northern Ballet Theatre are an

essential part of the Company. They are our best

advocates. Their support contributes towards the

cost of new productions, costumes, sets and other

projects, and helps us introduce ballet to as many

people as possible.

The touchstone for all our Friends is Judith Baker,

NBT’s Friends and Events Manager. Judith joined

NBT in 1998 as a part-time receptionist, a job

which included looking after the administration of

the Friends. After making the decision to work full-

time, Judith worked across many departments at

NBT including Finance, Learning & Access,

Marketing and Fundraising before settling full-time

in the Fundraising department where she

continued her long-association with the Friends as

part of her responsibilities. Judith applies her

extensive knowledge of each department at NBT

to her work as Friends and Events Manager

ensuring the whole Company works together to

make all events as successful as possible.

inside spoke to Judith about her work with the

Friends of NBT.

A new home for dance British Ambassador to Italy, EdwardChaplin, paid a visit to the site of the newbuilding on Quarry Hill last month. He wasaccompanied by Northern Ballet Theatre’sChief Executive, Mark Skipper, DeborahGreen, Chief Executive of Marketing Leeds,and members of the NBT Board, VictoriaTomlinson and Denise Jagger.

Edward was on a visit to Leeds followingthe highly successful Leeds in Milan eventlast year, which saw leaders from theregion’s financial, legal and creative sectorstravel to Italy to forge relationships withtheir counterparts in Milan. He was veryimpressed with the scale of what was beingdelivered and plans to make a return visitto see the completed building.

The building is moving on in leaps andbounds and has been transformed from asteel framework into an impressively sizedbuilding. Windows have been installed andthe zinc panelling is almost complete.Inside individual rooms have been formedand all seven dance studios now havecompleted sprung flooring.

We are still fundraising to complete thebuilding. Please donate at:www.building-momentum.co.uk

Don’t Just Sit ThereNBT is leading a new project which will mixsport and culture to get people in Yorkshireactively involved in the 2012 Olympics.Through dance, theatre, music and rugby,Don’t Just Sit There encourages people tomove and helps them to see how theirregion connects with the Games in Londonand the Olympic ethos.

NBT will be working in partnership with awide range of arts and sports organisationsacross Yorkshire to deliver the project.These will include Phoenix Dance Theatre,ArtForms, the Rugby Football League, theCollege of Chinese Physical Culture,Marketing Leeds and Open Minds TheatreCompany. The official launch of the projectwill take place in NBT’s new dance studiosshortly after the official opening in 2011.

During the 2010-11 school year theproject’s inspiration will come from Beijingand the five Chinese elements: fire, earth,metal, water and wood. NBT and each ofour cultural and sporting partners will takeresponsibility for working intensively with aschool to create a piece of work based onone of these elements, which can then beshared with others.

Project activities won’t just be limited toeducation settings though: we aim to reachall kinds of people in Yorkshire through thisproject – we’ll be getting people moving inthe name of Don’t Just Sit There at businessconferences, in shopping centres and atrugby matches too. At the end of the yearthe ‘Elements’ will be brought together infestivals in each of the four sub regions ofYorkshire which will provide an interactiveexperience for large numbers of people.

Watch this space for more informationabout the project and get ready to jumpout of your seat!

Dates for your diary12 May Rehearsal day, £25 to watchrehearsal and have lunch

17 November Rehearsal day in thenew building as above

30 November Technical rehearsal and

buffet lunch in the Emerald Grand Hallat Leeds Grand Theatre

All hosted by the NBT Ambassadors

raisingdance

inside: fundraising

Main image: Dancing with Rhinos choreographed by Sharon Watson, Artistic Director of Phoenix Dance Theatre.

Inset photos above from top: Don’t Just Sit TherePartners; Back row left to right: Paul Kaiserman,ArtForms, Education Leeds; Simon Wells, OpenMinds Theatre Company; Michael Bursey, College of Chinese Physical Culture; front row left to right:Jordan Tansey, Hull FC, RFL; Amanda Lewis,Phoenix Dance Theatre; Megan Hughes,Northern Ballet Theatre Academy.Photo: Paul Floyd Blake.

New Building: Edward Chaplin (centre) with (from left), NBT Board member, Victoria Tomlinson,Marketing Leeds Chief Executive, Deborah Green,NBT Board member, Denise Jagger and NBT Chief Executive, Mark Skipper.

Photo opposite page: Our new building taking shape.Photo: Phill Garnett