Manchester's Link with English National Ballet

Manchester Opera House

Author: Mike Peel

Creative Commons Licence

Source Wikipedia

As a Mancunian I am immensely proud that the company which is now England's national ballet company danced its first performance at the Opera House on 5 Feb 1951 (see Our History on English National Ballet's website). The company has chosen our city again to premiere Akram Khan's Giselle on 27 Sept 2016 before taking the work on a tour of the rest of the nation. There is enormous affection in this city for English National Ballet which I noted in Manchester's Favourite Ballet Company 29 Nov 2015).

I was delighted to learn yesterday from Tamara Rojo herself that our pride and affection is reciprocated. She had tweeted:

So proud to be able to present two Giselles in one season! Great testament to brilliance of our dancers @ENBallet https://t.co/dBIoCtXPHr

— Tamara Rojo (@TamaraRojo1) August 16, 2016

To which I replied:

The first opening in Manchester where @ENBallet danced its first show. So proud of our city's connection with you. https://t.co/n1jxfnzROw

— Terpsichore (@jelterps) August 17, 2016

The company and its director signalled that they liked my tweet. Tamara Rojo quoted it and added:

So are we! https://t.co/ygcwqDo4kC

— Tamara Rojo (@TamaraRojo1) August 17, 2016

A number of events will be held around the country in connection with this important new work including some in Manchester (see the Take Part page of the company's website). There is also a fascinating dialogue between Akram Khan and Tamara Rojo on Re-imagining Giselle and Ballet Meets Kathak: the traditions behind Akram Khan's Giselle.

Having just completed in Manchester as it happens a 3-day intensive workshop on La Bayadere which is set in Hyderabad (see La Bayadère Intensive Day 1: 16 Aug 2016 Day 2 17 Aug 2016 Day 3 17 Aug 2016) I should love to see how a choreographer from the Sub-Continent would reinterpret that work. I tentatively suggest that ballet which is not well known in this country as subject matter for a future collaboration between Akram Khan and our national company.