Article by:
BalletBoyz
This summer the internationally lauded dance troupe BalletBoyz made its West End and Edinburgh Festival Fringe debut with its critically acclaimed Them/Us, an innovative double bill and a brand-new collaboration from the company’s own dancers and the Olivier Award-winning choreographer Christopher Wheeldon. A co-production with Sadler’s Wells, Them/Us played at Sadler’s Wells in March as part of a UK tour. The production will now tour to Reading, Milton Keynes, Shrewsbury, Cambridge, Brighton and Deptford.
BalletBoyz is known worldwide for its ground-breaking live performances, films and TV appearances. The new productions are both set to original scores by world-class composers and ask where we see ourselves in relation to the “other”.
A first in the history of BalletBoyz, Them is the work of the company’s very own in-house talent, and is set to a score by emerging composer Charlotte Harding. Us is inspired by the critically acclaimed Christopher Wheeldon duet featured in the company’s last show, Fourteen Days. With an extended score by cult singer/songwriter, Keaton Henson, Christopher Wheeldon develops this new work which explores the possibilities of before, during and after.
BalletBoyz Artistic Directors Michael Nunn and William Trevitt said: “Our philosophy has always been to make dance accessible for all, from providing opportunities for young dancers to get into the industry to staging contemporary dance in a welcoming atmosphere for audiences old and new. Them/Us shows off the versatility of the company, featuring choreography from our incredibly talented dancers alongside work by Christopher Wheeldon, culminating in a great evening of entertainment.”
Charlotte Harding recently composed for Craig Revel Horwood’s The Indicator Line in BalletBoyz’ Fourteen Days. She studied at The Royal College of Music with Mark Anthony Turnage and has since written works for an eclectic mix of contemporary and classical ensembles. Her works have received performances at leading concert halls, including Cadogan Hall and King’s Place, London, and Colston Hall, Bristol (Simple Things Festival). Spring 2019 sees the world premiere of her work ‘Convo’ at the , a commission from the RAH, Royal College of Music and Triborough Music Hub. Charlotte is also passionate about the role of music in health and education and is a regular accompanist for the BalletBoyz programme Parkinson’s Can Dance.
Keaton Henson is an English folk rock musician, visual artist and poet from London. Henson has released six studio albums. His music video for “Charon” was shortlisted for a UK MVA award in Best Budget Indie/Rock Category. “Small Hands” won Best Music Video at the Rushes Soho Shorts Film Festival in 2012. In November 2012, Henson designed a t-shirt for the Yellow Bird Project to raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust. Henson also composed the score for the multiple Award-nominated film Young Men by BalletBoyz and BBC 2.
Christopher Wheeldon is a British choreographer who trained at The Royal Ballet School and danced with the Company between 1991 and 1993. With the New York City Ballet he performed as a soloist and became the company’s first-ever artist in residence and first resident choreographer. Christopher has created productions for all the world’s major ballet companies, and in 2007 he founded Morphoses/The Wheeldon Company and became the first British choreographer to create a new work for the Bolshoi Ballet. His awards include the Tony Award for Best Choreography for An American in Paris, and he was made an OBE in 2016. Christopher has worked with BalletBoyz on numerous occasions in the past, including Mesmerics.
The current BalletBoyz Company includes: Joseph Barton, Benjamin Knapper, Harry Price, Liam Riddick, Matthew Sandiford and Bradley Waller.
Joseph Barton recently graduated from Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance. Throughout his training he was able to work with and perform alongside many different artists and organisations. He trained as an apprentice with BalletBoyz, performed with Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures, and has won multiple awards in Hannover, Germany with Connor Scott at the 32 choreography competition. Joey joined BalletBoyz full time this September.
Benjamin Knapper recently graduated from Rambert School of Ballet & Contemporary Dance and has worked with choreographers including Richard Alston, Mark Baldwin and Ashley Page. Ben has also performed with Rambert Dance Company on their spring and autumn tours performing A Linha Curva choreographed by Itzik Galilli.
Harry Price has previously performed in the international tour of Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake across Asia, Australia and Europe. He joined BalletBoyz in 2015, has toured globally with the company and has been involved in various film and TV projects. This will mark his fifth season with the company. Harry trained with Italia Conti Theatre Arts, Elmhurst Ballet School and the English National Ballet School. He has performed with the Baltic Dance Theatre and in national tours with English National Ballet and ENBII.
Liam Riddick trained with London Contemporary Dance School and has toured nationally and internationally with the Richard Alston Dance Company for eight years. He received 7 nominations for the Critics Circle National Dance Awards, and in February 2018 won Best Male Dancer. He has also danced for James Cousins Dance and featured in Rick Guest’s exhibition and book What Lies Beneath.
Matthew Sandiford joined BalletBoyz in September 2012 and will now make his seventh season with the company. As part of BalletBoyz, he has toured the UK, Europe, the USA and Australia, performing work by Kristen McNally, Christopher Wheeldon and Alexander Whitley amongst others. Matthew has also danced with Charlie Dixon Dance Company and was a featured dancer in the London 2012 Closing Ceremony.
Bradley Waller trained at the NECB School and Rambert School for Ballet and Contemporary Dance. Originally joining as an apprentice, Bradley became a full-time member of BalletBoyz in three months and is now also one of the directors of the Dancer’s Course. He has toured nationally and internationally during his five seasons with the company.
Log in with Google