13-year-old West Berkshire dancer joins National Youth Ballet for summer
THIRTEEN-year-old dancer Philippa Robertson-Kellie from Frilsham has successfully auditioned for National Youth Ballet of Great Britain, and will take part in the Residential Performance Company this summer.
The young company will come together with a team of professional dancers, choreographers and teachers to take them on a journey from studio to stage, emulating the experience of being in a professional dance ensemble.
They will work on a programme that will be performed at The Crescent Theatre, Birmingham, on Thursday, August 25, and Friday, August 26, and Sadler’s Wells, London, on Sunday, September 4.
Philippa attends Brockhurst and Marlston House Schools and began learning to dance aged five, attending West Berks Ballet School (WBBS).
Philippa said: “I’m so excited to be joining National Youth Ballet, working with world-class choreographers and performing on stage in London and Birmingham”.
The programme features four new works from the creative imaginations of a carefully selected team of dynamic choreographers: The Green Umbrella by Sophia Hurdley for the Junior Company, based on the book Ameliaranne and the Green Umbrella; Infinite by Monique Jonas, which focuses on nature’s rhythms and cycles, revealing infinite journeys connected in space; HOVER by Daniel Davidson, a high intensity work that explores hive mentality and nature’s resurgence; and Rise, a depiction and celebration of human resilience by Gerrard Martin.
From NYB’s Beyond Ballet scheme, Alice O’Brien will choreograph a new work, Mímos, for the company.
Beyond Ballet is an unparalleled initiative that supports emerging creative artists from all areas of the theatre industry in the early stages of their professional careers.
Other 2022 Beyond Ballet artists will support the performance company as rehearsal directors and workshop leaders.
The programme will be completed by three exciting revivals by NYB alumni: Another Night’s Dream by Matt Nicholson, a modern twist on Shakespeare’s much loved comedy; the beautifully classical IKEN by Jonathan Payn, inspired by the Suffolk landscape with music by Benjamin Britten; and a modern take on Giselle, Athena by the celebrated choreographer Arielle Smith.
These three choreographers have a special relationship to NYB, having made work for the company early in their careers.
Louise Bennett will lead the 2022 performance company as artistic director, working alongside NYB creative director Jo Meredith.
Tickets are now available for the performances in Birmingham (The Crescent, Thursday, August 25, and Friday , August 26) and London (Sadler’s Wells, Sunday, September 4).
Go to www.nationalyouthballet.org to book online
