| Ballet
and Dance productions in Manchester |
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KIROV
BALLET at the
Lowry Theatre (Lyric Theatre) |
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| Tuesday
13th to Saturday 17th May 2008 - 7.30pm |
| One
of the most famous of all ballet companies, The
Kirov Ballet and Orchestra from the Mariinsky
Theatre in St. Petersburg, returns to The Lowry
with two spectacular full-length ballets and a
stunning gala evening. Jewels (Tue 13
& Wed 14 May) George Balanchine’s
dazzling ballet Jewels is a series of three stylistically
diverse classical divertissements. Emeralds is
set to elegant music by Fauré; Rubies is
hot and jazzy, set to Stravinsky; while Diamonds
is aristocratic in tone and set to Tchaikovsky.
Hailed as the greatest choreographer of the twentieth
century, Balanchine trained at St. Petersburg’s
Imperial Ballet before moving to the United States
where he created Jewels for his own New York City
Ballet in 1967. The Kirov was the first company
in Europe to stage all three acts together, reviving
the original cascading décor and costumes
to magnificent effect. Gala Programme
(Thu 15 May) The Kirov’s Gala Programme
is a box of delights for ballet lovers, featuring
Fokine’s one-act Chopiniana, followed by
a sequence of brilliant set pieces. Finally, the
sublime Kingdom of the Shades from Act III of
La Bayadère shows the Kirov corps de ballet
off to perfection. Don Quixote (Fri 16
& Sat 17 May) This faithful recreation
of Alexander Gorsky’s 1900 production bristles
with wit and bravura. Created by choreographer
Marius Petipa, the adventurous Spanish romance
tells of the relationship between Kitri, the daughter
of a socially ambitious innkeeper, and her lover
Basilio, a handsome but poor barber. Vivid settings
and authentic dances make Don Quixote one of the
most colourful ballets in the Kirov’s current
repertoire. (back
to top)
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to
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lyric
theatre |
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A
MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM (Palace
Theatre) |
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| Wednesday
14th to Saturday 17th May 2008 - 7.30pm |
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TICKET
OFFER - 2 FOR 1 FOR THE 7.30PM PERFORMANCES ON
WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY AND FRIDAY!!!
Northern Ballet Theatre brings its magic to Shakespeare’s
most bewitching play in this critically acclaimed
dance version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
The romantic antics of a touring dance company
are played out on one midsummer night as the company
travels by sleeper train from London to Edinburgh.
Dior inspired costumes and stylish black and white
sets provide a dazzling contrast to the glorious
Technicolor of the dream-world, whilst David Nixon’s
choreography brings out the comedy, romance and
entanglements of this enchanting story. Set to
music by Mendelssohn and Brahms, A Midsummer Night’s
Dream is one of NBT’s most magical productions.
There
is a 2.30pm matinee on the Thursday and Saturday.
(back
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to
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palace
theatre |
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847 2277 |
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STEPHEN
PETRONIO COMPANY (USA) at
the Lowry Theatre (Lyric Theatre) |
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| Sunday
25th May 2008 - 7.30pm |
| UK
premiere Beauty and the Brut is set to an original
score by art-rock heroes Fischerspooner; while
Antony Hegarty’s (Antony and the Johnsons)
haunting voice is the thread running through This
is the Story of a Girl in the World, four interrelated
works set to music by Antony, Nico Muhly, and
Lou Reed. With the inspirational Bloom, set to
a commissioned score by Rufus Wainwright, the
2007 queerupnorth International Festival reaches
a spectacular conclusion.
(back
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to
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lyric
theatre |
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MY
DREAM (ONE THOUSAND HANDS BODHISATTVA) THE CHINESE
IN BRITAIN FORUM |
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| Friday
30th & Saturday 31st May 2008 - 7.30pm |
| At
the Manchester Opera House: The China
Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe (CDPPAT)
was formed in 1987, and comprises of 88 performers,
which includes 55 performers with hearing impairments,
28 performers with visual impairments and 5 performers
with physical disabilities. The UK tour troupe
will comprise of 30 performers plus additional
support staff. The
troupe conveys the positive message that disability
is no obstacle to reaching your dreams. The spirit
of the dancers creates a magnificent energy to
its audiences around the world. My Dream goes
beyond the boundaries of language or nationhood
to bring spiritual joy to all. Their signature
piece is the incomparable "one thousand hands
Bodhisattva" featuring twenty-one hearing
impaired dancers. Truly breathtaking images are
created as the dancers produce perfectly timed
and choreographed movements. Generating rave reviews
it has been showcased in over 40 countries on
five continents and the 2008 tour will be the
first time this masterpiece of dance will be performed
in the United Kingdom. The show that will tour
the UK has been choreographed by the internationally
acclaimed artist, Zhang Jigang, who is responsible
for the creation of more than 300 large-scale
productions in over 60 countries and is currently
developing and directing the 2008 Summer Olympics
Opening and Closing Ceremonies. The Chinese in
Britain Forum (CiBF) is a registered charity that
works with and on behalf of the Chinese community
in the United Kingdom promoting equality of opportunity,
active citizenship and social cohesion.
(back
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to
book by phone, call |
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manchester
opera house |
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0844
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BACCHIC
at the Lowry
Theatre (Quays Theatre) |
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| Tuesday
17th June 2008 - 2pm & 8pm |
| An
icon. An orgy. A dissenter. Caught between heaven
and earth, a demi-god falls from grace. Inspired
by The Bacchae, Euripides’ masterpiece of
rejection and revenge, aod’s Bacchic explores
the epic battle between ecstasy and restraint.
Using stunning aerial theatre, storytelling, music
and movement, this is a provocative look behind
the mask of the guru to question our faith in
heroes. Most suitable for ages 14+. (back
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to
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quays
theatre |
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TO
BE STRAIGHT WITH YOU at
the Lowry (The Lyric) |
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| Friday
27th and Saturday 28th June 2008 - 7.30pm |
| Artistic
Director Lloyd Newson leads a multi-ethnic cast
in a poetic but unflinching exploration of tolerance,
intolerance, religion and sexuality. DV8’s
new show is based on hundreds of hours of audio
interviews collected throughout the UK with people
directly affected by these issues. In a production
incorporating dance, text, documentary film and
animation, twenty years on DV8 still refuses to
be defined. Suitable for ages 16+.
(back
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to
book by phone, call |
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lyric
theatre |
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847 2277 |
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AD
HOC SUMMER PERFORMANCE the
Lowry ( Studio) |
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| Monday
7th July 2008 - 7.45pm |
| The
Lowry’s in-house community dance company
present their latest work – created on an
8-week course. This choreography offers a range
of inventive contemporary and creative movement
work. Led and directed by dancer and choreographer
Ruth Jones.
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the
lowry |
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0870
787 5780 |
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STRAVINSKY:
THE REAL DEAL at
the Lowry Theatre |
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| Tuesday
8th and Wednesday 9th July 2008 - 7.30pm |
| Birmingham
Royal Ballet celebrates Igor Stravinsky's unique
musical contribution to the world of ballet with
three vividly contrasting works, including the
long-awaited revival of two works the Company
hasn't performed since its early years in Birmingham
– Petrushka and Card Game - and the world
première of a new version of Le Baiser
de la fée by Michael Corder. There
is a 2.30pm matinee performance on the Wednesday.
(back
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to
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lyric
theatre |
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GISELLE
at
the Lowry Theatre (Lyric Theatre) |
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| Thursday
10th to Saturday 12th July 2008 - 7.30pm |
| Birmingham
Royal Ballet presents Giselle. Lovestruck Giselle
has no idea her beloved peasant suitor Loys is
really Count Albrecht in disguise. When his true
identity is revealed by Giselle's other suitor,
the jealous Hilarion, the betrayal drives Giselle
to madness and suicide. Is Giselle's love strong
enough to protect her lover from beyond the grave?
This beautiful ballet fuses the popular appeal
of historical local colour with shadowy spirits
to great tragic and dramatic effect. There
is a 2.30pm matinee performance on the Saturday.
(back
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to
book by phone, call |
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lyric
theatre |
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847 2277 |
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AFRIKA!
AFRIKA! at
the Trafford Centre (Tented Palaces) |
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| Tuesday
22nd July to Wednesday 10th September 2008 |
| AFRIKA!
AFRIKA! celebrates more than 100 artists, dancers,
singers and musicians with unique and special
talents. These performers were discovered across
17 different African nations, speaking 23 different
dialects from a multitude of different religious
backgrounds. AFRIKA! AFRIKA! is a synthesis of
the arts, an African journey and an art exhibit
at the circus. Experience the wonderful facets
of the continent and be infected by its life-affirming
exuberance and vitality. The show is a unique
and extraordinary combination of dance and acrobatics,
such as the high wire artists from Tanzania who
present themselves with an inexhaustible well
of artistic creativity, making the audience hold
its breath. There's a master contortionist, hip-hop
break dancers and an exhilarating Gumboot dance.
Times of performances are generally as
follows - No performances on Mondays, Tuesdays
- 8pm, Wednesdays - 3pm & 8pm, Thursdays 3pm
& 8pm, Fridays - 8pm, Saturdays - 3pm &
8pm, Sundays - 1pm & 5.30pm. Check our calendar
pages for all times!
(back to top) |
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to
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the
tented palaces |
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0844
847 2277 |
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CHINESE
ACROBATIC SWAN LAKE (Lowry
Theatre) |
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| Wednesday
30th July to Saturday 2nd August 2008 - 7.30pm |
| To
truly appreciate the incredible mixture of dance
and acrobatics in this performance, watch
a clip here. Swan Lake gets a radical makeover
from a unique Chinese company, thrilling audiences
worldwide. By combining classical ballet and traditional
acrobatics, The Guandong Acrobatic Company have
turned ballet on its head and created a spectacular
new interpretation of the greatest classical ballet
of all time. In this fresh and original adaptation
of Swan Lake, a European prince falls in love
with a Chinese swan, and performers use acrobatics
and their very considerable talents as classical
dancers to tell the story. Pole balancing, jumping
through fire hoops, rope walking, ball walking
and jujitsu are all seamlessly woven into the
story, and there is constant blurring of performance
styles, including not only ballet and acrobatics
but also elements of Peking Opera. Acrobatic Swan
Lake includes Black Swans dancing on high wires
and scenes in which the White Swan dances en pointe
on top of the Prince’s head and shoulders
and another in which the famous dance of four
little swans is transformed into a performance
of four little frogs, played by men who do the
entire dance on their arms. This breathtakingly
magical production must be seen to be believed.
There is a 2.30pm matinee on the Saturday. (back
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to
book by phone, call |
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lyric
theatre |
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0844
847 2277 |
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DON
COSSACK'S STATE DANCE COMPANY |
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| Thursday
11th September 2008 - 7.30pm |
| At
the Manchester Opera House. Direct from
Russia , the Don Cossacks State Dance Company
is appearing at the Manchester Opera House as
part of their first UK Tour. This sensational,
internationally acclaimed company of 40 dancers
and musicians is widely acknowledged as Russia’s
premiere Cossack Dance Troupe. The Don Cossacks
present a dynamic production packed with energy,
passion & excitement, all performed to a live
orchestra. The dancers will amaze you with their
incredible acrobatic feats, skillful dexterity
and colourful costumes in this breathtaking dance
spectacular! (back
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to
book from apr 2nd, call |
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manchester
opera house |
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0844
847 2277 |
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ANGELINA'S
STAR PERFORMANCE (Palace
Theatre) |
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| Tuesday
23rd September 2008 - 11am, 2pm & 5pm |
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Angelina’s Star Performance brings the magic
of Angelina Ballerina to life in her first live
performance on stage. Angelina Ballerina has been
given the honour of putting on her very own performance
of The Sleeping Beauty for the Queen in her splendid
palace. It’s Angelina's biggest challenge
yet… will she manage to pull it off? The
show is based on the acclaimed children's books
written by Katharine Holabird and illustrated
by Helen Craig. This magical introduction to ballet
for children aged 3 and above is a rare treat
to see Angelina Ballerina perform her pirouettes
and grand jetés in front of a live audience.There
are three performances - 11am, 2pm & 5pm.
This performance lasts one hour and 15 minutes
including one interval. (back
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to
book by phone, call |
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palace
theatre |
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0844
847 2277 |
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RAMBERT
DANCE COMPANY - ETERNAL LIGHT TOUR at
the Lowry Theatre (Lyric Theatre) |
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| Thursday
25th to Saturday 27th September 2008 - 7.30pm |
| The
highly acclaimed Rambert Dance Company returns
to its partner theatre, The Lowry, with a brand
new programme. Eternal Light is a major new work
by Rambert’s Artistic Director Mark Baldwin
and we are proud to be hosting its world première.
The programme also includes a revival of Christopher
Bruce’s outstanding and hugely popular Swansong
and André Gingras’ Anatomica #3,
work that has amazed audiences around the country
– allow yourself to be next! There
is a 1.30pm matinee performance on the Thursday.
(back
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