London City Ballet Releases Rehearsal Images
London City Ballet has released a series of first look images from the rehearsal studio ahead of the UK & International tour of their new 2025 programme, Momentum.
The UK tour will open at Blackpool Grand on July 12 before visiting Theatre Royal Bath (July 24-26), Birmingham Rep (July 29-30) London’s Sadler’s Wells Theatre (September 13-14), York Theatre Royal (November 14-15) and Oxford New Theatre (Nov – on sale soon). The Company will also present a different programme, Rebirth, at the Royal Opera House’s Linbury Theatre from 19-22 November.
Artistic Director Christopher Marney said: “Our international company of dancers have spent the last few weeks creating magic in the studio, working under the guidance of this season’s choreographers. It is uplifting to see these ballets come to life, some for the very first time in decades. These images show a first look into the devotion and commitment the artists deliver on a daily basis.”
Momentum delivers a brand-new repertoire showcasing artists rarely seen in the UK. In keeping with London City Ballet’s ethos of bringing to the stage rarely seen works, the Company will present George Balanchine’s Haieff Divertimento – an early work by the master choreographer originally thought to be lost for 40 years after its premiere and to this day remaining unseen outside the USA.
Alexei Ratmansky, New York City Ballet’s artist in residence, is a leading light on the global dance scene. Pictures at an Exhibition, to Modest Mussorgsky’s eponymous score is set against a backdrop depicting Wassily Kandinsky’s best-known masterpieces. Here the dancers truly bring the art to life.
Unseen in the UK since its 2009 premiere, Consolations & Liebestraum by Liam Scarlett is a response to Franz Liszt’s piano score of the same name. Played live, Scarlett’s affecting ballet depicts the lifecycle of a relationship, its blossoming and later fracturing love.
Emerging choreographer, Florent Melac, best known as a Premier Danseur at the Paris Opera Ballet, creates a new work for the company in unique, fluid, musical style which combines inventive transitions with intimate partnering.
This season London City Ballet undergo a developmental project of artist development with rising choreographic voice, Tash Chu. Her work will be showcased at selected venues throughout future seasons as they build momentum and continue forging a path in bringing dance to venues across the country.
Returning to the Company for 2025 are Alejandro Virelles, Joseph Taylor, Nicholas Vavrečka. Arthur Wille, Jimin Kim and Cira Robinson. New dancers for the 2025 season include Samuele Barzaghi (formerly Paris Opera Ballet), Yuria Isaka (former soloist at Staataballett Berlin), Sahel Flora Pascual (formerly School of American Ballet, Ballet Austin), Constance Devernay-Laurence (former Principal at Scottish Ballet/TV actress), Josue Gomez (formerly Birmingham Royal Ballet), Pilar Ortega (formerly Joffrey Ballet Studio Company, Indianapolis Ballet), Siméon Sorange-Félicité (formerly Conservatoire de Paris) & Lydia Rose Hough (formerly English National Ballet School).
London City Ballet will be joined once again by Guest Artist, the celebrated ballerina Alina Cojocaru, who will appear for performances in Bath, Birmingham, London Sadler’s Wells and Oxford.
Visit www.londoncityballet.com for all tour information and bookings.
Constance Devernay-Laurence, photo credit London City Ballet