Jamiel Devernay-Laurence presents Ballet Nights 2023, a new season at Lanterns Studio Theatre, Canary Wharf, London. Programme 001 is 29–30 September, Programme 002 on 27–28 October and Programme 003 on 24–25 November.
Ballet Nights 2023 is an expansion of Devernay-Laurence’s original one-nighter in 2021 and takes place over six nights. The programme will include Steven McRae (Royal Ballet), Melissa Hamilton (Royal Ballet), Ryouchi Hirano (Royal Ballet), Sangeun Lee and Gareth Haw (English National Ballet), Katja Khaniukova & Aitor Arrieta Coca (ENB), Constance Devernay-Laurence (ex-Scottish Ballet), Laurel Dalley Smith (Martha Graham Dance Company), Musa Motha (Rambert), Ivana Bueno (ENB) and rising stars including Yasser D’Oquendo, Jordan James Bridge, Felicity Chadwick and more.
Steven McRae, Principal Dancer of the Royal Ballet, said, “I’m passionate about spreading our art form further, and I was instantly drawn to the energy of the team behind Ballet Nights and their desire to attract and to appeal to new audiences. It’s an opportunity for audiences to have a taste of different voices from our art form, and our art form is the world of dance.
"I see dance as all styles; I've never seen myself as a ballet dancer or a tap dancer or a musical theatre dancer. I'm just a dancer! Putting the ballet shoes aside and donning my tap shoes for an event like this does not mean putting aside ballet; having those complimentary opportunities away from the mainstage of the Royal Opera House to explore and still enjoy those other forms of dance is so vital for me.”