As part of Deloitte Ignite 2014, the contemporary arts festival curated by The Royal Ballet and Minna Moore Ede of the National Gallery, former Royal Ballet dancers Michael Nunn and William Trevitt, co-founders and artistic directors of BalletBoyz, will present works by Christopher Wheeldon (Artistic Associate of The Royal Ballet), Kristen McNally (Royal Ballet Soloist) and Alexander Whitley (New Wave Associate artist at Sadler’s Wells).
The triple bill is the company’s first chance to perform new work since their final performances of the award-winning double bill—Liam Scarlett’s Serpent and Russell Maliphant’s Fallen—at the Roundhouse in July.
Up to ten dancers from BalletBoyz theTalent 2014 will perform at the Linbury in Mesmerics by Christopher Wheeldon, Untitled by Kristen McNally, and The Murmuring by Alexander Whitley.
Mesmerics is a piece Nunn and Trevitt created with Christopher Wheeldon in 2004 for three men and two women. Christopher has now re-worked it and re-created it for eight of theTalent’s dancers.
“We’ve always loved the piece,” said Trevitt. “The music, a gorgeous score, is by Philip Glass.
"We knew it wouldn’t work in the old format, because there’s a lot of pointe work and traditional partnering, so Chris has re-invented it and we’ve worked with him in tiny moments through his busy schedule.”
The costumes have been re-designed by Amanda Barrow and William Trevitt.
Kristen McNally, Soloist with the Royal Ballet, is a fast rising choreographer and recently created Mad Women for New English Ballet Theatre at the Peacock.
“Along with Kevin O’Hare, we’re very keen to encourage the development of new artists and that’s why we asked Kristen to make a new work for us at the Linbury,” commented Michael Nunn.
“In working with us she’s been finding new ways to work with boys that she hasn’t experienced before. We’re really looking forward to the result.”
Alexander Whitley has chosen the subject/title of The Murmuring for his new piece. As well as a low, distinctive and continuous sound, murmurings is also the extraordinary undulating flight pattern of flocks of birds, particularly starlings.
“We’ve known Alex as a dancer for a long time,” said Billy Trevitt. “Last October we invited a few choreographers to spend the day with dancers at our studio in Kingston and then asked Alex to make a piece for the company.
"The Murmuring is a really interesting piece with a very well crafted, meticulous and moving structure to it, abstract, yet not.”
Alexander is working with costume stylist Fabrice Serafino and lighting designer Jackie Shemesh.