McNicol Ballet Collective, led by Hull-born Artistic Director and choreographer Andrew McNicol, will become the first Associate Company of Hull New Theatre. The company has also announced plans for a new creation, choreographed by McNicol, that will tour next spring to Hull New Theatre and London’s West End.
McNicol Ballet Collective has also launched its Apprentice Dancer programme, giving graduates the opportunity to work as professional dancers in a touring company. The first dancer on the programme will be recent graduate of English National Ballet School Rin Ishikawa.
The company’s debut programme, Awakenings, was performed in London and Hull in 2021. This year, the company performed as part of the Emerging Choreographers Competition at the Gare du Midi in Biarritz, France and on the Waterfront Stage, programmed by DanceEast, at this year’s Latitude Festival, and also premièred its dance film Firebird Reimagined, created with Poetry Film Productions.
McNicol said, “building a meaningful, long-term relationship with this iconic venue in Hull, the first stage I ever performed on as a child, means so much to me. It will not only give us a regular stage in the region on which to present our bold performances but will also give us the opportunity to increase our work with the local community and bring people together to experience the power of dance.”