Northern Ballet Presents Federico Bonelli’s First Season As Artistic Director

Northern Ballet, under the guidance of their new artistic director Federico Bonelli, has announced a thrilling new season of works, reinforcing their aim of presenting "stories that connect with people of all ages and backgrounds". With content created from a wide range of choreographers, from new upcoming talent to internationally recognised grand masters of contemporary dance, this season promises to be a powerful statement about the quality and depth of ballet in the region.

cq[Federico Bonelli, Artistic Director of Northern Ballet says: “I am thrilled to present my first season as Artistic Director of Northern Ballet and to build upon the extraordinary work that has taken place before me, both on and off the stage.

At Northern Ballet we tell stories that connect with people and for my first season I have invited some exciting young choreographers to Leeds, to create new stories and share their fresh and compelling perspectives with us.]

The new announcement includes:

A triple bill featuring a world première from Tiler Peck and UK première from Benjamin Ella presented alongside Hans van Manen’s adagio Hammerklavier in Autumn 2023.
A re-staging of Northern Ballet’s landmark production of Christopher Gable CBE and Massimo Morricone's Romeo & Juliet.
A new contemporary response to the classic story of Romeo & Juliet from Mthuthuzeli November for 2024.
The children’s ballet Tortoise & the Hare returns in Autumn 2023 for performances in Leeds and London before an extensive UK tour.

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Sketches a programme developing the next generation of choreographic voices launches in may 2023 featuring new work from company dancers and local Leeds-based artist.
The company’s ground-breaking inclusive dance festival, expressions, marks its 10th anniversary with a pioneering new dance film by Ben Wright featuring Northern Ballet dancers and disabled dance artists from their ability course, and a performance from Candoco.
Northern Ballet Late will see the company open up their building after hours for a series of special events featuring new work, previews, films and DJs.
The company’s learning team will launch Rise & Shine, a new inclusive dance project in local schools supported by Paul Hamlyn Foundation.

cq[Tiler Peck says: “It is an absolute honour to be creating a new work for Northern Ballet. I have always admired Federico’s work and was humbled when he asked me if I would make a new commission for the company.

This will be my first time choreographing for a European company and I am grateful for the opportunity to work with Northern Ballet's incredibly versatile dancers.]

cq[Benjamin Ella says: “I’m very excited about working with Northern Ballet and presenting this piece. I’m certainly quite new to this craft, but with these fresh eyes and an open mind I feel I have nothing to lose and just so much to learn and explore!

I’m very grateful to Federico and Northern Ballet for giving me this wonderful opportunity.]

The Grand Master

Hans van Manen (Adagio Hammerklavier, to be presented in Autumn 2023) is internationally recognised as one of the grand masters of contemporary ballet. To date, he has created more than 150 ballets, including those he has choreographed for the television. Van Manen’s signature style shines through in all his choreographies being characterised by clean lines, refined simplicity and his aversion to "frills and frou frou".

Our earlier interview with Federico Bonelli is here: Federico-Bonelli-Getting-The-North-To-Dance