The nominations for the 2018 BroadwayWorld UK Awards are out (and may have been for some time).
I only actually became aware of the awards because Northern Ballet are actively promoting their nomination for The Little Mermaid in the category below (which appears to be the only dance related category).
2018 BroadwayWorld UK Awards - Outstanding Achievement in a New Dance Production
David Nixon/Northern Ballet
THE LITTLE MERMAID (UK Tour)
SWAN LAKE (Royal Opera House)
LE JEUNE HOMME ET LA MORT/LA SYLPHIDE (London Coliseum)
XENOS (Sadler's Wells)
THE SUIT/A DREAM WITHIN A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM (UK Tour)
WINDRUSH: MOVEMENT OF THE PEOPLE (UK Tour)
Having not seen any of the productions above it is hard to comment but...
Ballets based on The Little Mermaid are a massive yawn that don't exactly suggest much in the way of creativity and innovation in the world of UK dance. I have also yet to see Northern Ballet produce anything that could reasonably be described as 'outstanding'.
Swan Lake. Groundbreaking.
Firstly, I am a huge fan of the English National Ballet. And they have hugely diversified their programming since Tamara Rojo took over as Artistic Director. I did see La Sylphide as part of a different ENB double-bill and it was genuinely fabulous. But... Le Jeune Homme Et La Mort dates from 1946 and La Sylphide from 1836. So again, outstanding achievement in a new dance production? Not exactly rewarding creativity or innovation here either.
Akram Khan's XENOS. Not seen it but seems like a fair nomination.
Ballet Black: I am seeing this double bill soon so will reserve judgement.
Windrush: Movement of the People: I have not seen this either and it looks to be completing touring without coming closer to Manchester than Huddersfield. But, this does seem like an important subject for a piece of dance theatre in the UK at this point and it is good to see a piece about immigration and Black British heritage and a dance company for Black and Asian dancers (Ballet Black) nominated.
According to the stats, which are visible on the voting page the likely winner looks to the Northern Ballet's The Little Mermaid.
Which looks to me like a massive victory for blah and the dreariest of commercial dance.
Did I mention that only one and half of these productions have visited/are visiting Manchester or Salford?
I only actually became aware of the awards because Northern Ballet are actively promoting their nomination for The Little Mermaid in the category below (which appears to be the only dance related category).
2018 BroadwayWorld UK Awards - Outstanding Achievement in a New Dance Production
David Nixon/Northern Ballet
THE LITTLE MERMAID (UK Tour)
SWAN LAKE (Royal Opera House)
LE JEUNE HOMME ET LA MORT/LA SYLPHIDE (London Coliseum)
XENOS (Sadler's Wells)
THE SUIT/A DREAM WITHIN A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM (UK Tour)
WINDRUSH: MOVEMENT OF THE PEOPLE (UK Tour)
Having not seen any of the productions above it is hard to comment but...
Ballets based on The Little Mermaid are a massive yawn that don't exactly suggest much in the way of creativity and innovation in the world of UK dance. I have also yet to see Northern Ballet produce anything that could reasonably be described as 'outstanding'.
Swan Lake. Groundbreaking.
Firstly, I am a huge fan of the English National Ballet. And they have hugely diversified their programming since Tamara Rojo took over as Artistic Director. I did see La Sylphide as part of a different ENB double-bill and it was genuinely fabulous. But... Le Jeune Homme Et La Mort dates from 1946 and La Sylphide from 1836. So again, outstanding achievement in a new dance production? Not exactly rewarding creativity or innovation here either.
Akram Khan's XENOS. Not seen it but seems like a fair nomination.
Ballet Black: I am seeing this double bill soon so will reserve judgement.
Windrush: Movement of the People: I have not seen this either and it looks to be completing touring without coming closer to Manchester than Huddersfield. But, this does seem like an important subject for a piece of dance theatre in the UK at this point and it is good to see a piece about immigration and Black British heritage and a dance company for Black and Asian dancers (Ballet Black) nominated.
According to the stats, which are visible on the voting page the likely winner looks to the Northern Ballet's The Little Mermaid.
Which looks to me like a massive victory for blah and the dreariest of commercial dance.
Did I mention that only one and half of these productions have visited/are visiting Manchester or Salford?