Press Releases 2010

Ballet Ireland Romeo & Juliet 2010

Ballet Ireland is delighted to announce plans to present a brand new production of Romeo & Juliet choreographed by Morgann Runacre-Temple. The production will have its world premiere at the Gaiety Theatre on Tuesday October 19th.The production will then tour Ireland and the UK.

Shakespeare's tale of the star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet, is one of the greatest love stories of all time. Against a backdrop of ancient feuds and gang warfare, the ill-fated young couple fall instantly and hopelessly in love. But their families are bitter enemies, and in order to be together the two lovers must be prepared to risk everything...

Romeo and Juliet is a dazzling combination of passion and hatred, comedy and high tragedy, making it the perfect vehicle for the talents of choreographer Morgann Runacre-Temple who delighted audiences last year with her adaptation of Cinderella.

Press Releases 2009

Lyric Suite & Cinderella

The evening will open with a short ballet Lyric Suite - by Michael Corder

Michael Corder, one of Britain's most prolific and outstanding choreographers, was born in London, studied at the Royal Ballet School and became a member of the Royal Ballet at Covent Garden in 1973. Creator of over 50 original works, his ballets have been performed by the Royal Ballet, Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet, English National Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, Boston Ballet and The Norwegian National Ballet amongst many others. Lyric Suite is a classical piece set to music by Grieg. The score is made up from three movements from the Holberg Suite op.40 (preludium, sarabande and rigaudon), the 2nd movement of Two Nordic Melodies op.63 and one movement from the Lyric Suite op.54 (notturno). And finally the norwegian march also from the Lyric Suite. This is a beautiful pure classical work that will delight dancers and audiences alike.

This is followed by Cinderella ­ a ballet in two acts by Morgann Runacre-Temple

Morgann Runacre-Temple will produce a brand new take on the Cinderella fairytale. Ever wondered what happens after the wedding? Well Morgann takes up the story when the pair return from the honeymoon!

The tale starts after the Ball and the most famous incident of a lost shoe in fictional history. We continue our story on past the wedding scene to the perhaps not quite so 'happily ever after' Cinderella and Prince Charming. The ultimate hero and heroine duo struggle to overcome their differing backgrounds and Cinderella's humble beginnings as she settles in to being the Princess¹. We have some hilarious scenes to open the ballet as Buttons and the 'Ugly Sisters' prepare for the homecoming of the couple.

What Cinderella doesn't realise is that the Prince has bankrupted his kingdom and he may well have to auction off Cinderella's gowns, a wedding present from her Fairy Godmother. Needless to say all's well that ends well and their financial problems are resolved due to Cinderella's thrifty ways and the pair truly are on the road to happily ever after.

Morgann has been choreographing for Ballet Ireland since 2005, creating over eight works for the company including two full-length collaborations.  A Christmas Carol¹ and Die Fledermaus¹ with Artistic Director Gunther Falusy.  

Press Releases 2008

Swan Lake
Gaiety Theatre, Oct 14th - 18th.

Ballet Ireland is ten years old and later this year we plan to celebrate the anniversary of our inaugural performances by returning to The Gaiety Theatre with our 'landmark' production of Swan Lake. This most famous of ballets combines Romantic themes and classical technique, and its ethereal imagery, together with Tchaikovsky¹s majestic score, conspire to ensure this masterpiece¹s immortality.

In 1875, Tchaikovsky was approached by the directorate of the Moscow Ballet with a commission for a score. This was for Swan Lake, a work which he accepted as he wrote, "partly because I want the money and partly because I have long wanted to try my hand at this type of music".

The first production in 1877 was not a success neither were subsequent ones in 1880 and 1882. It was the death of the composer in October 1893 which was to precipitate a first St Petersburg ballet production, when for a memorial concert in February 1894, the second act of the ballet was staged in choreography by Lev Ivanov.

Later the score was edited and the scenario revised and the full scale staging subsequently mounted by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov in January 1895 is the basis of the most popular and best loved ballet we know today.

Ballet Ireland first mounted Swan Lake in Spring 2001 and are delighted to be re-mounting it to celebrate the company's 10th anniversary. Described by Carolyn Swift in the Irish Times as "a landmark for Ballet Ireland and for Irish ballet" and in The Sunday Business Post, "Don¹t miss it - it will knock the socks off everyone" this production is stunning and timeless.

Wilde Extravaganza

Ballet Ireland is delighted to announce dates for its forthcoming season of Wilde Extravaganza

In the wake of the successes Ballet Ireland has enjoyed over the past ten years with its series of Gala programmes, and in particular our Diaghilev and Tchaikovsky seasons, we now embark on Wilde Extravaganza. This groundbreaking programme sees the commission of brand new ballets based on works written by the renowned Irish dramatist and poet, Oscar Wilde. First amongst these is the biblical "Salomé", originally refused licence for performance in England; it took some thirty years after Wilde¹s death before it was performed there. "The Picture of Dorian Gray", the extraordinary account of the narcissist who retains his innocent, youthful beauty, receives a balletic retelling, as we see, over the years, his portrait assume the expressions and shadows of each of his vices. Wilde¹s great fable, "The Birthday of the Infanta", contrasts the spontaneity, wonder and inner beauty of the hideous dwarf with the harsh formalities and cynicism of the Infanta and the Spanish Court, which eventually break his heart. And finally 'Sing, Sing, Sing - Inspired by the swing and big band music of the 1930¹s, and by the work of legendary jazz choreographer, Bob Fosse.

Please see touring page for dates.

Press Releases 2007

The Nutcracker 2007

After a very busy summer of workshops, choreographic showcase performances, and performances at Farmleigh, Ballet Ireland is delighted to announce details of its full-length production of The Nutcracker this autumn.

The production will tour Ireland and the UK opening in The National Concert Hall in  Dublin, on October 27th & 28th

The Sunday Business Post said of Ballet Ireland “I doubt if any show this year – in any field of the arts – will provide better value for money. This production was bursting with ideas and sparkled from start to finish”

It’s Christmas and at a party in her home, young Clara receives a Nutcracker doll as a Christmas present from her favourite uncle Drosselmeyer. Her brother Fritz breaks it but Drosselmeyer puts it back together again. All too soon it’s time for the guests to depart and Clara and Fritz are put to bed. Unable to sleep with the excitement, Clara goes downstairs to get her Nutcracker doll and falls asleep under the Christmas tree. The stroke of midnight sounds and the magic begins! With all of the time-honoured elements in place, Clara is swept along into a world of mice and soldiers, to the snowflake scene, on to the kingdom of the sweets and the delectable Sugar Plum Fairy. This timeless Christmas classic will to enthral all who see it.

Ballet Ireland was founded in 1998 and is funded by the Arts Council of Ireland. Since the inaugural performances, the company has gone from strength to strength and enjoyed meteoric success and acclaim. The company has gained a reputation for being young, talented, attractive and glamorous.

Ballet Ireland, a company of exceptional style and quality and not to be missed.

Further information - Anne Maher
Tel No. 046 9557585 or 086 8261196
email; balletireland@eircom.net

Ballet Ireland Choreographic Showcase 2007

Ballet Ireland Choreographic Showcase 2007

Whereas just a century ago, a choreographer was considered simply he or she (normally he) responsible for putting various dances together, today¹s great choreographers are recognised as true artists and visionaries. Great choreographers have a physical language and style of their own, and often one that is instantly recognisable. But choreographers aren¹t just are, they develop.

Over the last 3 years Ballet Ireland has hosted a very successful Choreographic Showcase. The quality of work and choreographic talent emerging and success of the showcase has been tremendous. Die Fledermaus, the company¹s most recent, and acclaimed production, is co-choreographed by Morgann Runacre-Temple, who was involved in Ballet Ireland¹s first ever showcase in 2004.

Like all art forms, ballet needs to be constantly developing, but in a discipline so firmly rooted in tradition, this development needs to be carefully nurtured. A process of analysis, re-thought and re-creation of existing work is one way in which this development can take place and another way is through innovation, new thought and new choreography. By encouraging young artists to explore the world of making dance in an atmosphere conducive to inspiration and creativity, Ballet Ireland remains at the vanguard of the development of ballet in Ireland.

In 2007 B.I. will co-host the showcase in conjunction with Dance Ireland and the Meath County Council Arts Office.

As always with the creative process, it is a hugely exciting and challenging opportunity for the choreographers. The commissioned choreographers will be facilitated with studio space over a 4-week period in Dance House in Foley Street. The work will then be showcased in Solstice, Navan on July 19th, see listings below for further performances.

The performance will also include 2 pieces taken from Ballet Ireland main repertoire, Bamboo Spring and Irish Rhapsody with music by Charles Villiers Stanford. It promises to be an evening packed with surprises and innovation together with beauty and grace!

Choreographers in this year¹s Showcase are;
Rain Francis
Agata Lawniczak
Jane Magan
Birgit Mühlram
Amy Thake
Performances
July 19th Solstice Arts Centre Navan
July 20th Civic Theatre Tallaght
July 26th Friar's Gate Theatre Kilmallock
July 27th Birr Theatre & Arts Centre Birr
July 28th mermaid Arts Centre Bray

DIE FLEDERMAUS ­ The Ballet

THE STORY
Die Fledermaus, a delicious story of intrigue, love, humour and revenge, which lends itself perfectly to the medium of ballet. It promises to be a wonderful vehicle for Ballet Ireland. A co-production with choreography by Artistic Director Günther Falusy , and guest choreographer in residence Morgann Runacre-Temple, this production promises to be full of mischief and fun, Die Fledermaus is a great yarn with wonderful scope for great dancing by Ballet Ireland.

Gabriel von Eisenstein does not let his marriage to Rosalinde stand in the way of frequent dalliances with the lithe young ladies of the corps de ballet. The light-hearted story of Die Fledermaus tells of the revenge taken by a certain Dr. Falke (Die Fledermaus) on Gabriel von Eisenstein for playing a practical joke on him. On his way to serve a brief jail term for insulting a public official, Eisenstein attends Prince Orlofsky¹s ball where the fun is fast and furious. He woos a glamorous Hungarian countess, who turns out to be none other than Rosalinde, seeking‹and getting‹her revenge for her husband¹s indiscretions. Identities are unveiled, and confusion illuminated in the final scene when Eisenstein philosophically declares, it's best to blame it all on the champagne!

DIE FLEDERMAUS ­ The Ballet  is the first of two ballet seasons Ballet Ireland presents each year.  Ballet Ireland was founded in 1998 and is funded by the Arts Council of Ireland. Since the inaugural performances, the company has gone from strength to strength and enjoyed meteoric success and acclaim on home ground and the global stage. The company has gained a reputation for being young, talented, attractive and glamorous with a host of the world¹s best international dancers touring with the company each season.

Now touring nationwide. See 'touring' for dates.