ChoreographicsThe Pit, Barbican

22 - 24 May 2014

Generously supported by Jennifer and John Talbot

Running Order

Emmeline Jansen Count Down

Makoto Nakamura Ripping Effect

Fabian Reimair We Are Free

Interval

James Streeter In Living Memory...

Stina Quagebeur Vera

Choreographics

Choreographic MentorKerry Nicholls Music Collaboration MentorDR Bruce Wall

The Pit, Barbican

22 - 24 May 2014

Directed by English National Ballet Associate Artist George Williamson

Tamara Rojo Artistic Director

George Williamson Associate Artist

Stage Manager Kerry LewisMusic: English National Ballet Chamber Ensemble directed

by Gavin Sutherland. Recoding produced by Yohei Sasaki.

Flute: Christopher GreenClarinet: Derek HanniganHorn: Mark JohnsonViolin: Matthew ScrivenerViola: Alexandros KoustasCello: Garry Stevens

Lighting Designer: Andrew Ellis

Costume Designers: Louie Whitemore (Ripple Effect, In Living Memory..., Vera)

Antonella Petraccaro (We Are Free)

Dyeing:Symone Frost

Hair & Make-Up:Abigail Gargas

Fims and Photography: Laurent Liotardo

I am delighted to present this year’s highly anticipated Choreographics at the Barbican following on from last year’s sell-out performances at The Place. This year we have againgiven dancers in the Company the opportunity to develop their professional skill set, by choreographing new work inspired by the First World War.

We gave the choreographers the chance to work with composers, who have been guided through the musical collaboration by Dr Bruce Wall, Executive Director, London Shakespeare Workout / LSW Prison Project.He set all of the choreographers the task of choosing poems from the First World War as the starting inspiration for their pieces. The composers were then asked to create songs onthe piano, inspired by the same poems. From these songs the composers worked together with their choreographers to create their final creation. Three of the pieces are part of thiscollaboration.

Each choreographer has also been mentored, once again, by international dance artist and acclaimed choreographer Kerry Nicholls.

During the performance we will see a film featuring each choreographer explaining some of their ideas and their journey. Next will be a performance of the song performed by the composer on piano accompanied by a singer, followed by the final choreographic work.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support which enables English National Ballet to showcase and nurture up-and-coming talent.

George Williamson Associate Artist, English National Ballet

Title: Count downChoreographer: Emmeline JansenMusic: Dance for me Wallis - W.E. Music from the Motion PictureComposer: Abel KorzeniowskiDancer: Emmeline Jansen

Synopsis: I made this piece for people who are struggling either mentally or physically. In most of the pieces that I create, I use dynamics as a way of emphasizing the feelings I want to portray, in the dance. It’s a contemporary-based dance with some quirky and distinctive movements. Enjoy!

English National Ballet School

English National Ballet School’s 2014 Choreographic Competition winner will open the programme

Makoto NakamuraRIPPLE EFFECT

DANCERS COMPOSER SINGER

Juan RodríguezGuilherme Menezes Joshua McSherry-Gray Ksenia Ovsyanick

David Hewson Jonny Muir

COSTUME

Louie Whitemore [Costume Design] Fritha Ross [Costume Maker and Design Assistant] Carrie Watkins [Costume Maker]

LIGHTING

Andrew Ellis

PIANIST

David Hewson

BIOGRAPHY ABOUT RIPPLE EFFECT ANTHEM FOR DOOMED YOUTH- WILFRED OWEN (1893-1918)Makoto Nakamura

First Artist

Birthplace Tokyo, Japan

Age started dancing7

Training Trained by Yoshiaki Tonozaki, Isoko Okura, Chieko Kisti and Hideteru Kitahara

Previous companiesNew National Ballet, Tokyo

English National Ballet Joined 2009

Favourite rolesPrince Désiré in Sleeping Beauty and Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake

Role would like to danceDes Grieux, Manon

Career highlightWhilst with New National Ballet of Toyoko premiered in a new ballet by David Walsh and a soloist role in a piece by David Bintley Other infoLikes scuba diving and cooking every day!

In Ripple Effect I expanded my focus on the people who survived and came backfrom the battle and their family, not only the people who died.

War trauma doesn’t finish with the war. Some soldiers, even if their bodies survive, their identities can’t survive and it destroys their family as well. This is a negative chain effect.

What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?--Only the monstrous anger of the guns. Only the stuttering rifles’ rapid rattleCan patter out their hasty orisons.No mockeries for them from prayers or bells, Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs,-The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells; And bugles calling for them from sad shires.

What candles may be held to speed them all? Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyesShall shine the holy glimmers of goodbyes. The pallor of girls’ brows shall be their pall;Their flowers the tenderness of silent minds,And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds.

My friends, please do not tell with such high zestTo children ardent for some desperate glory,That old lie: Dulce et decorum estPro patria mori.

Wilfred Edward Salter Owen MC was an English poet and soldier; one of the leading verse makers of the First World War. He died in service in 1918 at the age of 25.

Fabian ReimairWE ARE FREE

DANCERS COMPOSER SINGER

Adela RamírezAngela WoodJanette Kakareka Laurent LiotardoFrancisco Bosch

Stephan Hodel Simon Loughton

COSTUME

Antonella Petraccaro [Costume Design] Thomas & Antonella Petraccaro [Costume Maker] Symone Frost [Dyeing]

With support from the English National Ballet’s costume department

LIGHTING

Andrew Ellis

PIANIST

Joy Ellis

BIOGRAPHY ABOUT WE ARE FREE ABSOLUTION- SIEGFRIED SASSOON (1886 - 1967)

Fabian ReimairFirst Soloist

BirthplaceVienna, Austria

Age started dancing8 TrainingVienna State Opera Ballet School, Marico Besobrasova in Monte Carlo

Previous CompanyVienna State Opera

English National BalletJoined 2002, Soloist 2003, First Soloist 2007

Favourite rolesAlbrecht in Giselle, Tybalt in Romeo & Juliet

Favourite productionRomeo & Juliet

Career highlightsDancing Lescaut in Manon and perform-ing as Rothbart at Concert for Diana at Wembley Stadium

Other infoEnjoys music and travelling around the world

A journey to war. Time of excitement and pride, time to say our goodbyes. A last dance in the windy poppy fields, before the reality of war closes in. Trapped. And yet proudly we march towards the unknown until it finally sinks in: we won’t return the way we left.

The war machine is running. It needs human fuel just to spit out inhumane ordeals. Death is looming behind bleeding trees. Friend or enemy, on the battlefield we are the same. And the women left behind are our suppliers, our backbone, our mental crutches.

Soldiers fallen, back to earth. Fighting for. In loved ones’ arms we are born, in loved ones’ arms we shall die. Tangled in hope, we are free.

The anguish of the earth absolves our eyes Till beauty shines in all that we can see. War is our scourge; yet war has made us wise, And, fighting for our freedom, we are free.

Horror of wounds and anger at the foe,And loss of things desired; all these must pass. We are the happy legion, for we now know Time’s but a golden wind that shakes our grass.

There was an hour when we were loth to partFrom life we longed to share no less than others.Now, having claimed this heritage of heart,What need we more, my comrades and my brothers?

James StreeterIN LIVING MEMORY...

DANCERS COMPOSER SINGER

Erina TakahashiJames Forbat Nathan Young

Christopher Hamilton Shimi Goodman

COSTUMELouie Whitemore [Costume Design] Fritha Ross [Costume Maker and Design Assistant] Carrie Watkins [Costume Maker]

LIGHTING

Andrew Ellis

PIANIST

Christopher Hamilton

BIOGRAPHY THE STONE (ABRIDGED)- WILFRED WILSON GIBSON (1878 - 1962)

Birthplace Rochford, UK

Age started dancing5

Training English National Ballet School

English National Ballet Joined 2004, Promoted First Artist 2007, Junior Soloist 2011

Favourite roleTybalt in Romeo & Juliet

Role would love to danceLord Capulet in Romeo & Juliet

Career highlightDancing the title role in The Canterville Ghost and playing HIlarion in Giselle

Other infoHobbies include sailing and cycling

“And will you cut a stone for him? A stone for him?” she said. Three days before, a splintered rock Had struck her lover dead-- Had struck him in the quarry dead, Where, careless of a warning call, He loitered, while the shot was fired-- A lively stripling, brave and tall, And sure of all his heart desired . . . I went to break the news to her: And I could hear my own heart beat But some poor fool had sped before; And, flinging wide her father’s door, Had blurted out the news to her, And dropped it at her feet.

The fourth night when I came from work, I found her at my door. “And will you cut a stone for him?” She said: and spoke no more. And so I rose and sought a stone; And cut it smooth and square: And, as I worked, she sat and watched, Beside me, in her chair.

And when at length the job was done, And I had laid the mallet by, As if, at last, her peace were won, She breathed his name, and, with a sigh, Passed slowly through the open door: And never crossed my threshold more.

Next night I laboured late, alone, To cut her name upon the stone.

Fought as the War to end all Wars... with such devastating losses. It made us acknowledge the fragility of life and to embrace the precious gift of true love.

Based on the poem The Stone; as the young man lay dying and with his final breaths his life flashes before him. Like so many people who have found true love; no feeling will ever replace this emptiness. Whether it happens on the bat-tlefield or fighting the war from home the loss is as deep.

We owe so much to so many people and I feel extremely honoured to be able to dedicate this piece to the memory of these heroes.

ABOUT IN LIVING MEMORY...

Stina QuagebeurVERA

DANCERS COMPOSER

Nancy Osbaldeston Guilherme Menezes

Ivor Gurney (1890-1937)

COSTUME

Louie Whitemore [Costume Design] Fritha Ross [Costume Maker and Design Assistant] Carrie Watkins [Costume Maker]

LIGHTING

Andrew Ellis Longing and The Sea played by Mark Bebbington

Sleep played by Julia Richter

PIANISTS

BIOGRAPHY ABOUT VERA IN FLANDERS FIELDS- JOHN MCCRAE (1872 - 1918)Stina Quagebeur

Artist of the Company

Birthplace Sint Lievens Houtem, Belgium

Age started dancing6

Training Ingrid Lootvoet, Royal Ballet School, Eng-lish National Ballet School

English National Ballet Joined 2003

Favourite productionMelody on the Move, Double Concerto

Career highlightAppearing in a documentary on National Belgian Television in 2003 and as Lady Capulet in Nureyev’s production of Romeo & Juliet Other infoDirected and produced Livedance, a performance Gala in Belgium in 2003 and 2006, and recently with Jenna Lee in 2009 in Guernsey

Best part of touringLaughing with friends in the dressing room

Worst part of touringAutumn weather in the UK

Favourite costumeSwan

In Flanders fields the poppies blowBetween the crosses, row on row,That mark our place; and in the skyThe larks, still bravely singing, flyScarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days agoWe lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,Loved and were loved, and now we lieIn Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:To you from failing hands we throwThe torch; be yours to hold it high.If ye break faith with us who dieWe shall not sleep, though poppies growIn Flanders fields.

“I remember walking down the shimmering Sunday emptiness of Kensington High Street on the hot summer morning after the telegram came, intoxicated, strangely exalteé, lifted into incongruous ecstasy by a sense that Edward’s invisible presence was walking there beside me. After that, everything relapsed into paralysis.”

“Life itself seemed unreal. I had never believed I would actually go on living without his companionship.” “Yet here I was, in a world emptied of that unfailing consolation, most persistently, most unwillingly alive.”

Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain 1893-1970

Louie Whitemore [Costume Design] Fritha Ross [Costume Maker and Design Assistant] Carrie Watkins [Costume Maker]