DeNada Dance Theatre and Ballet Cymru return to Leeds
DeNada Dance Theatre | Tuesday 12 October
Ballet Cymru | Thursday 04 November
Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre, Leeds
The Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre in Leeds is reopening this October with its first full season of dance since 2019. Following the success of their performances in 2018, contemporary dance companies DeNada Dance Theatre and Ballet Cymru will return to the theatre with two brand new productions, each in the city for one night only.
On 12 October 2021 DeNada Dance Theatre will perform transgender tragedy Mariposa, choreographed by Carlos Pons Guerra, alumnus of Leeds’ own Northern School of Contemporary Dance. In this dance reimagining of Puccini’s Madame Butterfly action takes place in the turbulent political repression of post-revolution Cuba, as a local rent boy and a foreign sailor fall ominously in love. Set to an original score by award-winning Spanish composer Luis Miguel Cobo, this new production is an exploration of what we are ready to sacrifice in order to be loved and accepted.
Carlos Pons Guerra says: ‘It is because of the support of [Leeds] organisations – NSCD, Yorkshire Dance, Northern Ballet – that my career took flight, so I feel very humbled that I can share this new work with the city. It is always an honour to perform in Yorkshire, who welcomed me so beautifully over fifteen years ago.’
On 04 November 2021 Critics’ Circle Award-winning Welsh dance company Ballet Cymru also returns with an extraordinary new ballet based on the well-known story Giselle. Choreographed by Darius James OBE and Amy Doughty and featuring a new score by acclaimed composer and harpist Catrin Finch, Ballet Cymru puts their own unique stamp on this tale of love and loss, bringing relevance, poignancy and grittiness to this most romantic ballet.
Darius James OBE says: ‘Ballet Cymru are thrilled to be back touring after such a long break with our new production of Giselle. Catrin Finch has produced a wonderful new score that really looks at this classic tale in a new and exciting way. We just can’t wait to present our young, diverse dancers in this fresh new work.’
Tickets for Mariposa and Giselle at the Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre, Leeds are on sale now and can be booked online at theatreleeds.com or by calling the Box Office on 0113 220 8008. Tickets are priced at £19, and there is an age guidance of 12+ for Mariposa due to content of a sexual nature.