momentum Launch

Media information

Immediate release: 22 February 2008

New designs unveiled for visionary Leeds dance centre

Northern Ballet Theatre (NBT) and Phoenix Dance Theatre (Phoenix) revealed a stunning new vision for a centre of excellence for dance in Leeds last night at the launch of momentum, the campaign to raise the remaining funds required for the new building. HRH The Earl of Wessex attended the launch where new designs by the Strategic Design Alliance, a partnership of Jacobs and Leeds City Council's in-house architects, were unveiled. In addition, Leeds Metropolitan University announced that it is investing in the new dance centre in an exciting partnership with NBT and Phoenix.

The projected building cost is £12million and £10.5million is already secured from Leeds City Council [£6.765million] including a contribution from Yorkshire Forward, Arts Council England [£3.56million] and other donors [£175k]. momentum will raise the remaining £1.5million and, following last night's announcement, Leeds Met is leading the way in the momentum campaign. Dean of Leeds Met's Faculty of Arts and Society, Chris Bailey, said: “Leeds is associated with the best in dance and has the strongest tradition of dance-making of any city in England outside London. This opportunity will attract students from many disciplines, including performing arts, to work alongside the companies in the new centre, learning from them about best practice in their professions.”

Located in the thriving cultural quarter at Quarry Hill in central Leeds, the six-storey dance centre will be purpose-built to meet the demands of the two award-winning companies. Plans for the new building incorporate: seven dance studios including a 200-seat studio theatre, a health suite, wardrobe facilities, office space and meeting rooms and a public exhibition space.

It will be the only dance centre in the UK to accommodate a contemporary dance company alongside a classical ballet company with an associated school. The building will enable NBT and Phoenix to develop all aspects of their work, and provide much needed creative space where new productions will be developed and rehearsed and where previous repertoire can be revived.

NBT and Phoenix already provide an extensive array of education and community activities and the new building will provide greater capacity to expand this. The location of the building will make the work of both companies more accessible to the local community. The studio theatre will give the dancers of the future more opportunities to perform as well as being made available for groups in the community to stage their own performances. The exhibition space will further enhance people's experiences in the building and act as an additional public arts space for Leeds.

Speaking last night, NBT's Chief Executive Mark Skipper said: “All around Leeds it is clear to see the physical investment in the cultural life of the city, for example at the Grand Theatre and the Leeds Museum. The new dance centre, and more importantly what will take place inside it, will establish Leeds as a powerhouse for dance in the UK, adding to its already impressive arts portfolio. It will be a source of pride for the wider community, and everyone in Yorkshire and beyond who values our work.”

Leeds City Council and Arts Council England, Yorkshire, agree that there will be real benefits to the community:

Councillor Andrew Carter, Leader of Leeds City Council said:

“We are fortunate in Leeds to be home to two of the UK's most accomplished dance companies. NBT and Phoenix are important to Leeds' cultural community and we are very proud that the city has such a unique offering in dance. We are supporting the building project because it is a clear statement of our ambition for Leeds to become a national and international centre of excellence for dance.”

Andy Carver, Executive Director, Arts Council England, Yorkshire, said:

“As two of the UK's leading dance companies, NBT and Phoenix are great ambassadors for the Yorkshire region. We believe this new building will greatly improve both companies' working environments and enable them to extend their reach and impact within the community and beyond. We are excited to be key supporters of this project in partnership with Leeds City Council.”

Building work will start on site in spring 2009 and the new building will open in summer 2010. For further information about the momentum campaign visit www.building-momentum.co.uk or contact Melanie Aram at NBT on 0113 274 5355 or email: Melanie.aram@northernballettheatre.co.uk.

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Editors' Notes

  1. NBT is currently located in temporary accommodation at West Park and Phoenix is based at Yorkshire Dance in Leeds. Together NBT and Phoenix have 65 years experience in dance. The two companies have performed to millions of people across the UK and provided opportunities for thousands more people to engage in dance activities.

  2. Northern Ballet Theatre is a touring narrative dance company whose distinctive blend of classical dance and theatre is renowned for captivating new audiences. For up to 30 weeks of the year NBT's Company of 40 dancers tour a combination of new work and acclaimed repertory pieces throughout the UK and overseas. This extensive touring schedule demonstrates NBT's commitment to providing opportunities for people of all ages to have access to excellence in dance performance and participation.

    NBT is the only Centre for Advanced Training for classical dance in the UK.

    NBT's Hamlet, a new ballet by David Nixon, is currently touring nationally, following its world première at Leeds Grand Theatre on 16 February.

    www.northernballettheatre.co.uk

  3. Over the last 26 years Phoenix Dance Theatre has grown to be one of Britain's leading contemporary dance companies. From its home in Leeds, Phoenix tours nationally and internationally, bringing inspiring and entertaining dance to the widest possible audience. Under Artistic Director Javier De Frutos, the Company develops exciting new contemporary dance theatreboth in-house and by selected choreographers of the highest calibre, with a top-flight company of ten dancers hand-picked from all over the world.

    Phoenix is currently rehearsing a new piece Cattle Call, which receives its world première at the West Yorkshire Playhouse on 9 April before touring nationally.

    www.phoenixdancetheatre.co.uk

  4. Generous donations towards the new building have been received from The Garfield Weston Foundation, The Foyle Foundation, The Wolfson Foundation and The Audrey, Stanley Burton Charitable Trust and The Duchess of Westminster.

  5. Leeds Met enjoys a strategic partnership with NBT. The Company toured Madame Butterfly in China in 2007/08 with the support of Leeds Met, Leeds City Council and Yorkshire Forward. In 2006 Leeds Met's support enabled NBT to tour La Traviata to China. In 2007 the partnership was awarded the Prudential Arts & Business Employees Award at the 29th annual national Arts & Business awards and the Arts, Business and Employees Award at the 2006 Arts & Business Yorkshire awards. Partnerships have been established with staff and students across both organisations.

  6. The Strategic Design Alliance

    The Strategic Design Alliance is an award-winning partnership involving employees from Leeds City Council's architectural design services working alongside those from Jacobs Architecture. The partnership began in July 2006 to ensure the council has access to the best architectural services for its wide range of construction projects across the city. Since its formation the SDA has won many awards, most recently for its restoration of The Tiled Hall at Leeds Central Library and notably for its inclusive approach to the design of New Bewerley Community School and Children's Centre in Beeston.

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