LONDON CITY BALLET RETURNS UNDER THE ARTISTIC DIRECTION OF CHRISTOPHER MARNEY

It was announced that in 2024 after a hiatus of almost 30 years, the London City Ballet will return to the stage again under the direction of Christopher Marney, former dancer, and director of the Joffrey Ballet Studio Company of Chicago. The company will begin touring in the UK and internationally in summer 2024, including a week of performances on Sadler’s Wells stage in the autumn.

London City Ballet is a touring company of 16 international dancers presenting ground-breaking British ballet and contemporary dance to audiences across the world. 

The full company repertoire will include the revival of Kenneth MacMillan’s 1972 one-act ballet Ballade unseen in over fifty years. Ashley Page’s Larina Waltz marks the ballet’s 30th anniversary. Eve, a full company work by Christopher Marney, which premiered at Sadler’s Wells in 2022 will close the evening. At international venues on the company's tour the pas de deux from Kenneth MacMillan's Concerto will be performed as wells as Liam Scarlett’s Consolations & Liebestraum.

London City Ballet History

London City Ballet was formerly the resident company of Sadler’s Wells, and internationally recognised as one of the world’s leading dance collectives, the prolific touring company was famously patronised by Diana, Princess of Wales. The original London City Ballet closed its doors in 1996 after 18 years of operations under its Director and Founder Harold King.

Artistic Director Christopher Marney has spent two years rebuilding London City Ballet with historical insights from its early pioneers.

1. Larina Waltz by Ashley Page

Music: Tchaikovsky - Eugene Onegin Op. 24 Act II, Scene 1 Waltz

Quintessentially English in style, Larina Waltz was created in 1993 at the Royal Ballet for dancers including Darcey Bussell and Viviana Durante.

The dancers weave in and out of ensembles and duets without slowing down a beat. The waltz pushes tradition with swivels, near-constant direction changes and lifts that skim the floor. Dynamic, brisk pointework and steps that spring from open positions, each dancer displays their individuality and star qualities in featured duets. The energy bubbles to a froth by the finale, when all couples return to the stage dancing in unison.

2. Consolations & Liebestraum by Liam Scarlett

Music: Consolations Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 5; Liebestraum - No. 3 by Franz List

Consolations and Liebestraum choreographed by Liam Scarlett is a one act ballet which premiered on the 14th May 2009 and has only been performed at The Royal Opera House, Linbury Studio Theatre. The music by Franz List enhances the series of unfolding duets in this compelling work for 6 dancers.

3. Concerto (Second movement pas de deux) by Kenneth MacMillan

Music: Shostakovich’s second Piano Concerto in F major

Created in 1966 for Berlin’s Deutsche Opera Ballet and set to Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto, this stunning, lyrical pas de deux reflects the contrasting mood of the music. Originally inspired by a young Lynn Seymour warming up at the ballet barre the work’s warmth and energy are encapsulated in Concerto, which remains one of MacMillan’s most celebrated creations.

4. Ballade by Kenneth MacMillan

Music: Faure - Ballade for Piano & Orchestra in F-Sharp Major, Op. 19

Ballade, a chamber work with a cast of four, was created for The Royal Ballet’s New Group in 1972 and has remained unseen in Europe and Asia since then. As the ballet opens, the four dancers sit in line with their backs to the audience. They look at each other and the men look to the only woman. All move to the table as if to play a card game. What followed seems an exercise in choreographic poker with the men making plays for the girl in a sequence of pas de deux or groups. She makes up her mind and the others deal with the consequences.

5. Eve by Chris Marney

Music: Jennie Muskett (composed 2022)

In this intimate look at the story from Eve’s perspective, Marney tackles fundamental human questions in a thrilling, and ultimately hopeful, work focusing on the exchange between Eve and the Serpent.