Via Press Release:
BRB Japan Tour 2011
Two years in the planning, the second International tour during the current 2010/11 season will see BRB perform in four cities across the southern region of Japan. From May 14 – 29 2011, the tour will include dates in Japan’s capital city of Tokyo, plus performances in Kamakura, Aichi and Hyogo. The performance on Tuesday 17 May at Tokyo’s U-port Hall venue will be a Benefit Performance for the Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief.
The company will perform Sir Peter Wright’s The Sleeping Beauty and a double bill of Sir Frederick Ashton’s Daphnis and Chloë and The Dream, with Miyako Yoshida to guest in The Dream (27 & 29 May) and Tamara Rojo in The Sleeping Beauty (21 & 22 May).
Performance schedule:
- Sat 14 May: Kamakura – Kamakura Hall – The Sleeping Beauty
- Tue 17 May: Tokyo – U-Port Hall – Daphnis and Chloë and The Dream*
- Thu 19 May: Aichi – Aichi Performing Arts Centre – The Sleeping Beauty
- Sat 21 May:Â Tokyo – Bunkakaikan Hall – The Sleeping Beauty
- Sun 22 May: Tokyo – Bunkakaikan Hall – The Sleeping Beauty
- Wed 25 May: Hyogo – Hyogo Performing Arts Centre – Daphnis and Chloë and The Dream
- Fri 27 May: Tokyo - Bunkakaikan Hall – Daphnis and Chloë and The Dream
- Sat 28 May: Tokyo – Bunkakaikan Hall – Daphnis and Chloë and The Dream
- Sun 29 May: Tokyo- Bunkakaikan Hall – Daphnis and Chloë and The Dream
*Fundraising performance for the Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief
The Birmingham Royal Ballet in Sir Peter Wright's The Sleeping Beauty. Photo: Bill Cooper / BRB ©
Company Director David Bintley said:
On the afternoon of 11 March 2011, I was rehearsing the dancers of the National Ballet of Japan in my ballet Take Five, part of the Company’s latest programme, due to premiere the following Saturday. The devastating earthquake and tsunami that occurred that day and the resulting tragic plight of the Japanese people echoed around the world. Music, singing and dancing, which can so often bring joy and happiness to the spirit seemed inappropriate, and the New National along with most theatres in Tokyo closed its doors as the people of Japan began to count the cost of the tragedy visited upon them.
Two months later with Japan facing its future with a bravery and stoicism that has become the admiration of the world, I am proud to be bringing Birmingham Royal Ballet to Japan as part of the cultural and spiritual healing of this great nation. We hope that our performances of Sir Peter Wright’s classic production of The Sleeping Beauty and Sir Frederick Ashton’s warm and wonderful masterpieces, The Dream and Daphnis and Chloë will bring joy and light to our Japanese audiences and provide them with some respite from their current difficulties.
Birmingham Royal Ballet & Miyako Yoshida in Japan
[...] Royal Ballet are currently on tour in Japan. This is a very welcome visit during challenging times for the Japanese people. In the wake of the [...]