While we weren’t able to present the usual Two weeks of world-class music, not everything has come to a halt.
We’re delighted to be able to share with you two amazing opportunities to engage with the music that we’re all missing so much. Ballet Central have recorded a wonderful video during lockdown, and Jive Aces have a live performance to share with us on Saturday 18 July.
The Jive Aces had all shows postponed just before the lockdown so they decided to bring the music and fun straight to your computer, phone, tablet and TV with their “JiveStream” show!
Live at 8:30pm UK time every day during the lockdown they play an hour of swingin’ music and quality banter with special guest call-ins, prize giveaways and more!
This Saturday 18 July they’re performing live from 8.30pm which you can watch on Facebook (you don’t have to be a member).
Ballet Central, the renowned graduate performing company, has created a unique online performance by the company’s dancers who are back at home across the UK and in countries worldwide following the coronavirus pandemic lockdown. Centrally Connected Performs, a new choreographic project realised in a three minute film, is inspired by a specially created piece of music by composer-in-residence Philip Feeney. With contributions from 27 student dancers and their individual choreography, the resulting film is available to view on the Ballet Central website and on YouTube: Centrally Connected Performs .
Each dance student was given the challenge of choreographing and performing a solo with consideration of the setting, costume and the dance genre, allowing each person to interpret the music based on the skills and artistry gained during their BA (Hons) Professional Dance & Performance degree programme. The film is a celebration of the artistry, technical skills and choreographic achievement of Ballet Central dancers who will graduate this July.
Artistic Director Christopher Marney explains: “This year’s Ballet Central tour was unable to proceed due to the Covid-19 pandemic so we created Centrally Connected Performs instead to allow dance students to create their own choreography using ballet or contemporary dance genres inspired by Philip’s innovative music. The result is a unique collaboration, a unifying experience despite not being on tour together or rehearsing as a company at our studios in London.”
Donate to the Festival
The financial implications of having to cancel the 2020 Festival in order to safeguard the health of our audiences, artists and staff due to the coronavirus pandemic, are huge. We can’t wait to get back to what we do best, bringing the best world-class music to Newbury as soon as we are able. But to do this we need your support.
So, we are asking you, and everyone we know, to make a donation to help us survive this extraordinary situation so that we can return next year with two weeks of world-class music.
If you are able, we would be delighted if you might make a one-off donation to support the future of the Newbury Spring Festival.