BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET SCOOPS PRESTIGIOUS THE SOUTH BANK SHOW AWARD

I'm sure you'll all join me in congratulating Birmingham Royal Ballet on their much deserved win.  I saw this programme last year and regular readers will recall my surprise at being almost catapulted from my seat in The Manhattan Project.  The ballet is adventurous and engaging, with great use of the stage from the dancers as you'd expect.  More surprising was the ingenious use of lighting - it really does need to be seen to be believed.

Media release: 27.01.2010

BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET SCOOPS PRESTIGIOUS THE SOUTH BANK SHOW AWARD

Elisha Willis and Joseph Caley in Birmngham Royal Ballet's E=mc²

Photograph :  Bill Cooper

Director David Bintley’s E=mc² wins ITV’s The South Bank Show Awards dance prize

Birmingham Royal Ballet is thrilled to announce success for Director David Bintley and his ballet E=mc² at ITV’s The South Bank Show Awards at London’s Dorchester Hotel on Tuesday 26 January 2010. Hosted by Melvyn Bragg, the 14th South Bank Show awards is the last ever ceremony for the celebrated arts programme.

Samara Downs in The Manhattan Project

Photograph :  Roy Smiljanic

Based on Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, E=mc², choreographed by Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Director David Bintley, enjoyed its world premiere at Birmingham Hippodrome in September 2009 as part of the triple bill Quantum Leaps and delighted audiences during the Company’s autumn 2009 tour.

E=mc² is set to a specially commissioned score by Australian composer Matthew Hindson with costumes by Kate Ford and lighting by Peter Mumford and was inspired by the book E=mc²: A Biography of the World’s Most Famous Equation from author David Bodanis.

Other nominees in the category were Wayne McGregor’s Limen and dance group Diversity, winners of ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent programme.

Birmngham Royal Ballet's E=mc²

Photograph :  Roy Smiljanic

Speaking at the Award Ceremony yesterday David Bintley said: I am delighted to win The South Bank Show dance award for E=mc² in Birmingham Royal Ballet's 20th anniversary year. This award celebrates the company's creative collaborations, the talent of the dancers and highlights my commitment to producing new work that will take Birmingham Royal Ballet forward into another exciting year and decade.

Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Chief Executive, Christopher Barron said: This prestigious award comes at a significant time for Birmingham Royal Ballet as the company prepares to celebrate 20 years in the City of Birmingham. The recognition for dance at The South Bank Show Awards not only celebrates the work of David Bintley and Birmingham Royal Ballet but also highlights the strength of the company and the arts in Birmingham as it moves forward in its bid for the City of Culture in 2013.

The South Bank Show Awards ceremony honours the best in British arts in the world with 10 awards in categories including; TV Drama, Classical Music, Pop Music, Visual Arts, Comedy, Dance, Film, Literature, Opera and Theatre.