What is a Curtain Raiser?
Our Curtain Raiser programme provides talented young dancers with the opportunity to audition, rehearse and choreograph with professional dance companies. Over a number of weeks, the young dancers work towards performing a brand-new piece on one of our stages ahead of a professional performance in front of a live audience.
Young people gain insight into what it’s like to work with professional companies and choreographers, as well as providing opportunities to connect with other like-minded young dancers from across the region.
In recent years, we have presented Curtain Raiser programmes with Matthew Bourne’s New Adventure, Motionhouse, Zoonation and Ailey 2.
Recent Projects
Curtain Raiser at Ailey 2 in partnership with Dance Consortium
Oct 2023
The Curtain Raiser company for Ailey 2 comprised 20 participants ages 14-21 selected from 70 who responded to the open call audition process. The dancers had different levels of experience – some had no formal dance tuition or had ever auditioned before. Drawn from our Hippodrome Education Network (HEN) and our community partner networks, the young company worked with Marcus Jarrell Willis, a former Alvin Ailey dancer, to create an original piece of dance theatre to perform on the Hippodrome’s main stage ahead of the main performance.
Inspired by the storytelling techniques and choreographic style of Alvin Ailey, the young company explored issues and themes raised in the company’s most iconic pieces. Studio rehearsals were an opportunity for the participants to develop a sense of teamwork and camaraderie as well as gain further insight into the rigour, discipline, trust and fearlessness required from professional artists. A highlight of the project was the visit by Alvin Ailey 2 Artistic Director, Francesca Harper. She attended the final, on stage rehearsal and gave notes to the company.
Curtain Raiser Circle
We are grateful to the following donors and grant-makers for their generous support of the Curtain Raiser programme:
Angelina Adamo • Kirsty Davies-Chinnock • Deborah Horton • Lynne Myers • Katie Newbon • The Oakley Charitable Trust • Julie Philips • Anonymous Donors
Thank you for helping to bring to life exceptional dance opportunities for talented young local dancers.
Find out more
Participants
To find out more about future auditions, please email at the link below:
Supporters
To find out more about the Curtain Raiser programme or to make a donation and become a member of our Curtain Raiser Circle, please call Rachel Bromfield on 0121 689 3071 or email us at the link below.