2015 ANNUAL REPORT

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR

2015 was an exceptionally busy year for Ballet Ireland with a wide variety of activities and performances. The highlights were of course the creation of 'Lost' by Ludovic Ondiviela and 'Coppelia' by Morgann Runacre Temple. Other notable highlights, included our performances in Limerick with the ICO and of course our Summer Workshops with the educational team. It was a difficult year financially for the company. Artistic risk taking is always going to have major financial implications and indeed 2015 saw the company increase its deficit quite significantly. The chief reason for this was the failure of Coppelia to do well at the box office in the Gaiety Theatre. Elsewhere around the country the production was a resounding success both artistically and financially. However, the Gaiety's poor sales have had an impact. Competition is the major factor in Dublin and something we will have to work hard on. So 2016 is a time for celebration and reflection. To celebrate the successes and reflect on how we can minimise risk in the future. We look forward to planning for an even more vibrant and creative year ahead for 2017, which will support further the growth and success of the company.

Anne Maher Director

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

Productions: Tutus & Beyond …

SUMMARY

Tutus & Beyond paid tribute to the purity of classical

ballet, whilst also looking forward to contemporary

ballet beyond the Tutu. The programme was comprised

of: Pas de Quatre, by Jules Perrot; Vivaldi Suite (excerpt)

by Ray Barra; Sing, Sing, Sing, a Bob Fosse inspired piece,

created for Ballet Ireland by Rain Francis. The most

important piece in the programme was ‘Lost’, a powerful

new work created for Ballet Ireland by Royal Ballet

Dancer/Choreographer Ludovic Ondiviela, one of

Europe’s foremost emerging choreographers. Music by

Ezio Bosso. Lighting by Paul Keogan with costumes by

Richard Bermange. The work was received with standing

ovations all over the country and is another major step

forwards for Ballet Ireland.

TOUR DATES

Project Arts Centre, Dublin 9-11 April

Pavilion, Dun Laoghaire 14 April

glór, Ennis 16 April

Town Hall Theatre, Galway 17 April

Roscommon Arts Centre, Roscommon 18 April

Hawk’s Well Theatre, Sligo 19 April

VISUAL, Carlow 21 April

The Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny 22 April

Civic Theatre, Tallaght 24, & 25 April

Firkin Crane, Cork 26 April

Solstice Arts Centre, Navan 28 April

Draíocht, Blanchardstown 29 April

Theatre at the Mill, Newtownabbey 1 May

AUDIENCE NUMBERS

The spring tour was seen by 1,865 audience members.

REVIEWS

… a fascinating production that brings an exciting freshness to the study of ballet... The dancers display

athleticism, poise and flexibility throughout, with marvelous moments intricate pointe work.

SUNDAY BUSINESS POST

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

Production:

Strauss Gala with the Irish Chamber Orchestra

SUMMARY

Building on the success of our Carmen collaboration in 2014, Ballet Ireland was invited to perform

once again with the Irish Chamber Orchestra in May 2015 presenting two performances at the Milk

Market in Limerick. Two couples danced five numbers during the ICO’s evening of Strauss music.

Choreography was created for the evening by Stephen Brennan.

The two performances were complete sellouts. The Milk Market as a venue, has proven itself to be a

huge success with audiences. Having both dancers and performers on this stage setting, creates an

intimacy and immediateness of experiencing live dance and music - drawing in and integrating rather

than separating the elements of live performance that are so often kept at a polite level of

engagement with each other. The unusual outdoor setting attracted a broader audience demographic

for both art forms.

PERFORMANCES

Thursday 28 and Friday 29 May 2015

AUDIENCE NUMBERS

The production was seen by 1,200 audience

members.

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

Production:

Merry Widow

SUMMARY

Ballet Ireland’s Stephen Brennan choreographed for the students of INYB for Lyric Opera’s

performances of The Merry Widow at the National Concert Hall.

PERFORMANCES

16 & 17 (matinee and evening) May 2015

AUDIENCE NUMBERS

The production was

seen by 1,125

audience members.

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

Production:

Photo shoot and Private Performance for Joseph Walsh

SUMMARY

Having come to see Tutu’s on Tour in Cork, Furniture Designer Joseph Walsh requested one of our

dancers to model in a photo shoot to document a bed commissioned for the Duke of Devonshire. The

company was then asked to perform an extract from ‘Lost’ at a private event in June in Fota House for

Mr Walsh to celebrate being honoured by UCC.

PERFORMANCE

27 May 2015.

AUDIENCE NUMBERS

The performance was seen by 60

audience members.

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

Production: Coppelia

SUMMARY

In autumn 2015 Ballet Ireland mounted a new production of

Coppélia. Choreography Morgann Runacre-Temple with an

amazing creative team comprising of Libretto by Stella Feehily.

Sound design and arrangement by Tom Lane & Rob Maloney.

Set Design Lorna Ritchie. Costume Design Louise Verity. Lighting

Design by Kevin Smith.

TOUR DATES

The Helix, Dublin 29 Oct

The Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny 30 Oct

Theatre at the Mill, Newtownabbey 4 Nov

Burnavon Arts Centre, Cookstown 5 Nov

Garage Theatre, Monaghan 6 Nov

Ardhowen Theatre, Enniskillen 7 Nov

Riverside Theatre, Coleraine 11 Nov

VISUAL, Carlow: 12 Nov

Roscommon Arts Centre, Roscommon 14 Nov

Gaiety Theatre, Dublin 17 - 21 Nov

Dunamaise Arts Centre, Portlaoise 24 Nov

An Grianán Theatre, Letterkenny 27 Nov

Hawk’s Well Theatre, Sligo 25 Nov

Wexford Opera House, Wexford 29 Nov

AUDIENCE NUMBERS

The spring tour was seen by 14,685 people.

Civic Theatre, Tallaght 3 - 5 Dec

glór, Ennis 10 Dec

Lime Tree Theatre, Limerick 11 Dec

Siamsa Tíre Theatre, Tralee 12 Dec

Solstice Arts Centre, Navan 15 Dec

Backstage Theatre, Longford 16 Dec

Draíocht Arts Centre, Blanchardstown 18 Dec

Source Arts Centre, Thurles 19 Dec

Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray 20 Dec

REVIEWS

…in “Coppélia” opposites most certainly do attract, complimenting each other wonderfully to

create a thoroughly enjoyable and utterly refreshing production . IRISH EXAMINER

a truly magical performance from Ireland’s national ballet company. SUNDAY BUSINESS POST

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

Education Programme: Primary Schools

SUMMARY

We continue to develop and promote our

schools programme throughout 2015. Our

current agenda has evolved in close

collaboration with schools in the Dublin 15

area. Our series of workshops, in which

children join us in class and rehearsal, has

proved an extremely successful route through

which to expose young people to the

experience of dance. In addition to the classes

in their schools, children had workshops in

DanceHouse, before meeting the company and

observing rehearsals.

SCHOOLS

Our Education Officer works with students in St. Patrick’s JNS, Corduff, Scoil Mhuire JNS Blakestown

and St. Philip’s JNS.

PARTICIPATION NUMBERS

4,916 students took part in the programme.

TESTIMONIALS

‘…the programme did more than just

integrate with our curriculum. It promoted

positive behaviour among our pupils and has

contributed to higher levels of self-esteem

particularly among those pupils with Special

Educational Need. The school community has

been enriched having had the opportunity to work with the members of their team and having talked to

the dancers I know that they felt that they also benefited immensely from the experience.’

Sean Sheehan, Principal St Ciarán’s National School, Clonsilla, Dublin 1

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

Education Programme: Summer School

SUMMARY

Our summer school programme continued throughout July and August 2015. We continue to

concentrate on attracting a larger uptake of places from a younger age group, those aged between 6

and 9 years particularly; in recent years the programme has proved increasingly popular with older

students, many repeating year on year.

PARTICIAPTING THEATRES

Glór, Ennis; The Civic Theatre, Tallaght; An Grianán, Letterkenny; The Burnavon, Cookstown and the

Moat Theatre Naas

ATTENDANCE NUMBERS

3,107 young pupil attended

TESTIMONIALS

‘As a parent I was amazed that much could be accomplished in

only few days. The final performance looked like something

that was rehearsed for weeks.’

‘My son has been dancing for a couple of years. We attend all

of Ballet Ireland’s productions and he is delighted to be

dancing on stage with dancers he has seen on stage.’

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

Education Programme: Workshops

SUMMARY

We respond to various requests throughout the year

to deliver workshops of all kinds around the country

to private dance schools and colleges. This forms part

of our strategy to grow our relationships with

teachers and students throughout the country and

continues our commitment to nurturing young

talent.

PARTICIAPTING THEATRES

Workshops were conducted at Xquisite Dance Academy, Tallaght; Clare Connolly Dance,

Blanchardstown; VISUAL, Carlow, Burnavon, Cookstown; An Grianán, Letterkenny; Etoile School of

Dance, Portrush; Peelo School of Dance, Celbridge; Dance Ireland Limerick; Zona Dance, Letterkenny

and The Ark as part of the Association for Creativity and Arts in Education (ACAE)

ATTENDANCE NUMBERS

283 students took part in workshops.

TESTIMONIAL

It has been such a delight to work with Ballet Ireland over the last few years. Each time Ballet Ireland

comes to our town we have been delighted to partake in repertoire classes and summer schools. Our

students have been challenged and inspired by their interaction with the company and the dancers.

Each year students come to me with eyes wide asking ‘can we do that?’, I’ve found as their instructor

that the students work harder and find more in themselves to give to their dancing after we’ve spent

time with the company, whether that is in class or as an audience member. From the youngest student

to the most senior dancers, they always leave the experience with higher aspirations and as stronger

dancers, I am so glad of the ongoing professional relationship that we’ve been able to develop with

Ballet Ireland.

Jessica Peoples, RAD, RTS

Director/Principle ZoNa Dance Co.

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

Board of Directors and Management

The Ballet Ireland’s Board of Directors and Executives are committed to maintaining good

governance. Ballet Ireland is currently working to be compliant with The Governance Code as a

Type C organisation and website compliant to Standard A on the Governance Transparency

Scale.

As an organisation with charitable status under the Charities Act 2009, Ballet Ireland (BI) aims

to comply with the Statement of Guiding Principle for Fundraising drawn up to meet the

requirements of the Act.

PATRON

President Michael D.Higgins

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Sheamus Smith (Chairman)

Kilian O’Callaghan (Company Secretary)

Louise Carpendale

Gerardine Connolly

Heather Kennedy

Eilis Quinlan

Roger Spence

STAFF

Director:

Anne Maher

General Manager:

Jeanette Keane

Education Officer:

Stephen Brennan

Press:

Kate Bowe PR

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

Partners and Funders

Support from our funding bodies, media sponsors and patrons allows us to bring productions

of the highest professional quality to audiences throughout Ireland.

MAIN FUNDER

MEDIA PARTNERS

DONORS

Louise Verity

Anonymous Donor

DIAMOND FRIENDS €500

Lady Annie Arnott

Lindsay and Siobhan Ashe-Browne

RUBY FRIENDS €150

Debbie Allen, Debbie Allen School of Dance

Sean Braiden

Olive Braiden

Deirdre Brennan, The Peelo School of Dance

Carsten Mikkelsen

Joseph Walsh, Joseph Walsh Studios

SAPPHIRE FRIENDS €75

Ingrid Nachstern

Cynthia Ó Dúnlaing

Sadhbh Ó Dúnlaing, Bray Dance Academy

Ballet Ireland| Agher | Summerhill |Co Meath |A83 WK70

Tel: +353 465 955 7585 Fax: +353 46 955 7585 E: info@balletireland.ie Registered Trademark 253463 | Charity No. CHY13310 | Company Number: 254744