Dancer Sean Bates loves performing around the country but this month he is looking forward to dancing in his home town when Northern Ballet return to Milton Keynes Theatre.
The Company will perform artistic director David Nixon’s witty balletic take on Shakespeare’s funny, fairy-filled play A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream later this month.
Sean grew up in Giffard Park, enjoying dance classes at The Gaynor Cameron School of Dance before training at the Royal Ballet School (White Lodge) and then the Royal Ballet Upper School.
He joined Northern Ballet in 2012 and has just turned 22 years old.
Based in Leeds with Northern Ballet when not touring, he returns to the new city regularly, both for work and pleasure.
Sean said: “We visit Milton Keynes Theatre every year on the tour.
“It’s a great theatre and, of course, it’s great to come home and perform and have family and friends come to watch.
“Otherwise, I’m back home most weekends to visit family and friends as well.
“Audiences in Milton Keynes are in for a treat for sure with our production of
A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
“Our take on it follows a touring ballet company and it is so interesting to see how well Shakespeare’s story works in this context.
“You can really see how all the characters’ relationships and interactions within the fictional ballet company relate to Shakespeare’s original text.
“It is just so cleverly linked with the original story that you can engage with it straight away and then enjoy all the dancing, scenery and costumes too!”
As a young dancer, Sean is already being given exciting opportunities within the Company – in one cast for
A Midsummer Night’s Dream he dances as Puck, the mischievous sprite in Shakespeare’s romantic comedy.
Sean said: “Puck is a great opportunity as he is such a key role.
“He is involved in most of the story and creates a lot of the romantic mishaps!”
(Northern Ballet dancer Sean Bates. Photo by Simon Lawson)
Northern Ballet’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream opens at Milton Keynes Theatre on Tuesday May 20 and continues until Saturday May 24.
Call Milton Keynes Theatre Box Office on 0844 871 7652 or visit www.atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes to book (booking fee applies).
GEORGINA BUTLER
For the full interview with Sean visit http://georginabutler.wordpress.com
“You can really see how all the characters’ relationships and interactions within the fictional ballet company relate to Shakespeare’s original text.
“It is just so cleverly linked with the original story that you can engage with it straight away and then enjoy all the dancing, scenery and costumes too!”
As a young dancer, Sean is already being given exciting opportunities within the Company – in one cast for A Midsummer Night’s Dream he dances as Puck, the mischievous sprite in Shakespeare’s romantic comedy.
Sean said: “Puck is a great opportunity as he is such a key role.
“He is involved in most of the story and creates a lot of the romantic mishaps!”
(Northern Ballet dancer Sean Bates. Photo by Simon Lawson)
Northern Ballet’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream opens at Milton Keynes Theatre on Tuesday May 20 and continues until Saturday May 24.
Call Milton Keynes Theatre Box Office on 0844 871 7652 or visit www.atgtickets.com/
