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'World-class' dance born in Newcastle to wow audiences with double bill of performancesNorthern Dance will be performing two innovative works this Friday including the premier of new

performance 'Cherub Dance'CommentsEmily Gray Community Reporter20:14, 20 May 2025Northern Dance ballet company is set to deliver a 'world-class' double-bill of unique performances to

audiences this Friday(Image: David Leonard) A Newcastle ballet company is set to deliver a 'world-class' double-bill of unique performances to audiences this Friday, May 23.

Set within the city's creative Ouseburn district on Lime Street, Northern Dance will perform 'Flores de la Noche', inspired by the painting 'Damas de Noche' by Anthony Whishaw first

performed in 2023, alongside the premiere of brand new work 'Cherub Dance'.

‌ The performances will feature choreography by Maxine Fell, one of the country’s most innovative choreographers who trained at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance and has been based

in Newcastle for many years.

‌ Audiences can expect to be delighted by live music performances from four local musicians, composed for these works by BAFTA-nominated composer Kevin Sargent. Local technicians have

designed the lighting and sound, while two of the dancers are Newcastle born and bred.

Set up in 2018, Director of Northern Dance Maxine Fell explained how the company has been developing new and innovative work: "We wanted to create a world-class dance company in the north,

using the amazing talent that exists here.

Rehearsals of new show 'Cherub Dance'  before the Newcastle Premier (Image: Alan Mason)Article continues below "We want to be part of a movement that celebrates excellence, creativity and

ambition, as creating opportunities and bringing joy to the people of Newcastle and hopefully helping to support the North East as a thriving focus for the arts and creativity."

North East Mayor, Kim McGuinness, said: "Northern Dance is a fantastic organisation that’s creating opportunities for our talent in the North East. This world-class institution is putting

our region on the map, showcasing our stories and letting young people see what can be achieved with ambition, creativity and hard work.

"It’s fantastic to see local dancers, musicians and technicians are all part of delivering this latest uplifting and impressive show, which I’ve been so lucky to see in rehearsals. I am

committed to backing our creative industries after years of underfunding. They are vital to creating a diverse economy by bringing jobs, building skills and attracting visitors."

‌ Northern Dance Trustee David Leonard added: "Regional the arts as well as enriching the local culture, can be a significant driver to the economy as a whole. They can bring in highly

skilled professionals, create new opportunities for local people to build skills, and be a net contributor to the local economy.

"The arts have been badly underfunded in recent years but organisations like Northern Dance are showing what can be done with ambition, talent, creativity and hard work."

Rehearsals of new show 'Cherub Dance'  before the Newcastle Premier (Image: Alan Mason)‌ As well as Maxine Fell calling Newcastle home, so do a couple of the dancers who will be performing.

Maxine added: “Two of our dancers are Newcastle born and bred, while two others are from the Midlands, one from Wales and one from London.

"I was always determined to create opportunities for artists in the North, balancing that with ensuring that all our dancers are world-class and together form the perfect ensemble to express

my vision for these works. We now have a wonderful small team who are incredibly skilled, emotive dancers who support Northern Dance, and each other, every step of the way.

"I am excited to showcase their, and the whole team’s, talent. We are performing with world class dancers, choreographers and musicians, creating new, innovative work for new audiences. We

want to move the centre of creative innovation to the North, where artists have always been the driving force for creative and cultural change."

‌ "My experience of being a carer for a year to my parents and our dancer Katherine’s experience of working professionally with carers meant this was a group we really wanted to connect with

as part of our ambition to put performances on for people who may not usually get to see performances like this.”

Maxine Fell, Founder and Artistic Director of Northern Dance(Image: Maxine Fell/Northern Dance ) "The space we work and perform in is different. It’s not at all a traditional dance venue –

it’s unusual, cool, and gets you up close to the musicians and dancers in a very intimate space."

Article continues below Northern Dance is performing for three nights from May 21 - 23 - firstly to a group of carers and young dancers; secondly to a selected audience of people working in

the arts, the Mayor’s team, funders and the press, and thirdly to the general public on Friday May 23.

To book tickets for Fridays show and more information, visit here.

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