What's On

Ballet Black

Pioneers

–

Tickets from £10

Five female dancers pose together on a grey background.

0 Stars

These are individuals who you want to watch.

The Guardian

Now in their 21st year, Cassa Pancho’s Ballet Black is excited to present award-winning choreographers, Will Tuckett and Mthuthuzeli November in a double bill of new and original work.

Will Tuckett's Then Or Now, originally created in 2020, blends classical ballet, music and the poetry of Adrienne Rich to ask the question: in times like these, where do we belong?

Mthuthuzeli November makes his third mainstage commission for the Company, Nina: By Whatever Means, a love letter to musician, performer and activist, Nina Simone, that combines ballet, jazz and the blues in a moving and inspiring piece of dance theatre.

Double Bill

Then or Now

Originally co-commissioned with the Barbican, London

Choreography: William Tuckett
Lighting: David Plater
Costume design: Yukiko Tsukamoto
Poetry: Adrienne Rich (1929-2012)
Music: Then Or Now - Variations on a theme by Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber (1644-1704)
Performer: Daniel Pioro
Poetry recordings: Hafsah Bashir, Natasha Gordon & Michael Shaeffer

Nina: By Whatever Means

A Barbican co-commission

Choreography: Mthuthuzeli November
Lighting: David Plater
Costume design: Jessica Cabassa
Composers: Mandisi Dyantyis, Mthuthuzeli November, Nina Simone (1954-2002)
Featuring the voices of the Zolani Youth Choir

0 Stars

Ballet Black makes a thoroughly convincing case that this is indeed the future of dance.

iNews

Image gallery

  • Three couples dance together in front of two spotlights.
  • A male dancer dancing on stage. He has one leg raised and both arms above his head.
  • A male dancer raises a female dancer above him. She holds her body straight with her arms raised above her head. Another female dancer sits on a chair near the back of the stage with her legs together.
  • A group of Ballet Black dancers pose in a tight group. There are white chairs scattered around the stage.
  • Three couples dance together in front of two spotlights.
  • A male dancer dancing on stage. He has one leg raised and both arms above his head.
  • A male dancer raises a female dancer above him. She holds her body straight with her arms raised above her head. Another female dancer sits on a chair near the back of the stage with her legs together.
  • A group of Ballet Black dancers pose in a tight group. There are white chairs scattered around the stage.

Check out behind the scenes of The Ballet Black Company in rehearsals for NINA: By Whatever Means.

Image gallery

  • Two female dancers pose with one hand on their forehead and one hand out to the side.
  • Five female dancers pose together on a grey background.
  • The Ballet Black Company pose around a black piano.
  • A woman dressed as Nina Simone stands behind a microphone.
  • Two female dancers pose with one hand on their forehead and one hand out to the side.
  • Five female dancers pose together on a grey background.
  • The Ballet Black Company pose around a black piano.
  • A woman dressed as Nina Simone stands behind a microphone.

Video credits

Dancers: The Ballet Black Company
Choreography: Mthuthuzeli November
Music from: Nina Simone, Mthuthuzeli November, Mandisi Dyantyis and The Zolani Youth Choir
Costume Design: Jessica Cabassa
Trailer by: Mthuthuzeli November

Dates & Times

  • Post-show Talk

    MembersEnjoy 25%MembersOpt In
    Buy tickets

  • MembersEnjoy 25%MembersOpt In
    Buy tickets