Company Repertoire

2024

if at first – sophie laplane

Choreography: Sophie Laplane
Lighting Design: David Plater
Costume Design: Jessica Cabassa
Creative consultant: James Bonas

Music:

Moon Drifting 4 (After Beethoven) (2020), composed by Olivia Belli. Recorded by Olivia Belli & Enrico Belli, from the album, Moonlight Recomposed. Published by Birdsong Music Publishing.

Coffee Grounds (2014), written by Bert Dockx, Fred Lyenn and Steven Cassieres and recorded by Dans Dans from the album, 3. Published by News Publishing BVBA.

The Argument (2024) specially composed and recorded for this ballet by Tom Harrold. Published by Bucks Music Group LTD. Recording courtesy of Richard Kirstein LTD.

Prelude No. 3 (2021) composed and recorded by Dustin O’Halloran © 2021 Richard Kirstein Limited.

Mother & Son (2024) specially composed and recorded for this ballet by Tom Harrold.

Au Hasard (2013) written by Bert Dockx, Fred Lyenn and Steven Cassieres and recorded by Dans Dans, from the album, I / II. Published by Dans Dans VZW.

Symphony No. 3 in E Flat Major, Op. 55 “Eroica”: I. Allegro con brio (excerpt) Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) recorded by Sir Georg Solti & London Symphony Orchestra from the album Immortal Beloved (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack 1994) © 1994 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT and

Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat Major, Op. 55 “Eroica”: II. Funeral March (Excerpt) recorded by Jukka-Pekka Saraste & Scottish Chamber Orchestra from the album, The Very Best of Beethoven (2006) © 2019 Parlophone Records Limited, a Warner Music Group Company.

Within The Walls (2024) specially composed and recorded for this ballet by Tom Harrold.

I’ll Be Your Woman (2007) composed and recorded by Michelle Gurevich from  the album Party Girl. © Michelle Gurevich 2016.

If At First is a co-commission by the Barbican (2024).

The waiting game – mthuthuzeli november

Choreography: Mthuthuzeli November
Music: The Waiting Game (2023) composed by Mthuthuzeli November & Alex Wilson
Lighting Design: David Plater
Original costume designs for 2020 by Peter Todd
Door Design: Richard Bolton & Phil Cristodolou
Voiceover by The Artists of Ballet Black

Originally created with support from The Linbury Trust

2023

nina: by whatever means – mthuthuzeli november

Choreography & direction: Mthuthuzeli November
Lighting design: David Plater
Costume design: Jessica Cabassa
Set design & scenery: Mthuthuzeli November
Additional set design & construction: Richard Bolton & Alistage Ltd.

Composers: Mandisi Dyantyis, Mthuthuzeli November & Nina Simone (1954-2002)
Featuring the voices of the Zolani Youth Choir & The Ballet Black Company

Mood Indigo (1958) from the album: Little Girl Blue
Composer: Albany Bigard & Duke Ellington
Performed by Nina Simone

Sinnerman (Live in New York, 1965) from the album: The Best of Nina Simone
Composed & performed by: Nina Simone

Nina Simone’s songs and speeches are licensed from the Nina Simone Charitable Trust and Rich & Famous Records, Ltd. courtesy of Steven Ames Brown.

Nina: By Whatever Means is a co-commission by the Barbican (2023).

Then Or Now – Will tuckett

Choreography: William Tuckett (2021)
Lighting Design: David Plater
Costume Design: Yukiko Tsukamoto
Music: Passacaglia for solo violin (1676). Music originally composed by Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber (1644-1704)
Arranged & recorded by Daniel Pioro
Poetry: Adrienne Rich (1929-2012)
Director of Poetry: Fiona L Bennett
Poetry recordings: Hafsah Bashir, Natasha Gordon & Michael Shaeffer
Then Or Now was co-commissioned by the Barbican

2022

Say It Loud – Cassa Pancho & Company

Concept & Direction: Cassa Pancho
Choreography: Cassa Pancho and Company Dancers: José Alves, Charlotte Broom, Isabela Coracy, Alexander Fadayiro, Sayaka Ichikawa, Rosanna Lindsey, Marie-Astrid Mence, Mthuthuzeli November, Cira Robinson & Ebony Thomas
Lighting Design: David Plater
Costume Design: Jessica Cabassa
Sound track compilation: Cassa Pancho
Soundtrack creation & additional composition: Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante
Sound design: Jim Carey
Voiceover artists: Jim Carey Connell, Natasha Gordon, Baker Mukasa & The Ballet Black Company
The voiceover in this piece is compiled from audience feedback, social media comments, reviews, emails, discussions, letters and interviews received or given by Ballet Black between 2001 and 2021. Additional text by Cassa Pancho

Music for Pieces of Wood (1973), composed by Steve Reich. Recorded by Pierre- Laurent Aimard, taken from the album, Various Composers: African Rhythms © Warner Classics, Warner Music UK

Welcome To London (A Capella) (2019) composed & recorded by Flowdan © Full Thought Publishing & Copyright Control with additional composition by Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante

If You’re Brown (1964) composed & recorded by Lord Kitchener (1922-2000), taken from the album, Music From the Caribbean – Trinidad © 2012 Acewonder Ltd.

WHATCHUTALKINBOUT (2021) composed & recorded by Jon Batiste, taken from the album, WE ARE and What a Wonderful World (2018) composed by George David Weiss & George Douglas & recorded by Jon Batiste, taken from the album, Hollywood Africans © 2018 both Naht Jona LLC, under exclusive license to Verve Label Group, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.

At Last (1960) composed by Harry Warren & Mack Gordon & recorded by Etta James (1938-2012), taken from the album, The Best Of Etta James © Spectrum Music

This Little Light of Mine / M’Lilo Vutha Mathanjeni / If You Ever Need the Lord (Live) recorded by the Soweto Gospel Choir, taken from the album, Live at the Nelson Mandela Theatre © 2008 Shanachie with additional composition by Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante

Black Sun – Gregory Maqoma

Choreography & direction: Gregory Maqoma
Music: Black Sun (2022) Composer: Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante
Lighting Design: David Plater
Costume Design: Natalie Pryce
Additional music: Abangoma composed and recorded by Madala Kunene taken from the album, Kon’ko Man © Melt 2000
Black Sun was co-commissioned by the Barbican

2021

The Waiting Game – Mthuthuzeli November

Choreography: Mthuthuzeli November
Lighting Design: David Plater
Costume Design: Peter Todd
Door design: Richard Bolton & Phil Cristodolou
Dramaturg: Natalie Vijver

Music:

1st movement
The Waiting Game (2019) Composed & recorded by Mthuthuzeli November Vocals: The Ballet Black Company

2nd movement
Less (2008) Composed & recorded by Ljova and the Kontraband Taken from the album, Mnemosyne

3rd movement
Something’s Got A Hold Of Me (1962), Written by Etta James (1938-2012), Leroy Kirkland (1904-1988) & Pearl Woods (b.1933). Recording by Etta James

This ballet was created with support from The Linbury Trust

Then Or Now – Will Tuckett

Choreography: William Tuckett
Lighting Design: David Plater
Costume Design: Yukiko Tsukamoto
Poetry: Adrienne Rich (1929-2012)
Director of Poetry: Fiona L Bennett
Poetry recordings: Hafsah Bashir, Natasha Gordon & Michael Shaeffer

Selected poems from Dark Fields of the Republic 1991-1995 by Adrienne Rich and used by permission of The Frances Goldin Literary Agency. Passacaglia for solo violin (1676)

Music originally composed by Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber (1644-1704) Arranged & recorded by Daniel Pioro

Then Or Now was co-commissioned by the Barbican

2019

Ingoma by Mthuthuzeli November for Ballet Black
Jose Alves and Cira Robinson in Ingoma by Mthuthuzeli November for Ballet Black

Ingoma – Mthuthuzeli November

Choreographer: Mthuthuzeli November
Lighting Design: David Plater
Designs: Yann Seabra
Poet & dramaturg: Asisipho Ndlovu Malunga
Composer: Peter Johnson (b. 1986)

Music: Ingoma (2019)
Prayer & additional music: Mthuthuzeli November
Singers: The Ballet Black Company
Ingoma was inspired by the poem Blue Head (2018) by Asisipho Ndlovu Malunga

Ingoma was co-commissioned by the Barbican

Read an in-depth article by Zoë Anderson on the creation of INGOMA by Mthuthuzeli November

Click! – Sophie Laplane

Choreography: Sophie Laplane
Lighting Design: David Plater
Designs: Yann Seabra

Music arranged by Kenny Inglis (b. 1975)
Snapping Fingers (2017) composed & recorded by Ken Beebe (b.1955)
Static Click, Two of a Kind & The Click (2019) composed & recorded by Kenny Inglis
Away (2010) composed & recorded by To Rococo Rot
Just The Snap of Your Fingers (1962) recording by The Mudlarks, written by Larry Mercey (b. 1939), Ray Mercey (b. 1940) & Lynn Russwurn (1930-2016)

Ballet Black company performing Washa: The Burn From The Inside by Mthuthuzeli November
Marie Astrid Mence performing Washa: The Burn From The Inside by Mthuthuzeli November

WASHA: The Burn From The Inside – Mthuthuzeli November

Choreography: Mthuthuzeli November
Lighting Design: David Plater
Designs: Mthuthuzeli November
Music: Score by Peter Johnson

Washa was co-commissioned by Dance at The Grange and Studio Wayne McGregor

“For this work I am deeply inspired by the origin of music or where we think music and dance comes from. It started by asking – exactly why do we dance to music? What is it about music that makes us feel the way we do when we listen to it?”

“The desire to move comes from the inside, it is imbedded into our DNA. In this work we will be exploring how music moves us individually, how we express the feelings that come with it through complex rhythms and sounds. It is a small journey to our sacred chant. Everything, all sounds, every step we take and every word we speak has a rhythm.” MN.

2018

The Suit by Cathy Marston

The Suit – Cathy Marston

Director/Choreographer: Cathy Marston
Lighting Design: David Plater
Designer: Jane Heather
Dramaturg: Edward Kemp
Additional music composed by: Philip Feeney (b. 1954)

Music:
White Man Sleeps, movement 1 (1982), White Man Sleeps, movement 5 (1986) composed by Kevin Volans (b. 1949)
Canção verdes anos (2000) composed by Carlos Paredes (b. 1967) arr. Osvaldo Goliyov (b.1960)
Mini Skirt (1968) composed by Juan García Esquivel (b. 1918) arr. by Osvaldo Goliyov (b.1960)
Plasmaht (2003) composed by Ariel Guzik (b. 1960) arr. by Kronos Quartet
Scherzo: Holding Your Own! (1903) composed by Charles Ives (1874-1954)
Pano Da Costa (cloth from the coast) (1986) composed by Jon Hassell (b. 1937)
Morango… Almost a Tango (1983) composed by Thomas Oboe Lee (1945)
Tabú (1934) composed by Margarita Lecuona (1910-1981) arr. by Osvaldo Goliyov (b.1960)

Recordings by Kronos Quartet

A Dream Within A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2014) – Arthur Pita

Director/Choreographer: Arthur Pita
Lighting Designs: David Plater
Designs by Jean-Marc Puissant
Sound design: Andrew Holdsworth & Frank Moon

Music:
Sarabande keyboard suite in D minor (1733) composed by George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
Malambo Part 1 sung by Yma Sumac (1922-2008) composed by Moises Vivanco
Gopher sung by Yma Sumac (1922-2008) composed by Gozzo/May
Let’s Do It (Let’s Fall In Love) sung by Eartha Kitt (1927-2008) composed by Cole Porter
Lilac Wine sung by Jeff Buckley (1966-1977) written by James Shelton
Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered sung by Barbara Streisand (b. 1942) composed by Lorenz Hart & Richard Rodgers
Twilight by Antony & the Johnsons (2000) produced by Secretly Canadian

This ballet was originally commissioned in 2014 with support from The Royal Opera House

2017

Ballet Black Cira Robinson and Mthuthuzeli November in Red Riding Hood by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa
Ballet Black Sayaka Ichikawa Cira Robinson Marie Astrid Mence and Isabela Coracy in Red Riding Hood by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa

Red Riding Hood – Annabelle Lopez Ochoa

Choreography: Annabelle Lopez Ochoa
Lighting Design: David Plater
Costume & Prop Design: Yann Seabra
With special thanks to Patricia Doyle for research and additional dramatic work on this ballet.
Music:
Hugues Le Bars (1950-2014) Tirez la pianist (2008),
Trou noir (1979), Comme une reine (2002), L’enfant (1991) & Loi du college (1995)
Armand Amar (b. 1953) Le Petit Loup (2008)
Armando Trovaioli (1917-2013) Sessomatto: Delitto Sessuale (1976)
Ernest Irving (1878-1953) & the Philharmonia Orchestra Touchez Pas Au Grisbi: Le Grisbi [The Touch] (1954)
Jean Marc Zelwer (b. 1960) The fiancée dream (1990)
René Aubry (b. 1956) Monday (2016)
Jo Yeong-wook (b. 1962) Under a Streetlight [from the motion picture Thirst] (2009)
Maria Kalaniemi (b. 1964) Sade Rain (2005)

Red Riding Hood was co-commissioned by the Barbican

Captured (2012) – Martin Lawrance

Choreography: Martin Lawrance
Costume: Rebecca Hayes
Lighting: David Plater
Music: String Quartet No. 11 in F minor, Op. 122 (1966)
Introduction: Andantino
Scherzo: Allegretto
Recitative: Adagio
Etude: Allegro
Humoresque: Allegro
Elegy: Adagio
Finale: Moderato
Recording: Brodsky Quartet (1999)

Ballet Black Isabela Coracy and Jose Alves in Captured by Martin Lawrance
Ballet Black Marie Astrid Mence and Jacob Wye in House of Dreams by Michael Corder

House of Dreams – Michael Corder

Choreography: Michael Corder
Lighting Design: David Plater
Costume Design: Yukiko Tsukamoto
Composer: Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
Music:
1. Prélude, 1st movement of the Suite Bergamasque for Piano (1905)
2. Des pas sur la Neige, Preludes for piano Book One: No. 6 (1910)
3. La Fille aux chevaux de Lin, Preludes for Piano Book 1: No. 8 (1910)
4. Passepied, 4th movement of the Suite Bergamasque for Piano (1905)

Recording by Pascal Rogé (b. 1951)

Dopamine (you make my levels go silly) – Ludovic Ondiviela (2013)

Choreography: Ludovic Ondiviela
Lighting Designs: David Plater
Costume Designs: Rebecca Hayes
Music: Perpetuum composed by Fabio D’andrea, recorded by the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Dian Tchobanov

Ballet Black in Dopamine by Ludovic Ondiviela

2001 – 2016

2016
Cristaux – Arthur Pita
Storyville (2012) – Christopher Hampson
To Begin, Begin – Christopher Marney
Dogs Don’t Do Ballet (2014) – Christopher Marney
Interrupted – Mthuthuzeli November

2015
Second Coming – Mark Bruce
To Fetch A Pail Of Water – Kit Holder
Depouillement (2009) – Will Tuckett
Rhapsody In Blue – Christopher Marney
Dogs Don’t Do Ballet – Christopher Marney

2014
Limbo – Martin Lawrance
Two of a Kind – Christopher Marney
A Dream Within a Midsummer Night’s Dream – Arthur Pita
Dogs Don’t Do Ballet – Christopher Marney

2013
EGAL – Robert Binet
Dopamine (you make my levels go silly) – Ludovic Ondiviela
The One Played Twice – Javier de Frutos
War Letters – Christopher Marney

2012
Together Alone – Jonathan Watkins
Running Silent – Jonathan Goddard
Captured – Martin Lawrance
Storyville – Christopher Hampson
Jubilee – Hubert Essakow

2011
Orpheus – Will Tuckett
Synergy – Nandita Shankhardass

2010
Da Gamba – Henri Oguike
And Thereafter… – Raymond Chai
Human Revolution – Robert Hylton
Sextet – Christopher Hampson

2009
Kinderszenen – Antonia Franceschi
Pendulum – Martin Lawrance
Depouillement – Will Tuckett
Lament – Christopher Marney

2008
Breach – Shobana Jeyasingh
Indigo Children – Liam Scarlett
Walk Through a Storm – Richard Alston

2007
Hinterland – Liam Scarlett
Umdlalo kaSisi – Bawren Tavaziva
Taniec – Raymond Chai

2005
Shift, Trip… Catch – Antonia Franceschi
Duel Fuel – Irek Mukhamedov

2003
Elegie – Stephen Sheriff
Pas de Trois – Patrick Lewis

2001
A New Beginning – Denzil Bailey
The Boogaloo Rooms – Cassa Pancho