Chris Stagg presents Words & Sound, the arts and culture podcast on Phoenix FM. In episode 3 of Words & Sound, my special guest is the Artistic Director of The Chelmsford Ballet Company; Annette Potter. Annette joins me with dancers Bella, Harriet, Alycia and Samantha and we talk all about the Ballet company, their performances and opportunities for involvement and I even get a ballet lesson from Annette herself! All music played in this episode has been specially selected by my guests
Links mentioned in this episode:
The Chelmsford Ballet Compnay Website: https://www.thechelmsfordballetcompany.co.uk//
Twitter: @ballet_CBC
Songs played in this episode:
Chosen by Bella – Say Nothing – Naomi Scott
Chosen by Samantha – Unwritten – Natasha Bedingfield
Chosen by Alycia – We Are The Champions – Queen
Chosen by Annette – Let Me Entertain You – Robbie Williams
Chosen by Harriet – Summer Days – Martin Garrix
History of The Chelmsford Ballet Company.
In 1947, Joan Weston created the Broomfield YMCA Ballet Company in order to give the more senior students at her existing dance school the opportunity to learn and perform to the public. It was after their 1949 performance of Coppélia at the Shire Hall that the then Mayor of Chelmsford suggested the name ‘The Chelmsford Ballet Company’, and with a small committee the Company was born. Since 1949, the Company has staged a full-scale production every year. Initially a part of the Arts Festival, and then the Cathedral Fringe Festival, they occur today as an annual event in their own right. Today the company is led by Artistic Director Annette Potter, a former dancing member. Annette danced many leading roles with the Company before moving on to teaching and choreography. The company’s patrons are Doreen Wells, Marchioness of Londonderry and Christopher Marney, Artistic Director of Ballet Central. The Company is a way for skilled dancers to perform together and to showcase their talents, but it is not affiliated with any one dance school. It has become a well- loved cornerstone of Chelmsford’s cultural calendar, and repertoire includes The Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty, Napoli, Pineapple Poll, Petroushka, La Boutique Fantasque, La Fille Mal Gardée, Tales from Beatrix Potter, Les Sylphides, Coppélia and Cinderella.
IMPORTANT:
Covid 19 update: Please Note that with regret, following government advice, Chelmsford City Council have taken the action to close all Chelmsford City Theatres with immediate effect and so the upcoming performances of Tales of Beatrix Potter have been cancelled and postponed. The Chelmsford Ballet Company committee will meet at the next possible opportunity to discuss the way forward. For more information please visit @ballet_cbc on Twitter of www.thechelmsfordballetcompany.co.uk
Chris
@cw_stagg