Words: Rebecca Moore
Image: Deborah Jaffe

4 stars 

Ballet Nights brings together a curated night of live ballet, contemporary dance, and music in a series of seven duets/solos expertly performed by Olivier-nominated Sarah Chun (Northern Ballet principal), Joseph Taylor (London City Ballet), Scotland’s own Amy McEntee, contemporary fusion sensation Ekleido, PCK Dance, and live viola by Dominic Stokes (Rothko collective).

Ballet Nights started off in 2023 in London, UK, and is the brainchild of compère Jamiel Devernay-Laurence, ex-Scottish Ballet soloist and dance entrepreneur; it has since grown in popularity and now tours around the UK and internationally to much critical acclaim. 

The Music Hall at the Assembly Rooms was the perfect setting for the show. And Jamiel’s skills as a host/compere for the evening put the audience at ease from the start to finish and created a friendly, intimate environment that broke the normal boundaries of a ballet show; he was informative and great at marketing each dancer’s background and expertise, as well as detailing the projects they were going on to do, meaning the audience could follow the dancer’s personal projects and get individual insight. 

Uhuru, choreographed by Mthuthuzeli November, performed by Sarah Chun, was particularly inspiring to watch, with freedom from oppression at its core, and Sarah Chun gave a strong, dynamic, and impactful performance, with the musical composition by Mthuthuzeli November and Alex Wilson adding a dynamic, accentuated tone. 

The invigorating and original Splice, choreographed and performed by Ekleido, also shone out as an exciting fusion of underground clubhouse dance styles with contemporary ballet. Both dancers’ stamina and musical timing helped them meander in and out of contortionist, twisted sculptural forms, and abstract body movements. Adding to this experimental tone were the electronic soundscape of Floating Points and a clubhouse-style lighting and costume design. The showcase was completed with the classical ballet duet, Balcony Pas de Deux, from Romeo and Juliet, performed elegantly by Sarah Chun and Joseph Taylor, which was a real treat to return to a familiar classic and end the night with.

Ballet Nights was a delicious recipe of world-class talent, modern masterpieces, and timeless classical repertoire definitely worth a watch, and for those who want to find out more, you can visit their website: www.balletnights.com.

Ballet Nights
Music Hall at Assembly Rooms
17.30
24-30 Aug