We were delighted to be invited to join Ballet Cymru at The Riverfront in Newport on the 29th October to celebrate the company’s 40th anniversary – marking four decades of creativity, innovation and contribution to Welsh dance.
Founded in 1986, Ballet Cymru has grown from a small local ensemble into one of Wales’ leading dance companies. The anniversary performance was a fitting celebration of this journey, showcasing the diversity of contemporary ballet through three contrasting pieces.
We made the journey from Cathays to Newport’s beautiful Riverfront Theatre, which was nothing short of what we had expected. An amazing venue situated in the centre of the city with a fabulous view of the river; a true hub of arts, performance and of course the amazing Welsh community that have allowed groups like Ballet Cymru to really thrive. When we arrived, we were greeted by the friendly faces of the Riverfront staff, and shown our fabulous balcony seats – just a few spots away from the lovely mayor of Newport, Deb Harvey.
The programme opened with Woven, featuring live music from harpist Catrin Finch and violinist Aoife Ní Bhriain, before moving into Sensible Co-Existence, choreographed by Phoenix Dance Theatre’s Artistic Director Marcus J Willis. However, the evening’s final piece, ADFYW, choreographed by Osian Meilir, was a particular highlight. Centred around a table, the performance moved away from more traditional ballet conventions, incorporating spoken word and contemporary movement to create something unexpected and engaging. During our research prior to the performance, we read that Meilir was renowned for his comedic choreography, and I remember thinking to myself “How could dance be funny?”. I was soon proven wrong, as the performance genuinely had me laughing into my tub of interval ice cream.
The costumes for Woven were simple, giving space for the dancers to take centre stage. Ballet Cymru waved goodbye to the age-old tutu, and welcomed in more modern, form-fitting leotards, that allowed the dancers to move without restriction to us, as the audience’s, admiration. For ADFYW, Meilir had a different approach, his group of dancers were dressed in slightly more day-to-day outfits. This, in combination with the domestic setting of a dinner table, really ‘set the scene’ and enabled Meilir’s stories to be told.
Ballet Cymru is truly a testimony to the talent we have on our doorsteps in Wales, and we would both highly encourage anyone, dancer or not, to watch a performance.
Words by: Amelia Bishop and Molly Derrick
