PROGRAM ONE

Gemma Bond tests the limits of composure with Manner, a Company premiere that explores inherited and performed behaviors through intimate choreography, where refined gestures gradually fracture, moments of instinct are exposed, and audiences are invited to reflect on what happens when learned manner becomes identity.

A special selection of Sir Frederick Ashton’s celebrated Divertissements follows, offering a suite of excerpts from some of his most renowned works, which serve as prime examples of his wit and musicality. Meditation from Thaïs, Friday’s Child from Jazz Calendar, the Pas de Trois from Les Rendezvous, and the intricate ensemble patterns of Pas de Cinq from Illuminations will take the stage.

Director Iain Webb’s first commissioned work for the Company, Dominic Walsh’s Wolfgang for Webb signals the program’s conclusion. The ballet blends classical with contemporary, and elegance with humor, which reflects the expansive repertoire that has flourished under his directorship.

Repertoire will include:

Manner (Company Premiere) | Choreography by Gemma Bond | Music by Franz Liszt

Divertissements | Choreography by Sir Frederick Ashton

• Méditation from Thaïs | Music by Jules Massenet
• Friday’s Child (Jazz Calendar) | Music by Richard Rodney Bennett
• Pas de Trois (Les Rendezvous) | Music by Daniel François Auber
• Pas de Cinq (Illuminations) | Music by Benjamin Britten

Wolfgang for Webb | Choreography by Dominic Walsh | Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart