NEW DANCE PARTNERS

MENCAP and NORTHERN BALLET THEATRE

3 March 2004

There are about 1.5 million people in the UK who have a learning disability which can affect them in many ways, causing difficulties in learning, communicating or doing everyday things – most face discrimination or prejudice at some point in their life.

Northern Ballet Theatre, the UK’s leading touring dance company, is launching a new initiative with Mencap to generate more dance opportunities for people with a learning disability and to assist the professional development of dancers with a learning disability. The partnership will also raise awareness of dancers with a learning disability amongst ballet audiences in towns and cities where Northern Ballet Theatre perform.

In its first 18 months the initiative will see projects starting up in Yorkshire, Belfast and Norwich with local Mencap groups involving children and adults of all ages. Wieke Eringa, Northern Ballet Theatre Director of Learning & Access, hopes that this work will “.. be a catalyst for sustained provision of dancing opportunities in areas where there is currently none. It will also be a welcome addition to the groundbreaking work already being done by and with people with learning disabilities, by companies such as Corali, Anjali and Stop Gap.”

Gus Garside, Mencap’s National Arts Co-ordinator says of the partnership “While professional learning disability dance is still in its infancy, it is already providing challenging and stimulating new directions in dance. It is very exciting that a company with the reputation and popularity of Northern Ballet Theatre, has offered its resources to provide more skilled opportunities for people with a learning disability.”

The partnership between Mencap and Northern Ballet Theatre will be formally launched at a fundraising gala at Sadler’s Wells on Thursday 25th March, where guests will learn more about the new partnership from Jo Williams, Chief Executive of Mencap and Bernard Atha OBE, Chair of Northern Ballet Theatre. Guests will see a performance of Northern Ballet Theatre’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream as well as dance excerpts performed by members of Corali, a performance group of adults with learning disabilities, which will take place at the beginning of the evening. A limited number of tickets priced £50 are available from Clare Lloyd Tel: 020 7696 5471, and include a complimentary programme and drink.

The event is supported by Threadneedle Asset Management Limited

Notes to editors

— Mencap is the UK’s leading learning disability charity working with children and adults with a learning disability, their families and carers.

— Mencap fights for equal rights for people with a learning disability and campaigns for greater opportunities and challenge attitudes and prejudice.

— A learning disability affects someone’s ability to learn, communicate or do everyday things. It can be mild, moderate or severe, but is always lifelong. It does not prevent someone from learning and achieving a lot in life, if given the right support.

— Tickets for the fundraising gala at Sadler’s Wells on Thursday 25th March are available from Clare Lloyd Tel: 020 7696 5471 The event is supported by Threadneedle Asset Management Limited

— Northern Ballet Theatre’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is appearing at Sadler’s Wells, London, from Wed 17 – Sat 27 March 2004.

For further information on Mencap please visit their website at www.mencap.co.uk.

For more information/photography or to arrange interviews contact our Media and PR department via email: media@northernballettheatre.co.uk.