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Pioneering performance
19/01/06
View images from the Leeds Met and Northern Ballet Theatre Tour of China
Leeds Met's partnership with Northern Ballet Theatre has already created some unusual joint ventures, ranging from health and safety assessments, physiotherapy and performance psychology, to sound and acoustics research with the theatre's orchestra. Now funding from the Arts & Business award gained in a joint bid by Leeds Met and the theatre is partly going towards a tour of China.
Northern Ballet Theatre will be performing La Traviata in Beijing,
Shanghai and Hangzhou, and Leeds Met will be using this opportunity
to meet with potential students and alumni, to further cement
existing relationships and showcase the work of the Business Incubator
in Hangzhou.
The first of a number of events hosted by Leeds Met took place in Hangzhou on Thursday 19 January with more than 60 guests in attendance, including senior officials from partner universities as well as government departments. Guests enjoyed a welcome speech delivered in Mandarin by International Dean Elspeth Jones, followed by a performance and narrative of the ballet - La Traviata.
Back home, staff from the theatre have already benefited from Leeds Met courses such as project management and finance, public relations student Stacey Lonnergan is on placement raising the profile of the pioneering partnership and art and design students have produced an exhibition with the theatre.
Meanwhile, Chinese Language student Ian Mann has appeared on local radio promoting the links between Leeds and Hangzhou as well as commenting on one school's decision to make learning Chinese compulsory.
Dancer development is another area of innovation. An information evening organised by Yorkshire First Foundation gave the company's dancers and staff an opportunity to discuss their individual needs while introducing the wide range of methods of study available. Leeds Met lecturers, staff and the Educational Guidance team were on hand to introduce flexible learning options - ideal for working around varying rehearsal schedules, performances and tours. Organiser Stuart Rhodes explained: "It was a very positive evening that clearly demonstrated the ability of Yorkshire First to facilitate the admission of students into the university as a result of its strong employer partnerships."
