We were delighted to attend The Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards (NDA), which took place on 27th January 2014 at The Place, London. Now in its 14th year, the National Dance Awards celebrates the achievements of choreographers and dancers in Britain.
This year's event was opened by Graham Watts, chair of the Dance Critics Circle, and hosted by dancers Tommy Franzen and Bennet Gartside.
The awards were nominated and voted for by 60 members of the dance section of the Critics' Circle, from a selection of pieces performed between 1st September 2012 and 31st August 2013. Over 200 votes were received, which were then short-listed to 40 dancers and choreographers from a wide range of genres.
Our Managing DirectorPaul Taylor has become somewhat of a lucky charm. Last year he sat next to 2012 winner and friend ZooNation Dance Company, whose dancers won Outstanding Modern Performance.
This year Paul was sat beside our client BalletBoyzTHE TALENT, who won the 2013 award for Best Independent Company - congratulations! In addition, Russell Maliphant won Best Modern Choreography for the piece Fallen, which was commissioned by the BalletBoyz.
There were two awards for the De Valois category, which opened and closed the ceremony. They were given to Leanne Benjamin and Matthew Bourne for their outstanding achievement in dance.
Well done to all the winners and those nominated. We had a wonderful afternoon.
Here are the full list of winners:
Best Classical Choreography
Christopher Wheeldon for Aeternum by The Royal Ballet
Best Modern Choreography
Russell Maliphant for Fallen by BalletBoyz The TALENT
Outstanding Male Performance (Classical)
Nicolas Le Riche for Le Jeune Homme et la Mort / English National Ballet
Dancers Pro Award For Outstanding Modern Performance (Female)
Julie Cunningham for New Works 2012 / Michael Clark Company
Outstanding Female Performance (Classical)
Yuan Yuan Tan for RAkU / San Francisco Ballet
Dancers Pro Award For Outstanding Modern Performance (Male)
Paul White for The Oracle / Meryl Tankard
Jane Attenborough Dance UK Industry Award
Amanda Chinn, General Manager of Scottish Dance Theatre
Grishko Award For Best Independent Company
BalletBoyz® The TALENT
Stef Stefanou Award For Outstanding Company
Mikhailovsky Ballet
The Dancing Times Award For Best Male Dancer
Dane Hurst / Rambert Dance Company
Grishko Award For Best Female Dancer
Natalia Osipova / Mikhailovsky Ballet
De Valois Awards For Outstanding Achievement
Leanne Benjamin
Matthew Bourne
