Choreographer Ruaidhrí Maguire is searching for a company of 20 dancers from across the province to perform in new work White Doves.
Aspiring dancers across the country are invited to audition on Saturday 11th March in central Belfast to perform the world premiere of this new ballet. Successful dancers will rehearse this summer to perform alongside two international ballet soloists and live musicians on 3-5 August at the MAC Belfast.
Choreographer and classical ballet dancer Ruaidhrí Maguire was raised in Moneymore. Since leaving home a decade ago to train at the Central School of Ballet in London, he has performed across the world. Currently working as the youngest male principal dancer in the Baltic Opera Ballet in Gdansk Poland, Ruaidhrí regularly dances prolific roles including ‘Albrecht’ in Giselle, and the princes in Cinderella and The Nutcracker.
In offering this professional-standard training opportunity to dancers in Northern Ireland, Ruaidhrí said,“I am really thrilled to offer this training and performance opportunity in the heart of Belfast. Until now, opportunities like these have been unavailable to aspiring dancers at home and only those who could afford to travel would gain this insight and experience. I am delighted to offer 20 Junior Company places in White Doves.”
A new ballet for Belfast
In development since 2020, White Doves is a collaboration between choreographer Ruaidhrí Maguire and County Down composer, Amelia Clarkson. Collaborating since 2018, White Doves is their second ballet.
Produced by Six Dance Collective, the work will be the first of its kind as the first new ballet for a Belfast audience. White Doves gaze back on history to look forwards to the future. Juxtaposing narrative and abstract scenes, it tells the story of the formation of The Peace People in 1976, woven together by two Doves of peace, danced by two international professional ballet dancers.
Auditions for the Junior Company
In the upcoming Junior Company auditions, Ruaidhrí will be casting principal, supporting and ensemble roles. He is looking for ballet dancers aged between 12-22 of all genders of intermediate standard and above to join this 3-week intensive training programme. Those who join the company will rehearse from 17-29 July to perform the world premiere of White Doves alongside two international ballet soloists and live musicians at the MAC Belfast from 3-5 August 2023.
Looking forward to the audition day, Ruaidhrí said, “My advice to dancers approaching an audition is to bring your personality into the room. There’s more to ballet than perfect technique and tricks.”
“We’re looking for dancers who will throw themselves into new characters and movement styles. All auditioning will have the chance to explore the choreography over an afternoon.”
Auditions for White Doves are on Saturday 11th March, hosted by High Points Youth Ballet at 24 Alfred St, Belfast, BT2 8EN. More information is available here.
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