Royal Ballet Dancer Nathalie Harrison Joins Cast of VOICES OF THE AMAZON
by Best of Theatre Staff on Monday 19 June 2017, 10:19 am in Cast Changes and Announcements
Sisters Grimm are delighted that Nathalie Harrison, First Artist at The Royal Ballet will join the cast of VOICES OF THE AMAZON, with kind permission from Kevin O’Hare, Artistic Director of The Royal Ballet. VOICES OF THE AMAZON is receiving its UK premiere at Sadler’s Wells from 4 to 8 July, following sell-out run at the Chekhov International Theatre Festival in Moscow. The show is directed by Pietra Mello-Pittman, choreographed by Helen Pickett and composed by Ella Spira in collaboration with Brazilian songwriters Danny Nascimento, Dito Martins and Julien Davis and world‐renowned percussionists Olodum. VOICES OF THE AMAZON is narrated by Oscar, Emmy, Golden Globe and Tony Award-winning actor Jeremy Irons.
Nathalie has recently returned to The Royal Ballet playing the role of Hermia in Frederick Ashton’s The Dream, following the birth of her first child. Having trained at The Royal Ballet School, Nathalie joined the Company in 2003 and was promoted to First Artist in 2009. She has created several roles for the Company, including ones in Sensorium and Diana and Actaeon (Metamorphosis: Titian 2012), and, in 2013, completed a course in Ballet Education Practice at the Royal Opera House. Her repertory with The Royal Ballet includes Lady Capulet (Romeo and Juliet), Dulcinea (Don Quixote) and Bathilde (Giselle). Nathalie also appeared in Nicholas Hytner’s 2012 production of Timon of Athens at the National Theatre and provided dance demonstrations for Darcey Bussell’s Ballerina Heroines on BBC2.
Darcey Bussell CBE said of VOICES OF THE AMAZON, "Sisters Grimm have fused different dance genres, with a captivating cast from Brazil and London, to create a new show called Voices of the Amazon at Sadler’s Wells. Choreographer Helen Pickett’s foundations are in classical ballet but here she brings together musical theatre, breakdancing, capoeira and live songs, which is truly exciting. The show makes us all think about the importance of accepting differences and protecting our natural world. I highly recommend it."
Nathalie joins the previously announced Michelle Buckley, Liam Burke, Charles Damasio, Stefanos Dimoulas, Kay Elizabeth, Rachel Maybank, Fernanda Muniz, Hicaro Nicolai, Kauê Ribeiro and Leilane Teles, as well as musicians Rob Barron – (Musical Director, Piano & Synths), Adam Kovacs (Percussion 1), Matthew West (Percussion 2), Tina Jacobs (Viola) and Lucy Skinner (Cello).
After the run at Sadler’s Wells, VOICES OF THE AMAZON will be part of the line-up for Latitude festival 2017, before the company travels to Singapore to perform at Grand Theatre, Marina Bay Sands from 28 to 30 July.
Set amidst the Brazilian rainforest, VOICES OF THE AMAZON follows the story of Beleza; a water spirit from the Amazon, whose search to cure her dying sister takes her on a life-changing journey deep into the rainforest.
VOICES OF THE AMAZON features a sensational musical score, containing sounds recorded from the Amazon Rainforest, with music and songs performed in English and Portuguese. Combined with Helen Pickett’s fusion of ballet, contemporary and capoeira, the show aims to highlight the damaging effects of deforestation, the loss of natural medicines and plants, and promises an exhilarating live experience, embracing the true spirit of Brazil.
VOICES OF THE AMAZON has lighting design by Ben Cracknell, stage and costume design by Temple Clark and sound design by Adrian Rhodes. WWF, EDEN and Alexander Van Tulleken (CBBC's Operation Ouch, Channel 4’s How to Lose Weight Well) will provide scientific consultation.
VOICES OF THE AMAZON is produced by Sisters Grimm, the creators of the Grammy® Award-nominated show INALA.