FAME MAGAZINE (famemagazine.co.uk)
Mon March 8TH 2010
An Intro To The World Of Leigh AldersonLeigh Alderson, originally from Northern Ireland and better known for his career in professional ballet, releases his first album ,’An Intro To My Land’ , available exclusively on Itunes Now.
‘Its an interesting blend of dark ambient beats, with electronic influences and futuristic sounds. Its eclectic mix, ranging from chill-out tracks to much more dance orientated songs.
He sites his influences and inspirations to be all the greats in Electro music including Air, Sebastien Tellier, Julliet and Lindstrom. This album is a must have for fans of electronic music!
www.leighalderson.com
Leigh Alderson (born 1986) is a ballet dancer, model and actor from Portadown, Northern Ireland. He began dancing at the age of seven at The Donna Whitten Dance School, and later The Susan McMillan Ballet School. After training with both teachers for three years, Leigh went on to the Royal Ballet School in London for eights years training.
Alderson received several awards including The Lynne Seymour Award For Most Expressive Dancer 2004, The Royal Ballet School Achievement Award 2005, The NJL Sponsored Award For Choreographic Development 2005 and The Royal Ballet School Achievement Award 2006.
Whilst in the last three years of his training, Alderson travelled to Toronto, Canada to perform in a production of Four Last Songs’s by Rudi Van Danzig, and then performed it again in Stuttgart, Germany. He also performed Colourblind, a duet with Jay Hale-Christofi which he himself choreographed to much critical success, both in Palermo, Sicily and at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London.
After graduating in 2006 and up to 2008, Alderson danced with the Scottish Ballet. He danced in Page’s Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella, Pastor’s Romeo and Juliet and In Light and Shadow, Brown’s MG the Movie, and Forsyth’s Artifact.
In 2008, Alderson signed a contract with new ballet company New English Contemporary Ballet, and began dancing with them in February 2009. Alderson was a guest artist with Ballet Russe, the UK’s Russian Ballet Company, performing principal roles in their production of Swan Lake, Cinderella, Nutcracker, Coppelia and Giselle, guesting also as a principal dancer with Cork City Ballet, Ireland’s premiere ballet company at the same time.
In March 2009, Alderson was signed with Dublin-based modelling agency, Rogue Models.
Alderson was nominated for The Arts Personality Of The Year Award for the Ulster Tatler Awards 2009. The Nominees would feature in the September Edition of The Ulster Tatler and the winners announced on the 24th of September at The Waterfront in Belfast.
LEIGH ALDERSONS NEW ALBUM
‘AN INTRO TO MY LAND’
AN INTERESTING BLEND OF ELECTRONIC AMBIENT BEATS WITH A DARK ELECTRO SOUND…
OUT ON ITUNES WORLDWIDE NOW!
itunes.apple.com
The Examiner
Royal Ballet Lifts Malan Breton Spring Summer Collection 2010
September 5, 10:27 PMNY Fashion Trends ExaminerMary J Allmar
With NY Fashion Week www.mbfashionweek.com/newyork just around the corner, fashion designer Malan Breton's Spring 2010 collection imbues a creative journey back to his roots in the ballet, exploring elements of his childhood when he began dancing at the age of seven. The inspiration for his spring collection comes from the strength and form of the image "Flight of Freedom," a black-and-white image of his friend Leigh Alderson from the Royal Ballet, shot by Dublin's Karin Pritzel . This is also the image of Breton's invitation.
"There will be a 45-piece orchestra playing the show, the Chelsea Symphony," reveals Breton. "I wanted the show to feel like a night at the Met, a night at the ballet." www.chelseasymphony.org
Presented by Rado Switzerland, www.rado.com the show will take place at the Metropolitan Pavilion in Manhattan and will mark Breton's first foray into menswear, further expanding the Malan Breton Collection with a touch of Saville Row. He has already dressed celebrities including Minnie Driver, Kylie Minogue, Nikki Blonsky, and Katrina Bowden and soon he will be dressing Hollywood's finest men.
"The trends for this spring are strong and structural yet soft and fluid. Romance! Boy meets girl, but really celebrating the individual." -Malan Breton www.malanbreton.com
Malan Breton of "Project Runway" Season 3 in NY Fashion Week.
FASHION FORWARD: FASHION WEEK WITH MALAN BRETON
By Michelle Go
August 25, 2009
With New York Fashion Week just around the corner, fashion designer Malan Breton plans to kick off his show with style. His Spring 2010 imbues a creative journey back to his roots as a dancer, exploring elements of his childhood when he began performing at the age of seven. The inspiration for his spring collection comes from the strength and form of the image "Flight of Freedom," a black-and-white image of his friend Leigh Alderson from the Royal Ballet shot by Pritzel Photography.(www.pritzelphotography.com)
"I will have a 30-piece orchestra playing the show, the Chelsea Symphony," reveals Breton. "I wanted the show to feel like a night at the Hollywood Bowl or the Met, a night at the ballet."
Presented by Style 360 and Rado Switzerland, the show will take place at the Metropolitan Pavilion in Manhattan (Sept. 14th at 11 am) and will mark this fashion Einstein's first foray into menswear, further expanding the Malan Breton Collection. He has already dressed celebrities including Minnie Driver, Kylie Minogue, Nikki Blonsky, and Katrina Bowden and soon he will be dressing Hollywood's finest men.
Flight of Freedom by friend Leigh Alderson.
"The trends for this spring are strong and structural yet soft and fluid. Boy meets girl, but really celebrating the individual."
When asked how he has grown as a fashion designer since his days on Project Runway, Breton responds, "It taught me time management skills you could never imagine. It also gave me a window of opportunity. I am grateful for the experience."
So what is next for this promising fashion icon? He will be starring in two upcoming films - one entitled "My Guaranteed Student Loan" and the other yet to be announced - and a new reality show. He also plans to tap into feature film costuming, music, choreography, hair care, executive production, television, and so much more.
"I had a dream as a boy to be a multimedia mogul. I believe that we can be everything we ever dreamed."
Leigh pirouettes his way to even greater heights as he stars in world of dance
Published Date: 23 January 2009
DANCING star Leigh Alderson is pirouetting his way to even greater heights in the world of ballet and is soon to sign up with the New English Contemporary Ballet company for exciting new performances and choreography projects.
The Royal Ballet graduate, who still maintains close contact with his home town of Portadown, is currently on tour with Ballet Russe, the UK’s only Russian ballet company.
He joined the company in September after leaving the Scottish National Ballet and has performed in several principal roles, including The Prince from Cinderella, Von Rothbart in Swan Lake and Franz in Coppelia.
Now, he feels he needs a new challenge and direction and his hectic schedule will also involve a guest appearance with Cork City Ballet later this year when he will take the lead role in a male version of Swan Lake.
“I am desperately trying to fit this into my busy schedule because it’s a great ballet and one I have always wanted to do,” said Leigh. “I was invited to be a guest principal with Cork City Ballet in November last year and it was a real honour to be offered the rank of principal at only aged 22. Cork City Ballet is a brilliant company to work with and I am looking forward to working with all the dancers again.”
Leigh is also taking time off stage to record his dance experiences - both behind the stage and also in the spotlight - in an online diary/blog which he feels may help other young dancers to take the first steps to a career in the challenging and demanding world of professional ballet.
“I love to write in my spare time and I thought starting an online blog might help others interested in a career in dance,” said Leigh. “I realise I have been very fortunate, so if I can inspire others to success, or even give any worthwhile advice to young dancers starting out, that would be great.
“The blog is also a chance to give people an insight into the life of a professional ballet dancer and I hope it will be entertaining - there are many humorous incidents and dramas which go on backstage about which the audience remains oblivious, thankfully!
“I hope the blog will raise awareness of dance as an art form and even give young people in my home town the information and voice I never had while growing up.”
Leigh spent his early childhood in Portadown and returns home to visit him mum Jennifer and friends and family whenever possible. He also likes catching up with some of his former dance class friends from the days he attended lessons at the Donna Whitten Dance Studio in Portadown and also at ballet lessons with teacher Susan McMillan.
“When I first started to dance, it was pre-Billy Elliot, pre-acceptance of dance for males in Ireland and so I had no-one to follow really, no footsteps to trace to make my way in the world of ballet,” said Leigh. “I trained at the Royal Ballet School from the age of 11 and worked hard, graduating as one of the top in my class.
It was a terrific experience and made me even more passionate about dance and determined to be a perfectionist and perform to the best of my ability.
experiences
“While I studied in London, the BBC followed my life and experiences there and Clare DeLargy produced three films about my life which are great to have as mementos. We are currently discussing a possible follow-up documentary film.”
During his time at the Royal Ballet School, Leigh also had a chance to choreograph works and along the way won several major awards, including The Royal Ballet School Achievement Award 2005 and 2006, the NJL Sponsored Choreographic Development Award 2005 and the Lynne Seymour Award for Most Expressive Dancer 2004.
“This year is going to be a big year for me and I still have many goals to fulfill,” he adds. “At the end of the year I intend to audition for the Royal Ballet of Winnipeg in Canada or Royal New Zealand Ballet - I would really like to travel and dance with one of the Royal companies but I know I have to work extremely hard - it’s the only way to succeed.”
Leigh’s website is www.leighalderson.com and the blog site can be accessed at www.leighalderson.blogspot.com
Published Date: 07 December 2007
Source: Portadown Times
Location: Portadown
Leigh's 'God Given Talent' in BBC focus
A TALENTED dancer who is Portadown's own answer to Billy Elliot, will be taking centre stage in a documentary which follows his dream to make it as a professional ballet performer.
Twenty-one year old Leigh Alderson, who has been taking ballet lessons since he was just seven, is the focus of the programme entitled 'A God Given Talent: The Leigh Alderson Story' which will be screened on Monday night.
The documentary was first screened by the BBC three years ago, but has now been updated as Leigh embarks on his professional dancing career.
With the help of documentary footage shot several years ago, the programme shows his journey from young childhood to adulthood – including his early dance lessons in Portadown and Lisburn.
"I could never figure out what it was that made me want to dance. I just knew I had to," explained Leigh.
"From the moment I pulled on my first ballet pumps something inside me was driving me forward. At that moment, aged seven, my fate was sealed."
Years later, his hard work and dedication has paid off.
At the age of 11, Leigh won a scholarship to the world famous Royal Ballet School in London and despite having relocated there, he returned to Northern Ireland in February to perform in the Scottish Ballet Company's Cinderella at the Grand Opera House in Belfast.
He played two roles in the fairytale classic – a clumsy cobbler and a
Mexican ambassador.
Despite his achievements, Leigh is his toughest critic. He describes himself as a perfectionist.
negative
"I have been incredibly negative towards myself, it's very hard for me to see the more positive aspects, especially whenever you have a mirror in front of you and everyday is not a good day," he said.
Producer of 'A God Given Talent: The Leigh Alderson Story', Clare Delargy said, "I was struck by the dedication and hard work of Leigh and his contemporaries, in fact the whole dance school, working together to produce world class dancers.
"Unlike the instant fame of X factor and Pop Idol, these young people had to wait a long time for their 'moment' and then only after years of hard work and self-sacrifice do they achieve something."
A God Given Talent: The Leigh Alderson Story will be screened on Monday at 10.35pm on BBC1 NI.
BELFAST TELEGRAPH
They mess with their tutus
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
The Scottish Ballet's dazzling production of Cinderella is ready to set Belfast's Grand Opera House stage on fire. Judith Cole got a behind the scenes preview during the show's Edinburgh run
Ballet dancing star Leigh Alderson hates being referred to as Northern Ireland's Billy Elliot, but with his rapid rise, despite a dearth of opportunities here, it is inevitable.
Now a member of the Glasgow-based award-winning Scottish Ballet, Leigh (20) left his Portadown home at 11 to train full-time at Convent Garden's historic Royal Ballet School.
But the sacrifice was worth it, for there was no better place to learn his art and see some of the greatest dancers in the world in action.
Now, another dream is about to come true as Leigh makes his entrance on the stage of Belfast's Grand Opera House in front of family and friends during the Scottish Ballet's tour of Cinderella.
"I have a small role in Cinderella as the cobbler and I'm really looking forward to coming to Belfast with the production," he said during a break before getting into costume for a matinee performance in Edinburgh's Festival Theatre.
"It's been a while since I was in Belfast, and I'll be able to live at home while the show is on."
Leigh was always interested in ballet, but was initially frustrated with the seeming lack of facilities or classes to attend.
"I always knew I wanted to dance and one day I told mum, but she said that 'boys don't do that'. Ballet didn't have the same popularity it does now," he recalls. "But she booked me into a summer school, thinking I would cool my heels and get it out of my system.
"I didn't, kept it up and then got the chance to audition for the Royal Ballet School. I was accepted and graduated this year."
Fortunately, Leigh's friends and family realised how passionate he was about dancing and supported him all the way.
"My friends thought that what I was doing was unusual and respected it because of that," he says. "I've never had any trouble over it."
He grimaces when asked about the comparisons to Billy Elliot.
"I started ballet before the film was made and only afterwards did people start to recognise the importance of ballet," he said. "But I've never really been a fan of the film."
As with all dancers, Leigh would like to be a principal one day and also enjoys choreography.
"I would like to do a lot of classical ballets in my career before tackling contemporary work," he says. "Everybody dreams of being a principal and I also have a real passion for choreography.
"I did a piece when I was a student and the Royal Ballet School really liked it. I wanted to dedicate it to my best friend at the school, who'd been there from the start and who'd helped me through so much. I get inspiration from music and from people when I'm choreographing."
The Cinderella in which Leigh is appearing is radically different to any that might have graced the stage before.
Choreographed by artistic director Ashley Page, who is credited with injecting new life into the Scottish Ballet since his appointment in 2002, and designed by Anthony McDonald, it is a witty, colourful and daring production to say the least.
As the curtain, which bears a massive image of a sparkling slipper, rises, Cinderella is seen by her mother's deathbed. Then, in the twinkling of an eye, the fluorescent costumed stepmother and ugly sisters take over and consign the heroine to the kitchen where a ceiling-high stack of dirty dishes awaits her.
Warhol in drag
The sisters and mother wear Vivienne Westwood-inspired corseted cloaks and billowing ball skirts in shocking pink and electric blue which clash wonderfully with their 18th century style wigs in purple and orange. Male courtiers wear ornately embroidered brocade robes with satin tights.
There is a huge fridge on the set stacked full of gateaux which the sisters often delve into, and a shocking portrait on the wall of the wicked stepmother, which is actually Andy Warhol in drag.
In character, the sisters are ugly too, subjecting Cinderella to nasty bullying and later vomiting into a bag after eating too many cakes. Another radically modern touch is the overtly camp couple of the dancing master and his equerry, who perform several duets together and even share a kiss or two.
But some traditional aspects of the ballet have been saved, for instance composer Prokofiev's music is faithfully reproduced and Cinderella and her Prince shine as a beautifully elegant couple amid all the dazzling neon around them.
Some of the spectacular stage sets include Cinderella arriving at the ball in a pumpkin hot air balloon which descends from the ceiling - only one of many moments which draws gasps from the audience.
Explaining how the ballet came together, Page says: "Anthony (McDonald) and I believe it's more interesting to do more than just the straightforward thing as you get more mileage out of it.
"It's not just a beautiful rendition of a story. Certain design ideas are a feast for the eyes and help to enhance characters, while the darkly romantic music sweeps the action along, adding its own aural colours to the already rich visual palate.
"The fridge and telephone we use on the set are a joke because obviously there were no such things in the 18th century.
"The stepmother marries Cinderella's father and begins redecorating the house in vile acid colours and, of course, there's the large portrait of herself above the fireplace, which is really of Andy Warhol in drag.
"There are these visual art jokes along the way which help the production, story and character. I also hope that the art connoisseurs who might be in the audience will take some mischievous pleasure in that."
Page, who was a principal dancer with the Royal Ballet in the 80s, and McDonald work together to have the production virtually complete before they see the dancers.
"We play around with everything including what century we set a play in and where we set each act," Page says. "I know productions like Cinderella inside out and I've have had roles in them, so it's sometimes hard to distance myself from that particular choreography.
"But Anthony has no preconceptions about the music which is good as we want to take a different approach in ours."
Black humour
Page stresses the ballet is for all ages and tastes, from the ballet connoisseur to the child attending their first show.
"It is fun to work the ballet to appeal to all ages and tastes," he says. "The choreography is quite rich and sophisticated, so for the dance connoisseur there is a lot - act two is 40 minutes of non-stop dancing.
"We also deal with the dark aspect of it and there is some black humour. The stepmother is a nasty piece of work and her daughters are embryo versions of her."
The two main roles were designed especially for principals Claire Robertson and Erik Cavallari, who have received rave reviews for their performances.
"We worked with Ashley first on our roles, the acting and all the steps, and then we had to pass that on to the other dancers in the company," Claire explains.
"Ashley is very specific about certain gestures and things, but to an extent we felt we could add our own touches to the roles.
"I dance in bare feet and on pointe. It's nice to start on bare feet, but then when I put the shoes on they're not really comfortable, but you just have to get on with the rest of the act.
"It's nice to wear these beautiful costumes - some seasons we just wear a leotard and tights, although in Cinderella it takes longer to get ready of course."
Indeed, for Adam Blyde, who plays the dancing master, up to an hour and a half is required to get into costume because of the towering wig he wears.
"My character is a really regular guy," he laughs. "Well, no, he's actually quite disgusting. He's snobby, superior and very camp. Although he's not so well known within more traditional productions, the role has been expanded in this one.
"This Cinderella has a lot of contemporary influences, but while there are outrageous costumes, there are also traditional tutus and pointe shoes. It has Ashley's twist, so it's not pure classical."
While the Scottish Ballet does both classic and contemporary ballets, this year they have focused more on classic productions.
"We have done less new work during the past year, but it's important to go back and do certain productions again, and do them better," says Page.
"It's interesting to make programmes with new ideas, and another great thing is that we have just been granted the money to enable us to commission work by other choreographers, which I've wanted to do all along.
"We are taking new work to the Edinburgh Festival this year which is quite extreme and will be difficult for the audience and the dancers. But a festival audience will accept it, while an ordinary audience would find it harder, and it's good to be able to do it at the festival first.
"I do want to be able to programme things that are more experimental, while up to now nearly all our work has been quite classical."
Experiencing such a wide variety of ballet is an excellent way for young dancers to learn their art, something which Page is keen to promote.
"Leigh Alderson is one of our young dancers who are with us on a temporary contract," he explains. "He has been with us for the autumn programme.
"Being here makes young dancers grow up quite quickly. A lot is asked of them, but at the same time they get the chance to work in a professional context and see very good dancing and get excellent advice.
"Some people have joined us after being on a temporary contract and touring with us, and I've been able to see them growing over a couple of years."
The Scottish Ballet's Cinderella is at the Grand Opera House, Belfast, from February 6-10. Contact the box office, tel: 9024 1919, for more information
SUNDAY MIRROR
IM THE REAL BILLY ELLIOT
Sunday Mirror, Oct 30, 2005 by DONNA CARTON
TALENTED teenager Leigh Alderson is on the brink of becoming Ireland's very own Billy Elliot.
And just like in the hit movie, the budding ballet star discovered his passion for dance as a little boy and never looked back.
At just seven years old Leigh pulled on his first pair of ballet pumps and was hooked. He told his mother, Jennifer, he wanted to go to dance classes.
Although they lived in an ordinary, working class estate in Portadown, Co. Armagh, where boys played football or joined the local boxing club, Jennifer saw a passion for dance in her young son and allowed him to follow his dream.
Just four years later, at the tender age of 11, Leigh won a place at the prestigious Royal Ballet School, London and left home to train there.
This year, as he turned 18, all his talent, dedication and very hard work paid off and he was chosen to come back for "performance year" at the school, giving him the chance to become a professional ballet dancer.
During this final year with the school, world class dance companies will come in search of the next stars of the ballet world.
Legendary dancer, Frederick Franklin CBE, came to see the young Irish man during the gruelling selection year.
The 91-year-old described the teenager is "a very gifted young man."
He said: "He is a pure classical dancer, a very rare breed. The gifts he has been given are quite rare and he must take great care of them.
"There aren't many male classical dancers. There is something very mature about Leigh's dancing. I think starting at an early age helped him."
Leigh said: "I have never figured out what made me dance. It was something inside me and when I put ballet shoes on, aged seven, my fate was sealed."
It was very difficult for the young boy to leave his Portadown home and go off to live in London.
Leigh recalled: "For the first two years I was extremely homesick. It was very hard. Mum was upset and I felt I was making her upset by following my dream.
"I could always talk to mum on the phone, so that kept me going and no matter how bad a day I was having, I knew I wouldn't give in. I wanted to dance.
"I suppose I missed out on a normal kid's life. Its a huge demand on children at such a young age but we were like a family here which helped.
"The Royal Ballet School became my second home. We had house mothers and cooks, so we were very cosseted and looked after."
Mum Jennifer said: "When he went away at 11 it was very difficult. I thought that he couldn't cope without his mum but as the years go on I see he's very reliable and can cope with more situations than me.
"Every time he had to go back after a break at home, he'd tell me not to cry and I'd try not to but I did."
Garlene Stock, of the Royal Ballet School, remembers why Leigh was chosen to join the school.
She said: "I remember seeing him for the first time. He was a skinny little boy with dimples but as soon as he danced his joy in dance came through to me. I immediately picked him out as special."
Leigh's graduation year at the school has been very tough and a mugging left him with an injury that almost ended his dream.
He said: "I was walking through Pimlico and was mugged and beaten by six boys who stole my wallet. It was a catalyst for an injury in my hip which was very painful."
Leigh was eventually given a clean bill of health and returned to dancing.
Sheer hard work, passion and his undeniable talent brought him through to this performance year, where he awaits that dream job he has pursued since he was seven.
l A God Given Gift is on BBC1 NI on Wednesday November 2 at 10.40pm.
Copyright 2005 MGN LTD
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.
BBC.CO.UK - BALLET STAR DANCES HIS WAY BACK HOME
By Maggie Taggart
BBC Northern Ireland arts and education correspondent
From 11 years of age he's been living, eating, sleeping and dancing with the Royal Ballet School in London.
At 11, Leigh won a scholarship to the Royal Ballet School
Now Leigh Alderson, an award-winning dancer from Portadown in County Armagh, is home to show what he's learnt.
In his first professional job, he's touring with the Scottish Ballet, who are currently in Belfast.
Leigh Alderson's career has been under the spotlight since he was seven.
When he was 11, he won a scholarship to the world famous Royal Ballet School and, apart from holidays, he's lived away from home since then.
Learns a lot
Now it's payback time. At 20, he is finally a professional, employed ballet dancer and his first ever tour brings him to Belfast.
The Scottish Ballet Company is performing Cinderella and Leigh has two roles - as a clumsy cobbler and as the Mexican ambassador.
Small roles compared to his last year at ballet school when he was getting top parts. So in a way, it's back to square one.
Far from getting impatient, he says he learns a lot even from a small role.
It's a very strange feeling, I almost feel bad accepting money for doing the job I love
Leigh Alderson
"It's amazing to be paid for doing something which you live for.
"It's a very strange feeling, I almost feel bad accepting money for doing the job I love."
It's been a difficult struggle financially for Leigh and his family in Portadown, but now his mother Jennifer can sit back and enjoy the performance.
She says she is likely to weep as she watches him on stage in his homeland, performing as a professional.
"After years of scrimping and saving to send him to London, it will be good to know he is earning money now. But despite the struggle, it was all worth it."
The Scottish Ballet is at the Grand Opera House until 10 February.
BBC.CO.Uk
A God Given Gift
The inspiring story of a young Portadown dancer
At just seven years of age, Portadown-born Leigh Alderson pulled on his first pair of ballet pumps and told his mother he wanted to go to dance classes.
There was just something about it he found fulfilling, intoxicating even.
Since then he hasn't stoped dancing, securing a highly coveted place at the world famous Royal Ballet School in London.
In A God Given Gift...The Leigh Alderson Story, a BBC Northern Ireland documentary team follows Leigh through one of his most challenging periods at the Royal.
Graduating to the final year is tough and gruelling. Not everyone makes it. Can Leigh find the inner resources to make it through to the next critical stage in his career: the performance year when world class dance companies come in search of the next superstars of the ballet world?
With the help of documentary footage shot several years ago, the programme plots this young Portadown man's journey from childhood to adulthood.
Flashbacks to Leigh's early dancing classes in Portadown and Lisburn reveal his unswerving passion for dance.
All is not plain sailing, as a perfectionist Leigh challenges himself as much as his adjudicators. His devotion and passion for dance is not in doubt but he is also his own toughest taskmaster.
A God Given Gift...The Leigh Alderson Story has been produced by Clare Delargy and is due to be broadcast in October.
God Given Gift Review 2005, The Sunday Life
SUNDAY LIFE 2005
Telly Choice: Pumped-up ballet hopeful
A GOD GIVEN GIFT: Wednesday BBC1 NI 10.40pm
Lynda Gilby's TV preview
30 October 2005
YOUNG Leigh Alderson, from Portadown, has been a dedicated dancer since he pulled on his first pair of ballet pumps at the age of seven.
Having secured a hard-won place at the Royal Ballet School, in London, Leigh is now poised on the brink of entering the profession and, in this film, faces performing his crunch showcase for luminaries from the ballet world, who will decide whether or not to employ him.
It's always gratifying, isn't it, to see such amazing talent come from one's home ground. And, as the film traces his progress, there seems little doubt that Leigh has the rare makings of a first-class classical dancer.
But I was left with a great sense of unease. Leigh, as the documentary makes clear, is his own most severe critic. Surprisingly, after all those years of dedication and stringent training, he lacks confidence.
There can be no more pressured profession than that of a classical dancer. Leigh evidently has the talent, in spades. But talent is not enough. Does he have temperament? Fingers crossed.