Natasha Oughtred started dancing at the age of three
BIRMINGHAM Royal Ballet is bringing another triple bill to York.
Britain's premier touring ballet company returns to York Theatre Royal today and tomorrow, to perform Concerto Barocco, Twilight and Take Five, with accompaniment by Royal Ballet Sinfonia
All three ballets contrast to create action, dynamism and drama, says Natasha Oughtred, who plays the lead in Concerto Barocco.
Set to music by Bach and choreographed by George Balanchine, the ballerina roles in Concerto Barocco reflect the use of two violins.
"It's quite physical and there's no story in it so it's wholly abut the dancing," said Natasha, originally from North Cave, East Yorkshire. "It's quite exciting, very dynamic, but very controlled in one section.
"I've probably got more experience of roles with a theme but with this there's a different emphasis."
Natasha, 24, started dancing at three-and-a-half, joined the Royal Ballet at 16, was promoted to soloist five years later, and joined the Birmingham Royal Ballet in 2007.
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It was, she concedes, a brave move.
"When I joined the Royal Ballet I was quite young to start and I was very lucky. You get straight onto the road and learn your trade on the stage.
"When I moved to Birmingham I wanted a new challenge. I'd been with the Royal Ballet for seven years and hadn't seen anything outside of it, but Birmingham were offering me some great roles and it felt right."
Since then, performances have included the lead in Swan Lake, a role she had dreamed of for most of her life.
"It was a huge challenge for me," she said. "I think it's a ballerina's dream role. It's like a rite of passage."
This time, the emphasis is on getting the balances of style just right, she says.
The other ballets in the programme include Twilight; a mini drama which tells of a couple's quarrel that deteriorates into a full-blown rage, and Take Five, which is set to Dave Brubeck's 1959 classic hit and brought to life by ten dancers in six, short virtuoso packages.
Birmingham Royal Ballet, York Theatre Royal, tonight, 7.30pm, and tomorrow, 2.30pm and 7.30pm. Tickets £14 - £19 (£10 matinee), box office 01904 623568.
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