McNicol Ballet Collective: five years, celebrated in style

Laura Flugel and Hamish Longley in Andrew McNicol's Bates Beats

James Stephens and Winnie Dias in Andrew McNicol's Of Silence

McNicol Ballet Collective in Andrew McNicol's Liquid Life

Winnie Dias and McNicol Ballet Collective in Andrew McNicol's Liquid Life

By Alexander Simpkins, 08 April 2025

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“It’s heart-warming to find a choreographer who still has faith in these roots”

Reviewed at Royal Academy of Music: Susie Sainsbury Theatre, London on 5 April 2025

Moonbend (Andrew McNicol)

Bates Beats (Andrew McNicol)

Liquid Life (World Premiere) (Andrew McNicol)

Of Silence (Andrew McNicol)

McNicol Ballet Collective

Louise Flanagan, Costume Designer

Yaron Abulafia, Lighting Designer

Winnie Dias, Dancer

Theo Greenfield, Dancer

James Stephens, Dancer

Hamish Longley, Dancer

Giulia Neri, Dancer

Gabriel Arango, Dancer

Casey Nokomis Pereira, Dancer

Laura Flügel, Dancer

Ballet Nights: Changing Perceptions is a bold and beautiful show

Graham Watts, 27th October

A new concept of high-end cabaret ballet with an incredible line up.

****1

McNicol Ballet Collective's Devotions: steps of gossamer quality

Daniel Pratt, 10th June

There is a depth of tenderness in McNicol’s work that needs to be explored. We sensed it in Of Silence, and it unfolds in more provocative ways in Moonbend.

****1

NEBT at Peacock Theatre: The future is here

Cristina de Lucas, 2nd July

NEBT presents a very well drafted and delivered programme of new choreography at Peacock Theatre

****1

Ballet Nights: Changing Perceptions is a bold and beautiful show

Graham Watts, 27th October

A new concept of high-end cabaret ballet with an incredible line up.

****1

McNicol Ballet Collective's Devotions: steps of gossamer quality

Daniel Pratt, 10th June

There is a depth of tenderness in McNicol’s work that needs to be explored. We sensed it in Of Silence, and it unfolds in more provocative ways in Moonbend.

****1

The Royal Academy's Carmen has too many what-if moments

Dominic Lowe, 18th November

Presenting a work like Carmen is a punchy move by a conservatoire. The Royal Academy of Music's production has conceptual weaknesses, but features some good singing.

***11

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Alexander Simpkins

Alex is a London-based ballet teacher. He began training at the Suzanna Raymond School of Dance and graduated from Central School of Ballet. For 15 years, he danced for companies in Austria, Spain and Germany, including Ballet de Zaragoza. Since 2015, Alex has taught in the UK at London Studio Centre, Gielgud Academy of Performing Arts, CityLit and the RAD Dance School. He contributed articles to the Dancing Times between 2018 – 2020. Recently, he initiated an award which enables dance students to see live ballet performances, in memory of his teacher, John O’Brien (former Rambert dancer and Dance Books founder.)