Northumberland dancer Jacob Hornsey has described his return to the North East to perform as Romeo in Ballet Cymru’s Romeo a Juliet as an unforgettable experience.
Reflecting on his performance at Dance City, in Newcastle, Jacob shared how much it meant to bring world-class ballet to the region where his journey as a dancer began.
“It felt incredible to perform in front of my local audience, especially in the place where my whole dance journey started,”
“I felt truly blessed and grateful for the opportunity, and to have such a welcoming and kind response was heartwarming.”
Jacob, who grew up in Hexham
Jacob hopes that professional ballet productions like Romeo a Juliet at Dance City will continue to inspire audiences across the North East.
“There are fewer opportunities to experience professional ballet up north compared to the south of England,” he explained.
“Bringing in audiences who may not have seen a production like this before can be incredibly inspiring. It might even motivate future dancers to pursue a career in the arts.”
The intimate setting of Dance City’s 240-seat theatre proved the perfect venue for Jacob to connect with local audiences. Among them was his former dance teacher, Sarah Morgan, who attended with her Year 10 and 11 BTEC Dance students from Queen Elizabeth High School (QEHS).
“It was such a lovely experience to perform in front of my old teacher and her class,” Jacob said.
“To share that moment at such a wonderful venue was truly heartwarming.”
Jacob’s return to the North East also provided an opportunity to reflect on the formative experiences that shaped his career. From GCSE Dance classes at QEHS to the Youth Dance Tynedale group and Dance City’s CAT programme, his local training helped lay the foundation for his professional success.
“The range of styles I was taught by Sarah, along with the incredible training I received through programmes at Dance City and Northern Ballet, definitely set me on the right path,” he said.
Jacob was inspired to dance after being captivated by Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake and Highland Fling at a young age.
“Those performances, along with seeing Northern Ballet and Scottish Ballet on stage, really inspired me to pursue ballet as a career,” he shared.
His career has since included standout roles such as Espada in Don Quixote, Rothbart and Siegfried in Swan Lake, and the Golden Idol in La Bayadère, performed in the ancient theatre of Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
Jacob has performed with Ballet Cymru for three years. With the recent conclusion of the UK tour, Romeo a Juliet offered him the chance to bring Shakespeare’s timeless tale of love and conflict to life, blending classical elegance with contemporary innovation.
Reflecting on the role, Jacob added:
“Exploring Romeo’s emotional journey was an incredible challenge, from his lovestruck moments with Juliet to the intensity of the sword-fighting scenes. It was thrilling to bring such a complex character to life.”
Anand Bhatt, CEO of Dance City, said Jacob’s return to Dance City was a special moment.
“It embodies everything we strive for – to be a home for dance excellence and a place where talent is nurtured, celebrated and showcased,” said Anand.
“Seeing Jacob perform here, where his dance journey began, highlights the vital role Dance City plays in inspiring and developing future generations of artists while bringing world-class performances to audiences in the North East.”
