A Newcastle dance company has been nominated for a major nationwide award.
For the second year in the row, balletLORENT is up for a National Dance Award.
Based in the city's West End since 1996, and led by Liv Lorent MBE, balletLORENT is celebrated for its national touring productions, as well as offering a wide range of creative opportunities for people in the local area.
The company has been nominated for best mid-scale company alongside other well known names including Company Wayne McGregor, National Dance Company Wales, Phoenix Dance Theatre and Scottish Dance Theatre.
In 2025, balletLORENT toured Snow White and Snow White: The Sacrifice, playing to over 5,000 people and creating opportunities for over 500 children to experience a professional dance workshop or appear on stage.
Last year the company was nominated for best dance film for Rapunzel Red, which was directed by Ben Crompton and Alex Ayre and features the talents of actor Lesley Sharp, Dr Who composer Murray Gold and a cast of eight dancers.
Held annually since 2001, the awards celebrate excellence across the sector and have been called the Oliviers of the dance world. Nominations are made by the members of the dance section of The Critics’ Circle. In total, 379 companies, choreographers, performers and other creative artists were nominated.
The winners will be announced at a ceremony on Monday 15 June at The Coronet Theatre in London's Notting Hill Gate.
Liv Lorent, CEO & artistic director, balletLORENT, said: “It is an honour to be recognised for thriving at a mid-scale touring level, and for continuing to share our distinctive blend of expansive ballet and storytelling dance theatre with family audiences. Our intergenerational performers and audiences remain the beating heart of everything we do.
"As the northernmost dance company of our size in England, we are deeply grateful to the national theatres who programme our work, and to the audiences who join us on this journey.. This nomination fuels our ambition and celebrates the extraordinary artists and collaborators who make our work possible.”
balletLORENT also runs regular free creative sessions for children aged 7-12 (Youth Academy) and 13-18 (Creative Studio) and Knitters, Movers and Shakers for people aged 60+. Find out more at https://www.balletlorent.com
