TALENTED TALA RETURNS TO SOUTH YORKSHIRE WITH NEW BALLET PRODUCTION

Published 9 August 2022 at 11:02am

South Yorkshire has a wealth of creative talent, but did you know that a ballet dancer from Barnsley was one of only three dancers from the UK to be a student of the world famous Bolshoi Ballet?

Tala Lee Turton has recently returned to the UK and is excited to launch her brand new production called No Time Like The Present. This will be showcased at Wentworth Woodhouse and Sheffield Botanical Gardens in August 2022.

It is 10 years since Tala began her training at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow, where she was only the third British female graduate from this prestigious Academy in its then 245 year history – and the first from Yorkshire.

Her production No Time Like The Present is a dance and music experience for everyone; an outdoor, one act ballet, set to a synth-pop score and performed live at Wentworth Woodhouse in Rotherham and at Sheffield Botanical Gardens, as part of a new event, Dance In The Gardens.

Tala came up with the concept for No Time Like The Present during the pandemic as she began to think of where and how she could dance for audiences again, and this led to the creation of her own production company. Tala has pulled together a diverse, international team for No Time Like The Present, collaborating with choreographer and soloist of American Ballet Theatre, Zhongjing Fang.

Tala Lee-Turton said of the piece: “It’s a real privilege to be able to bring this production to Wentworth Woodhouse and Sheffield Botanical Gardens for the first time and I’m so pleased to be performing in South Yorkshire. I want to encourage people who might not normally go to see a ballet production to connect with this dance and music experience - five dancers, how they are moving and what they are thinking; expressing their inner realities as women.”

Kate Brindley, Director of Arts, Culture and Heritage at South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, said: “It is fantastic to see such a talented local artist making her own ballet productions here in South Yorkshire. It is interesting to hear that it was during the pandemic, a really challenging time for so many people, that the idea for her own production was born and it is wonderful that she is encouraging people who may never have been to ballet before to come along and experience it. Artistic performances like these are a great way to connect communities and engage people where it matters the most.”

Rebecca Maddox, Head of Business Development (Culture) at Sheffield City Council said of the event: “No Time Like the Present is an inspiring celebration of female-led dance in beautiful outdoor settings, created by South Yorkshire’s Tala Lee-Turton. Sheffield City Council is delighted to support the premiere at Sheffield Botanical Gardens”.

The event is supported by both Arts Council England and Sheffield City Council.

Wentworth Woodhouse
Friday 19th to Sunday 21st August
Friday 26th to Sunday 28th August
https://wentworthwoodhouse.org.uk/whats-on/no-time-like-the-present/

Sheffield Botanical Gardens
Wednesday 24th and Thursday 25th August
https://talaleeturton.com/dance-in-the-gardens/

Gates open at 6.00pm with the ambient soundscape starting at 6.30pm. The performance starts at 7.00pm.

Adult: £16.00 | Child (Under 16): £10.00 | Under 4: Free

About Tala Lee-Turton
Born and raised in Barnsley, Tala began dancing at the age of four when her talent was spotted by her local dance school. She was invited to audition for the Bolshoi and, in 2012, at just 16-years-old, she won her place at the world-famous ballet school.
https://talaleeturton.com/