Hail Brittania

About This Project

Paul Kelly, Choreopraher

About: Murley Dance is a ballet company that fuses classical technique with theatricality. In autumn 2014 Murley Dance staged their most ambitious piece to date - Hail Britannia, which celebrates different aspects of what it means to be British. The centrepiece is a new ballet choreographed by Artistic Director David Murley in association with British composer Patrick Hawes. Hawes was commissioned in 2008 by HRH The Prince of Wales to compose a suite inspired by the Prince’s gardens at Highgrove House.

Outcomes: Murley Dance performed Highgrove Suite at The Curve, Leicester; The Shaw Theatre, London and The Parabola Arts Centre, Cheltenham, Discussions with Patrick Hawes are underway for a staging of the piece in a gala performance in spring 2015 with a live orchestra to be conducted by Patrick Hawes. Highgrove Suite will remain in MurleyDance’s repertoire for the foreseeable future.

“To receive a grant from the Kevin Spacey Foundation was an enormous confidence boost for the company as it was a validation of what we are trying to achieve.”