Bolshoi dancer's pride over Yorkshire return

11 hours ago

Mick LunneyYorkshire

News image — Tala Lee-Turton says she wanted to train with the Bolshoi as it was one of the world's finest schools

BOLSHOI BALLET COMPANY Two ballet dancers, female and male, perform during a practice session. — Tala Lee-Turton says she wanted to train with the Bolshoi as it was one of the world's finest schools

A Barnsley ballerina who became only the third British female to graduate from the elite Bolshoi Ballet Academy is bringing a show to her home town.

Tala Lee-Turton is the creative producer of PIA, a performance which contrasts a woman's experiences of growing up among the closed collieries of Barnsley with her vivid dreams of space travel.

It will premiere at the Barbican in London later this month, with a performance at Barnsley Civic next year.

Lee-Turton said: "I'm proud to be contributing to Barnsley's cultural legacy through PIA, and am delighted that it will be performed there as well as in London."

Lee-Turton was accepted to train with the Bolshoi aged 16, having started dancing at Fearons-Middleton School of Dance in Barnsley at the age of four.

The 30-year-old is now an associate artist at Barnsley Civic.

CAMILLA GREENWELL A woman in a leotard, Tala Lee-Turton, adopts a ballet pose against the backdrop of a large widow set in a red brick wall. — Tala Lee-Turton will take her new show to the Barbican before staging a performance in Barnsley

Speaking to the BBC in 2013 before going to Russia following a successful fundraising effort by her family, Lee-Turton said: "I suppose it is a bit scary, definitely, but I'm really excited to go and learn about a new culture and a new language, and a new way of life."

After spending seven years in Russia, including work with The Royal Moscow Ballet, Lee-Turton returned to the UK, performing with the English National Ballet and other companies, before setting up on her own to stage shows.

VIRGINIA TRUDEAU PHOTOGRAPHY A young ballet dancer in a white leotard and tutu strikes a pose on stage — Lee-Turton achieved top marks in her dance exams in Russia

PIA features music originally recorded at Barnsley Civic, and involves a 17-piece brass band performing Mary Casio: Journey To Cassiopeia, a seven-movement odyssey from the composer Hannah Peel, also from Barnsley.

Lee-Turton said: "Barnsley Civic have always supported and encouraged my work, seeing me grow from individual creative practitioner to director of my own company."

Reflecting on her decision as a teenager to leave Barnsley for Russia, Lee-Turton said her life had been enriched through not trying to do things alone.

"Open yourself up to lots of different perspectives and opinions and advice," she said.

"That's always been really helpful for me and I wish someone had told me about that sooner."

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