Leigh Alderson

Leigh Alderson (born 1986) is a male ballet dancer, model and actor from Portadown, Northern Ireland.

Alderson trained at The Royal Ballet School performing in Rudi Van Dantzig’s Four Last Songs in Toronto and Stuttgart before graduating in 2006. He joined Scottish Ballet dancing works by Ashley Page, Forsythe and Trisha Brown and Pastor and works by Richard Wherlock with New English Contemporary Ballet, later joining Atlantic Ballet Theatre of Canada and guesting with Cork City Ballet. With Les Grands Ballets Canadiens he performed in works by Stijn Celis, Stephan Thoss, The Snake in Veldman’s Petit Prince, Kylian’s Kaguyahime and The Prince in Mats Ek’s Sleeping Beauty.

Film and TV work has included the Canadian horror film Undress Me (2017), Street Dance 3D (2010), Angel (2009), the BBC documentary series; Lost to Dance (1998) and God Given Gift (2005/07). Awards include Royal Ballet School Achievement Award (2005 & 2006) Lynne Seymour Award for Most Expressive Dancer (2004), The NJL Choreographic Development Award (2005) and The Ulster Tatler Arts Personality of the Year Award (2009 & 2010).

Documentaries, film and TV

The BBC produced three documentary films about him, the first, Lost To Dance broadcast in October 1998, the second A God Given Gift in September 2005, and the third,^[1] also A God Given Gift in December 2007. All Directed and Produced by documentary film maker Clare DeLargy. The 2007 biography of Fredrick Franklin notes Franklin's involvement with Alderson and his involvement in Alderson's 2005 and 2007 BBC documentaries^[2]

Alderson began filming the independent film 'Angel' in June 2009 with co-star ballet dancer Kyle Davey. The film features the score of Scottish singer, Jerry Burns and is directed by David Council. The film had its premiere screening in The Market Place Theatre at The Stars Of The Arts Gala 2010 on 19 June. An official trailer was released in July for a limited time only to mark its impending release onto iTunes worldwide. The film made its premier at the Market Place Theatre at the 2010 'Stars Of The Arts Gala' and was subsequently shown at the Festival International du Court Métrage à Clermont-Ferrand and also the 10th Annual Two Short Nights Film Festival.

In July 2009, it was announced that Alderson would be attached as a featured dancer in Vertigo Films, StreetDance that commenced shooting mid August 2009 and is to be released in May 2010. The film subsequently became #1 at the UK boxoffice.

Alderson was the featured artist on BBC's arts and culture series Art Space. Alderson was featured in the sixth and final episode of season one which was telelvised on Wednesday 2 June 2010 on BBC1.

'Flight of Freedom and Karin Pritzel

Flight of Freedom was the product of a collaborative photo-shoot between Alderson and award-winning photographer from Dublin, Ireland. The photo first came to media attention in New York with the help of famed fashion designer Malan Breton when he chose it to be his official muse for his 2010 Spring Collection. Shortly after that the piece of art became an award-winning photograph. It was then commissioned as a large scale art piece which was auctioned off at The NCAD gallery in Dublin, which was organized by Fairley Pilaro in aid Of Operation Smile, a charity that raises money for children to have cleft palate operations in poor and underdeveloped countries. The picture was once again auctioned off for the Stars Of The Arts Gala in aid of the Haiti Appeal.^[3][4] In 2011 it came into the media attention again when it was selected to be included in a new book which was a collection of art and famous inspiring quotes. The book 'Quoted Moments' was launched in July 2011 and in association with the Irish Cancer Society

Books and published material

In 2007, Leslie Norton published a biography of Fredrick Franklin and documented Franklin's involvement with Alderson and his 2005 and 2007 BBC documentaries.^[2] The book made available in all good bookstore and also available to purchase online.

In 2009, whilst still a dancer with New English Contemporary Ballet, Alderson featured in Jim Rowbothams' photography book 'Strictly Ballet'. In 2010, French author Sébastien Simoni dedicated his latest novel, Labyrinthik to Alderson. The French horror novel went on sale in September 2010.

In 2011, Karin Pritzels, award-winning picture of Alderson 'Flight of Freedom' was selected to be included in a new book which was a collection of art and famous inspiring quotes. The book 'Quoted Moments' was launched in July 2011 and in association with the Irish Cancer Society.

Awards and recognition

TV, film and documentary

Ballet companies

Music

References

External links

• Leigh Alderson
• Leigh Alderson at New English Contemporary Ballet