Royal Ballet Gala for The Hunger Project

Following the success of the launch of World Hunger Day in January, The Royal Ballet has announced an ‘All Star’ gala featuring ‘The Royal Ballet’s Gary Avis and Friends’, set to take place at The Regent Theatre, Ipswich on September 11th, 2011 in aid of The Hunger Project.

This will be the very first regional World Hunger Day event and will take place in the largest theatre in East Anglia. It will also be the first time that dancers from both The Royal Ballet and English National Ballet have taken to the stage at this theatre since the 1960s.

Gary Avis, Suffolk-born star of the Royal Ballet and Patron of THP UK will lead the Gala hosted by another THP UK Patron, Angela Rippon OBE.

Avis stated that “Both Angela and I are really proud to be a patron of The Hunger Project. We were shocked to find that 20,000 people still die every day from hunger and poverty and that one in six people on the planet has to exist on less than 80p a day.”

Performing alongside Steven McRae and Jumoké Fashola, will be The Royal Ballet’s Roberta Marquez, Mara Galeazzi, Nehemiah Kish, Melissa Hamilton, Paul Kay, Leanne Cope, Yuhui Choe , Liam Scarlett, Bennet Gartside the English National Ballet’s Principal Ballerina Begoña Cao.

The event aims to raise awareness as well as money for The Hunger Project and his desire to support the charity was inspired by the first World Hunger Day in January.

Avis stated: “I have tried to create an opportunity for the whole community to come together, so we also have Royal Ballet Pianist Kate Shipway and The Royal Opera’s Nigel Cliffe performing with guest pianist Peter Edwards playing for Jumoke Fashola. I also wanted to include the local community in the two shows, so I’ve asked my friends from The Co-op Juniors, Ipswich Operatic Society, Appeal Theatre Group and The Gallery Players to join together as a mass choir for the evening. Also we have young performers from my original dance school, Linda Shipton School of Dance, performing in the show.”

“I’d especially love young people to both hear about The Hunger Project and experience and interact with world class dance. And to make this a real possibility, ticket prices start at £10 with special prices for families and groups of young people and I am also going to be doing dance workshops with local children around the concert event.’’

‘The Royal Ballet’s Gary Avis and Friends’ in aid of The Hunger Project will take place at The Regent Theatre, Ipswich, on Sunday, September 11, 1.30pm and 6.30pm. Tickets £10-£60 (concessions, family, group and VIP packages available) can be booked on 01473 433100 or at www.ipswichregent.com. Booking fees apply. Tickets are on sale now.