BalletBoyz to Perform at Roundhouse Summer Sessions, 31 July - 1 August

BalletBoyz® are set to perform at Roundhouse Summer Sessions on 31 July and 1 August 2014 with their final UK dates of Liam Scarlett's 'Serpent' and Russell Maliphant's 'Fallen' and an exclusive excerpt of BalletBoyz' highly anticipated new show, 'Young Men', that has been in development for the past year.

'Young Men', which is choreographed by NDT dancer/choreographer, Iván Pérez, features an original, orchestral score by the reclusive British singer songwriter Keaton Henson. Henson will direct an extract of it at the Roundhouse with the BBC Concert Orchestra augmented by some of his own team of musicians.

A gifted composer and illustrator, Keaton Henson's first collaboration with BalletBoyz/theTalent was in 2011 when the company set Paul Roberts' Alpha to some of Keaton's songs. 'Young Men' is Keaton's first commission for a dance production and he worked closely with choreographer Iván Pérez developing the music alongside the dance rather than writing the music once the dance had been made. Keaton's score is entirely new; it veers towards a majestic, cinematic scale while deftly illustrating the balance between the harsh reality of war and the beauty and emotion of the bond between the young men and their relationships.

Keaton has released three critically acclaimed albums and won the Best Music Video Award (Rushes Soho Shorts 2012) for the video of his single Small Hands. His first album, Dear, full of tender, heartfelt songs, was released in 2010; Birthdays, recorded in California, followed in 2012 and added to his already burgeoning cult following. On June 16th Keaton performed at the Southbank Centre's Queen Elizabeth Hall as part of the James Lavelle-curated Meltdown Festival and on the same day released a new album to an unsuspecting public; Romantic Works "...further affirms his reputation as an elusive figure; taking inspiration from the likes of Arvo Pärt, Philip Glass, Henryk Górecki and Edward Elgar, he lavishes just as much sincerity into his arrangements as his words...delicate and mournful, yet without self-pity, Romantic Works is remarkable." (Guardian)

'Young Men', which explores the theme of war and the bond that forms between the men who train and fight together, is part of 14-18 NOW WW1 Centenary Art Commissions drawing inspiration from images of war through the ages, in particular the First World War. The full work premieres at Sadler's Wells in January 2015.

Artist: BalletBoyz
Date: 31 July 2014 - 1 August 2014
Time: 8:00pm
Venue: Roundhouse, Chalk Farm Road, London NW1 8EH
Tickets: £22.50-£35
Box office: 0844 482 8008 / www.roundhouse.org.uk

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