Ulysses Unbound & The Stacked Deck
Chantry Dance UK Tour 2016
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  • “Just wanted to say how much we enjoyed the programme on Saturday evening. A highly entertaining and thought-provoking performance. Please convey my congratulations to your dancers who were utterly charming and totally committed, and indeed to all involved!” DAVID BINTLEY - Artistic Director Birmingham Royal Ballet
  • "Chantry Dance  delivered an inspiring performance. Driven by original and creative choreography and danced with commitment and heart from a very strong group of dancers" PETER PARKER – Britain’s Got Talent Finalist, Northern Ballet former Principal Dancer
  • “It was an absolute honour to invite the Chantry Dance to perform once again in the studio theatre of Elmhurst. The company continues to go from strength to strength, the dancers performing with raw energy and passion and a wonderful dramatic ability! It was fabulous to see the Elmhurst students perform alongside the company in a curtain raising performance, an experience that they will cherish forever. My sincere thanks go to Paul, Rae and the team in taking them under their wing, allowing them to take company class and including them in such a wonderful performance!” ROBERT PARKER – Artistic Director of Elmhurst, Birmingham Royal Ballet former Principal Dancer
Gangsta Granny (Chantry Dance for Birmingham Stage Company)
Garrick Theatre, West End and UK Tour 2016 - 2017
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Chantry Dance created choreography and movement direction for David Walliam's hit show 'Gangsta Granny' for a UK Tour and West End run. Directed by Neal Foster and produced by Birmingham Stage Company, the show has played to sold out audiences across the country.

  • "nimbly uses dance to bridge the gaps between scenes" THE GUARDIAN
  • "entertaining dance interludes at every scene change" THE TIMES
  • "Paul Chantry and Rae Piper’s choreography is so succinct you don’t notice the set changes with the cast dancing through them" FAIRY POWERED PRODUCTIONS
  • "the choreographed set changes were an art form in themselves" BOURNEMOUTH ECHO
  • "the dancing runs through the show, lifting it along with the sparkle of the glitter ball." THEATRE BUBBLE
  • "expert choreography from Paul Chantry and Rae Piper" THE OXFORD TIMES
  • "beautifully choreographed" THE IPSWICH STAR
  • "a great watch from beginning to end with fun choreography" COVENTRY TELEGRAPH

AWARD WINS
  • What's On Midlands Readers' Award 2017 for Best Home Produced Show
AWARD NOMINATIONS
  • OLIVIER AWARD 2018 for Best Family & Entertainment
  • UK Theatre Award 2016 for Best Show For Children And Young People
  • What's On Midlands Readers' Award 2017 for Best Touring Theatre Play/Show
  • What's On Midlands Readers' Award 2017 for Best Children's Show
DUOLOGY
Chantry Dance UK Tour 2015
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  • ***** "Captivating choreography", "impresive performances", "Excellent" EVERYTHING THEATRE
  • "Very cleverly choreographed", "executed beautifully", "powerful", "moving", "magnificent on Saturday night" JANE LAMBERT, TERPSICHORE
  • "The evening and your performances were inspirational and I can't stop singing your praises." VINCE EAGER
  • "a lovely quirky piece"..."it was evocative and moving, and I found the bleaker characters genuinely chilling. Influenced by Greek theatre as well as modern dance, it made a strong impression on me"..."Contemporary ballet isn’t something that’s ever been on my radar before, but based on this performance it’s something I would like to see more of. I was very impressed by this company and I would definitely be interested in seeing future work by them." LOITERING IN THE THEATRE
  • "exciting and ambitious"..."Paul Chantry beautifully interprets the Van Gogh and how the painter features in society with his relationships combining genius with compelling power"..."An excellent programme." DAWN SMALLWOOD
  • "The whole performance was captivating....superb." JACKIE SMITH, MAYOR OF GRANTHAM

Our audiences said:
  • "It was fantastic! So many talented dancers.... Choreography amazing." (Susan, audience member)
  • "What a powerful production. Congratulations to you all for creating su ch an amazing evening! (Janet, audience member)
  • "Watching Chantry Dance perform is always a night to remember." (Rosie, audience member)
  • "A stunning performance by all of you tonight at your opening night. Thank you for an amazing evening." (Marie, audience member)
  • "What a fantastic opening night for you all...so pleased we traveled from Scunthorpe to watch these amazing dancers, we loved your choreography and interpretation of the theme and left us discussing how we interpreted the first act." (Melanie and Georgie, audience members)
  • "Came to watch Duology last night - absolutely loved it!! You were all absolutely brilliant, and the choreography was so beautifully inspired." (Sinead, audience member)
The Happy Prince & Other Original Works
Chantry Dance UK Tour 2014
  • "What a beautiful performance, incredibly moving in places and brilliantly funny in others. The company managed to tell human stories in a truly enjoyable way with clever choreography. I loved it!" NICOLA GILROY, BBC RADIO LINCOLNSHIRE, THE NICOLA GILROY SHOW
  • "A wonderful show packed with creativity, artistry and humour that is so captivating. Great choice of music, I loved it." CLLR IAN SELBY, MAYOR OF GRANTHAM

Our audiences said:
  • "If you can, go and see a performance. Moves you to tears one moment and the next laughter. Just amazing." (Julie Atkinson, audience member)
  • "It was AMAZING! I urge anyone who thought Dance or Ballet 'wasn't for them'  to go see it. Inspirational." (Laura Bayston, audience member)
  • "I went to see The Happy Prince...and it was absolutely amazing! It was so captivating and I loved the choreography and story lines. I recommend everyone to go and see it! Well done Chantry." (Evie Deacon, audience member)
  • "I was particularly struck by the Rhapsody in Blue, which I thought was brilliant." (Douglas Hollick, audience member)
Chasing the Eclipse
Gravity Fields Festival

  • "Riveting" GRANTHAM JOURNAL
  • "There is something special about this company...So exciting. Great score, great set and lighting, great choreography and great dancing...everyone around me was entranced.  It was over far too quickly and we wanted more." JANE LAMBERT, TERPSICHORE
  • "...absolutely amazing." DEBBIE GRIGG, SKDC
  • "This is a simple, moving story of love just out of reach.  The set design is incredibly effective and the dancers tell the story beautifully.  The thing I liked the most about this whole experience was that it performed in a non-traditional setting.  Performing a dancepiece on a temporary stage in the market place of a small town meant that this wonderful show could be seen by such a diverse audience - from those who came specifically to see it to those who were simply passing by until they were captivated by the story unfolding before them. Chantry Dance proved without question dance can be performed anywhere -I loved it." CAROL DRURY, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND POLICY DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, SKDC
  • "Chasing the Eclipse was everything any performance aspired to be. The realised imagination translated into a breath-taking dramatic performance of light, music, and some of the most engaging contemporary ballet I have ever seen. The dancers emotional vibrancy encapsulated the entire audience, whether they were 5 or 85, we were all taken on a journey of passion that took romance to the stars and allowed us to watch in awe, our empathic conscious resonated with the heart ache of loved ones we long for." CHRIS SCHUBERT, DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT OFFICER, LCC
  • "Hats off to the Chantry Dance for the amazing performance of 'Chasing the Eclipse' last night for Gravity Fields in Grantham. Enjoyed it so much on Thursday, we watched it again this evening!" NIGEL BOOTH, CHAIRMAN SKARS

Our audiences said:
  •  "Your inspirational ballet, Chasing the Eclipse, was a whole new experience for us. The combination of superb, innovative choreography, truly sensitive dancing combined with stunning visual effects made it a magical evening. Your creative ability never ceases to amaze us but this took it to a whole new level." (Lynda and Alan, audience members)
  • "Chasing the Eclipse is a fantastic portrayal of Lumen and Scura's beautiful story using the medium of dance, music and light. The quality of the performance was exceptional and as a part of the audience following the story, I was just captivated and drawn in. Well done Chantry Dance, a truly memorable performance!" (Brian, audience member)
  • "Best part of Gravity Fields 2014" (Penny, audience member)
  • "Once again blown away by the incredible talent of the dancers of Chantry Dance! Amazing performance that's very cleverly and beautifully choreographed and danced!" (Megan, audience member)
  • "Ridiculously talented Chantry Dance" (Sharalyn, audience member)
  • "Brilliant production" (Jonas, audience member)
  • "We really enjoyed the breath-taking performance and we were very inspired by the moves. We particularly liked how the dancers expressed their feelings through their movements. The picture that we have chosen is our favourite because it is captivating and elegant. Thank you to all the dancers!" (from the National Junior School, Grantham)
Out of Bounds​
Chantry Dance UK Tour 2013

Our audiences said:
  • "superb"
  • "creatively captivating"
  • "Paul Chantry and the Chantry Dance .....YOU ROCK!"
  • "pure brilliance"
  • "contemporary at it's best"
  • "I'm the first to admit I know nothing about dance but I can tell you the show was true to it's title. From moments of beautiful abstraction to those of genuine wit and heartfelt emotion, it was as unpredictable as it was entrancing. It was musically diverse, mentally stimulating and performed with real flair. I thought it was a triumph of creative intent."
  • "The whole company displayed fantastic commitment, not only achieving an air of technical sprezzatura, but conveying narrative and individual character journeys with a clarity that was both entertaining and engaging."
  • "Just wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed the performance last night.  Absolutely understood why (our son) was raving so much about the quality of the dancing. I don't even like Bob Dylan (unlike the folks singing along behind us!) but I loved that piece in particular - it was so joyous."
  • "Superb evening and very moving. Loved the first ensemble piece!!!! (ad fidem).  Paul's piece (404-not found) was also amazing! I loved it - and to my mind a superb amalgamation of a homage to the silent comedy actors of old and the best of Marcel Marceau. His facial expressions!"



​Sandman Duet & Dream Dance
Lincoln Inspired, Lincoln Drill Hall
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  • "the score...was beautiful and Gail Gordon's choreography interpreted it perfectly"..."Paul is a tall, elegant dancer and he circled the stage magisterially with his wide ronds de jambe and battements."..."allowed them to show off their virtuosity and dramatic skill." JANE LAMBERT, TERPSICHORE
Corp de Ballet Triple Bill
The Village Underground

  •  “What a hugely impressive event last night – amazing; and what a great venue.  Makes me feel very embarrassed I only ask you to choreograph operetta!  Many congratulations.” SIMON BUTTERISS, SKY ARTS PRESENTER
  • “Thank you so much for the wonderful interpretations of my music. I was overcome by ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’ - but also found the other two completely ‘at one’ as creative works of art - as if we had collaborated and worked together over months!!! -  and they were really fab!!!” RONALD CORP OBE

Our audiences said:
  • “I wanted to send heartfelt congratulations to you and all the dancers on last night’s beautiful performances and interpretation of Ron's music. It was a wonderful evening and there was a real buzz in the audience. I was completely spellbound from the start with ‘The Yellow Wallpaper's’ menacing claustrophobia, all wonderfully Gothic and disturbing! The abstraction of Francis's text of Lullaby was beautifully interpreted by you both. ‘Songs of The Elder Sisters’ was a truly contemporary reading - my area of expertise is Buddhist art history and these stories (although not the poems) are well known in parts of India and Southeast Asia - so it was a delight to see them set in a contemporary idiom." (John Glass - audience member)
  • “It was lovely to meet you and Paul last night and we are still reeling from your wonderful performance. All three pieces were very powerful and the multi-collaborative input really worked well. Your interpretation of each of the three pieces was dramatic and exhausting in a positive way. Even without the complementary blurb we could follow the "story" which is something that many choreographers struggle to convey to their audience. The three pieces contributed to the majority of the emotional and intellectual needs of your audience.” (Gill and Richard, audience members)
  • “Thanks for a lovely evening. I loved the quality of dancing of you all, beautiful and soft and very touching.” (Caroline, audience member)
Our House (Chantry Dance for Pimlico Opera)
HMP YOI ISIS
  • "Choreographers Paul Chantry and Rae Piper work wonders with raw talent." JEREMY CHAPMAN, MUSICAL THEATRE REVIEW
Sister Act (Chantry Dance for Pimlico Opera)
HMP Bronzefield
  • "What Pimlico, through...choreographers Paul Chantry and Rae Piper, have teased out of the 17 law-breaker performers, some of whom will never have been in a theatre before, is quite extraordinary." JEREMY CHAPMAN, MUSICAL THEATRE REVIEW
Wallflowering
Cheltenham Everyman Studio
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  • " intermittent dance sequences follow the pastime that the dysfunctional couple share passionately, displaying Rae Piper and Paul Chantry’s fluid choreography around the performance space" TIM MONTAGURE, THEATRE-MAKER
  • ***** STAGE TALK MAGAZINE
The Last Days of Mankind (Chantry Dance for Bristol Old Vic and BOVTS)
Bristol Old Vic Theatre Royal
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  • "The ensemble work from the cast is superb, especially the physical work and cleverly-choreographed dances, and the energy coming off the stage is tangible." ELEANOR TURNEY, A YOUNGER THEATRE
  • **** "….an exuberant cast dancing and creating huge movement and life on stage. …its strengths in this production were the visual and audio presentation and stylish choreography. Paul Chantry and Rae Piper created a series of breath taking sequences." HARRY MOTTRAM, STRAWBERRY LINE TIMES
  • ***** “Choreography by Paul Chantry & Rae Piper is incredibly expressive. The whole chorus moves sometimes en masse, sometimes as soloists in a crowd of solo dancers, making the chorus truly, star of the show.” ARTHUR DUNCAN, REMOTE GOAT
Glengarry, Glen Ross (Chantry Dance for Bath Theatre Royal)
Bath Theatre Royal, Ustinov Studio
  • "The main action of each scene was separated by......dramatic movement which helped to join each scene together and added to the fluidity and vibe of the production" EMILY PRITCHARD, THIS IS WILTSHIRE
  • ".....seven men literally jostling and pushing themselves around the stage in the powerful opening sequence...." ALAN KING, THE BRISTOL POST
The Merry Widow (Chantry Dance for Simon Butteriss and John Wilson)
The Royal Festival Hall
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  • "The most elaborate choreography was for a barnstorming male septet which culminated with a smile-inducing kick-dance. Such periodic flashes of razzle-dazzle were welcome..." GRAHAM ROGERS, CLASSICAL SOURCE
  • "...the memorable highlight was the all-male high stepping chorus line for 'What to think, what to say, what to do?' in Act 2, and this had panache and true style..." JIM PRITCHARD, SEEN AND HEARD INTERNATIONAL
La Traviata (Chantry Dance for The Merry Opera Company)
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  •  **** THE TELEGRAPH
  • **** EVENING STANDARD
  • **** TIME OUT
  • **** BACHTRACK
AWARD NOMINATION:
  • Off West End Theatre Award 2012 for Best Opera Production
The Magic Flute (Chantry Dance for The Merry Opera Company)
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  • ****  THE CUARDIAN
  • **** TIME OUT
  • **** WHAT'S ON STAGE


​Education Department Reviews

2019 Alice  - Wonderland through the Looking Glass Workshop Feedback

  • “Phoebe said it was pacey, energetic & fun and she had an Awesome blast!
              “Matilda loved the workshop and said she really enjoyed learning a piece from the show. She said the man leading the workshop was    
               lovely and she felt special to have met him”
               (Lincoln Dance Company)

  • “We recently had a masterclass with David Beer, who visited our academy and led two group workshops. Having attended the performance of ‘Alice – Wonderland through the looking glass’, it was exciting for students to have the opportunity to work on some technique and repertoire from the show with dancer and company assistant-director David. The students ranged from 8 – 18 years and David was able to adapt the material accordingly and set the work at the perfect level to challenge the students and allow them to achieve a piece of work to a good standard, within a short space of time. All of the students that took part enjoyed it and were very enthusiastic in their feedback about the workshop. Although they are all at varying levels of ability, each young person was able to take away something valuable to their own learning experience. We will definitely be looking out for more productions and opportunities to work with the Chantry Dance!”
             (PQA Lincoln)

  • “The Chantry workshop was engaging, informative and fun. Rae and Paul had a lovely manner with the students and worked hard at getting a performance quality from them in a short period of time. Feedback from Paul and Rae was helpful and encouraging, enabling our students to improve their work during the workshop. The students learnt about the expression of dance and how to tell narrative through dance. They fully embraced the ideas and teaching from Rae and Paul’s excellent communication and teaching skills. The Q&A at the end of the session really helped the students, they loved hearing about how professionals would advise on auditions and further training”
             (Lincoln College)

  • ‘We thoroughly enjoyed the workshop that Paul delivered at our dancing school. We asked for a contemporary ballet workshop as this is a style that the students haven’t done before. Paul gave us a good taster to the genre and delivered a fun and informative workshop. The young dancers were engaged from start to finish and have come away inspired by Paul’s passion and talent. Thank you Chantry Dance for this opportunity’
             (Ms Shaw - Gemma Shaw School of Dancing)

  • ‘It was fun and interesting to do something different and out of my comfort zone. It really helped me to think more about my performance skills for the future’​
             ‘A brilliant balance between contemporary and classical dance’ ‘Fantastic lesson, I loved it!’
             (Students - Gemma Shaw School of Dancing)

  • We can’t thank Paul and Chantry Dance enough. The dance students at Bedford High School, Leigh really enjoyed watching the performance of Alice. It was a great opportunity to see how a company can use a well known pre-existing story and make it their own. It allowed the students to follow the story whilst enjoying the creative additions and the talented performances. It was lovely to see the company working with such a diverse cast. It was an amazing opportunity to have a workshop as part of the performance experience. The students really appreciated being able to work with the performers that they have seen on stage. We loved the creative side of the workshop, as students don’t always get these opportunities in lesson, and they loved learning some of the rep from the show.
                 (Bedford School, Leigh)         

  • “I really enjoyed the different techniques that Paul used- I do drama too- so the acting side was great for me!”
             “The workshop was good opportunity to work with outside choreographers- I liked how the choreography was fun and i really liked doing    
               improvisation”
              (Students - Bedford School, Leigh)

  • “The students really enjoyed being able to learn a section of rep from a show they had seen live the previous week. It was also useful for them to have the experience of learning and speaking to a professional dancer. The way the session was delivered helped them to experience what it would be like to be a part of a company and gave them insight into the dance world outside of their usual training.”
​              (Bradford Academy)

  • “We thoroughly enjoyed both of the workshops. David was excellent - his manner with the students was professional, yet approachable and fun. He adapted his content to suit both the ability of the students and the outcome we needed from the performance. The students really enjoyed the whole experience and definitely gained both knowledge and skills from the session.”
              (Tanbridge House School)

  • “We wanted to thank Chantry, and David so much for providing the students with such a well planned and thoughtfully delivered workshop. The level was pitched perfectly, which was a challenge in itself as we had a big range of ages and abilities, but they all remained engaged throughout. It was challenging enough for the more able students, and gave them an opportunity to try out new techniques and they loved it. David kept an eye out for the younger ones too, and offered a bit of extra support or explanation where they needed it, so that they didn't feel overwhelmed.”
              (Horsham School of Dance)

  • "The workshop was a great experience as it was good to learn skills from other dance styles, and to work on choreography from the performance". Eva
             "I really liked this workshop because it pushed me outside of my comfort zone, especially the acting. Thank you!"  Leah
                 (Parkside School, Bradford) 

  • "The workshop was good and I liked how we got to learn a dance from the show. The bit at the beginning where we did some grade exercises was helpful for when we came to do the dances." Milly.
             "I loved the workshop it was fantastic. I learnt some new ballet moves and I really enjoyed it. Thank you so much!" Eliza.
                  (Pennine Dance, Halifax)



 Feedback on other Chantry School workshops and events
  • "As parents, it’s really exciting for us to see what (our daughter) is a part of and the professionalism and high standards of dance she is being exposed to. We are very happy and proud that she is a part of Chantry and she feels welcome and valued. She loves her associate classes and is learning so much."

  • "Challenging, liberating, intelligent, instinctive stuff, and, most importantly, useful!" (Joe Spurgeon - workshop participant.)
 
  • "I have worked in teaching for over 20 years and I was completely overwhelmed with how well versed you both (Paul and Rae) were in dance, choreography and teaching. Everyone who took part had an amazing time and felt valued and able to achieve their best. Word has spread how exciting and enjoyable the last session was and as a result of this I have had to change venue to accommodate everyone!” (Lisa Burgess - AISTD, MAAD (Hons), Company Director Star Academy Limited.)   
 
  • “Chantry Dance tick every box as they approach the work in a thoroughly professional manner and have a plethora of experience that is so vital to be able to impart to our students. The girls are aged from 13 to 18 years of age and are always keen to welcome Chantry back to our studio for a brilliant workshop of really diverse and interesting work that is presented in a completely professional manner." (Felicity Redgrave - Principal, Bristol School of Dancing.)
 
  • “Thank you so much for coming to deliver such a fabulous workshop. The students were so inspired by your teaching and your work. Thanks again for such a wonderful day you are amazing.” (Rachel Linthwaite - Principal, Dance Attack, Sutton Coldfield.)
 
  • "For me the experience of dancing on stage for the first time under the direction of professional dancers was very special. In Realizing a Dream 12 Sept 2013 I wrote: "Dancing to real ballet music in a real studio in a real ballet school. Imagine!" Yesterday was the culmination of that dream and it was one of the best days of my life." (Jane Lambert, Terpsichore review of 'Dream Dance Workshop')
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