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Gentleman Jack,picture extracted from The New York Times © Sophie Stafford i
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Breaking Ballet Boundaries: FEDORA - VAN CLEEF & ARPELS Dance Prize 2025 Winner "Gentleman Jack" Featured in The New York Times
Industry News, Winners
The FEDORA - VAN CLEEF & ARPELS Dance Prize 2025 Winner, Gentleman Jack, has captured the attention of international audiences with a feature in The New York Times by Laura Cappelle.
Choreographed by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa and produced by Northern Ballet in collaboration with the Finnish National Opera and Ballet, Gentleman Jack tells the story of Anne Lister, a 19th-century English landowner whose life and loves challenge conventional gender norms. The ballet presents a rare and profound exploration of queer history on stage, demonstrating the power of dance to engage audiences with bold, socially resonant storytelling.
The article highlights how the FEDORA Prizes foster the development of innovative stage productions across Europe, supporting projects that take creative risks and push artistic boundaries, noting that the FEDORA Prizes are “a prestigious European award that supports the development of innovative stage productions.” Gentleman Jack perfectly illustrates this vision: it challenges traditional ballet codes, redefines ensemble dynamics, and foregrounds stories that have long been underrepresented in the repertoire.
The article describes how Gentleman Jack transforms traditional ballet technique, with female dancers partnering each other and taking on physically demanding lifts typically reserved for men. It also emphasizes the broader cultural impact of the production, noting how audiences and queer communities have responded with enthusiasm to this pioneering portrayal of same-sex romance on the ballet stage. The feature further highlights the meticulous research and collaboration behind the production, from studying Anne Lister’s diaries to coaching dancers in authentic movement and characterization, showing how innovation in dance can be both rigorous and deeply human.
For FEDORA, this recognition highlights the transformative role of venture philanthropy: enabling artists to realize ambitious visions and bringing pioneering work to audiences beyond national borders.
The FEDORA - VAN CLEEF & ARPELS Dance Prize is supported by Van Cleef & Arpels, in collaboration with Opera Europa. The FEDORA Prizes competition is co-funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Commission.
Gentleman Jack will premiere at Northern Ballet, Leeds, on 7 March 2026, before moving to Sadler’s Wells, London, from 19 May 2026.
© Sophie Stafford i
‘Gentleman Jack’ Brings a Quiet Revolution to Ballet - New York Times Article by Laura Cappelle
Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s new ballet, based on the life of one of the first modern lesbians, is changing how dancers view their traditional roles.
© Northern Ballet i
Gentleman Jack, Winner of the FEDORA - VAN CLEEF & ARPELS Dance Prize 2025
A major new ballet based on the life of Anne Lister (1791-1840), the inspiration for the hugely popular and critically acclaimed BBC series, Gentleman Jack.
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