Here’s a peek at what they’ve been tweeting so far, including some behind-the-scenes pics:

Team North:

Lovely theatre and audience here in @royalnottingham #midscalenorth twitter.com/CelineGittens/…

— Celine Gittens (@CelineGittens) May 11, 2013

The Jazz band playing Take Five for @brbontour are sounding bloomin’ awesome!! Tonight is going to be so much fun! Can’t wait!👯🎹🎺🎷

— Kristen J McGarrity (@kbird_x) May 10, 2013

Very excited for my debut in Take Five today!!! @brb @royalnottingham #teamnorth

— Lachlan Monaghan (@lachlanmonaghan) May 11, 2013

Great audience for our 1st night in Nottingham! @brb_rbsinfonia & jazz musicians on fine form. Two more shows tomorrow… #TeamNorth @brb

— Kit Holder (@KitHolder) May 10, 2013

Here @royalnottingham #teamnorth ready for final show tonight in this gem of a theatre! Respect to the jazz band too – fantastic playing!

— RoyalBalletSinfonia (@BRB_RBSinfonia) May 11, 2013

Team South:

so nice to meet some of the participants at cheltenham performing arts festival today @everymanchelt @brb #memories #dancefestivals

— Laura Day (@lauraday_3) May 10, 2013

Great night sleep after day 1 of company manager experience! Looking forward to day 2 and seeing @brb from the other side!

— Laura Tye (Purkiss) (@LauraTyePurkiss) May 10, 2013

Return of Jessica Lang’s ‘Lyric Pieces’ – ‘Team Iain’ @brb @barts_james @knightyvette @maureyalebowitz @matyass88 twitter.com/blawrence155/s…

— Brandon Lawrence (@blawrence155) May 10, 2013

In #teamsouth whilst we may be missing our string playing colleagues, we’re having a fine time in beautiful Cheltenham @everymanchelt @brb

— RoyalBalletSinfonia (@BRB_RBSinfonia) May 11, 2013

Awesome opening night here in Cheltenham – go #teamsouth …. Hope #teamnorth gave a good show to my hometown Nottingham!

— Laura Davenport (@laura_davenport) May 10, 2013

Birmingham Royal Ballet’s split tour continues this month:

Theatre Royal Nottingham 10 – 11 May 2013
York Theatre Royal 14 – 15 May 2013
Durham Gala 17 – 18 May 2013
Buxton Opera House 21 – 22 May 2013

Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham 10 – 11 May 2013
The Lighthouse, Poole 14 – 15 May 2013
Hall for Cornwall 17 – 18 May 2013
Swan Theatre, High Wycombe 21 – 22 May 2013

It’s Friday afternoon and the jazz band are just striking up the first chords of Take Five to herald the start of our stage rehearsal for the north-east split tour!

It’s been a great 36 hours at the Theatre Royal – a venue that the Company hasn’t visited since its Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet days. Marion and Henry have been reminiscing over previous visits but most of the Company are visiting for the first time.

It’s a real treat to be starting the tour here – it’s a lovely theatre; great stage, beautiful auditorium and loads of space backstage. All of the staff are very friendly and welcoming, too; the get-in went very smoothly and everyone is looking forward to getting the tour underway!

Paul Grist,
Company Manager, Northern leg of the 2013 split tour.

Here you can see Principal casting for the performances, which take place at Chrysler Hall, Norfolk:

Friday 19th (matinee)
Swanilda: Maureya Lebowitz
Franz: Joseph Caley
Dr. Coppélius: Valentin Olovyannikov

Friday 19th (evening)
Swanilda: Nao Sakuma
Franz: Chi Cao
Dr. Coppélius: Michael O’Hare

Saturday 20th (evening)
Swanilda: Carol-Anne Millar
Franz: Jamie Bond
Dr. Coppélius: Rory Mackay

Sunday 21st (matinee)
Swanilda: Ambra Vallo
Franz: Tyrone Singleton
Dr. Coppélius: Jonathan Payn

Photo: Andrew Ross

Above: Dancers in Plymouth outside TR2, before morning class; photo: Jonathan Caguioa

Last night was our first performance of Aladdin in Theatre Royal Plymouth, and we were absolutely bowled over by the audience response!

A number of dancers took to twitter to thank the audience for their support, including Steven Monteith, Tzu-Chao Chou, Kristen McGarrity, Lachlan Monaghan and Céline Gittens – click each name to see their thank you messages!

Really enjoyed Plymouth opening night this evening as DJNNI ! Plymouth audience you are awesome !! #Aladdin #magiccarpettour #BRB #plymouth—
Tzu-Chao Chou (@tzuchaochou) March 06, 2013

Company Manager Paul Grist also commented: “The audience in Plymouth are always brilliant, but they really were amazing last night. Their warmth and support really lifted the whole performance, and the whole Company were on a real high, feeding off that energy.”

Enormous thanks must also go the venue staff – While there is extensive building and renovation work going on at the theatre, they’ve ensured that this has had minimal impact on our visit.

Again, Paul explained this morning: “They’d liaised with us a long time ago to let us know what would be happening and how they’d be dealing with any issues, and in actual fact it’s been nothing like as disruptive as we were anticipating. As usual, the whole team at Plymouth Theatre Royal has worked seamlessly, and I can’t praise them highly enough.”

The sun is shining gloriously upon Salford, and given its location overlooking the waterfront, the glittering water has truly become a feast for the eyes.

For the tour back in the autumn, the internship began the week after the company had been to Salford, so I’m glad I’ve been granted the opportunity to visit Greater Manchester before it finishes!

I’m currently in the ‘Company office’: a dressing room equipped with a fully working fridge, a fan and a monitor displaying the various ongoing activities on the stage; at the moment the dancers are taking their daily morning class on the stage, but at other times there are rehearsals, stage and lighting work going on, as well as the performances themselves.

The Lowry has two theatres: the Quays and the Lyric, and Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Aladdin is being performed in the Lyric, the larger of the two. Its neighbouring attractions include MediaCity and the Imperial War Museum North, although I highly doubt I’ll have ample time to visit such places!

It’s great being out on tour again, and considering that this is how I began the internship there is a certain symmetry that makes it easier to see how much I’ve settled in during the six months, the skills I’ve learnt and all that I’ve discovered whilst working for a ballet company. There is now a familiarity with staff and a confidence in my responsibilities that allow a different kind of ease and enjoyment each day.

The project I’m currently working on is the compilation of the blue book for the Company’s upcoming trip to Virginia in April, whilst continuing to do ongoing daily tasks required for the current tour, such as updating the cast sheets ready for publication, managing general enquiries, and just absorbing the feel and workings of a new theatre!

This afternoon I will be covering the show, which involves being present in the foyer before the start of each act, for each curtain-up in case anything goes wrong, and also be responsible for ticket allocation for the ballet staff.

This evening I’m watching the ballet. It’s been great having the opportunity to watch a performance in every theatre we’ve visited. I like the idea of ticking each one off a list. Each time I watch one of the ballets it’s an alternate cast, which makes a surprising difference and adds a real freshness, especially the more I’ve gotten to recognise individual dancers simply by the way they dance, and the signature they create. My eyesight isn’t the best, so to simply be able to recognise dancers through their movements is a rather helpful practice.

I’m heading back to Birmingham tomorrow, so the trip has felt surprisingly short, but very pleasant nonetheless. The initial friendliness and warmth I was shown by the dancers and staff when I first started has only grown as time has gone by and I can now honestly say that I very much feel part of the company now, and have been fortunate enough to work with many wonderful people.

The Aladdin score by Carl Davis is often playing in the background in the office, a gentle reminder of why we’re in Salford. I trust that the show will be received well and that it will be a mighty success!

Here’s to Plymouth next week…

Click on the dates and venues below to book!

Theatre Royal Nottingham 10 – 11 May 2013
York Theatre Royal 14 – 15 May 2013
Durham Gala 17 – 18 May 2013
Buxton Opera House 21 – 22 May 2013

This breathtaking programme presents a work from Birmingham Royal Ballet’s award-winning Director, Take Five alongside Broadway master Joe Layton’s The Grand Tour, and thrilling excerpts from some of the world-famous classics with which Birmingham Royal Ballet has made its name.

You see preview clips of two of these pieces here:

Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham 10 – 11 May 2013
The Lighthouse, Poole 14 – 15 May 2013
Hall for Cornwall 17 – 18 May 2013
Swan Theatre, High Wycombe 21 – 22 May 2013

In the South East we present Pineapple Poll, by the great British choreographer John Cranko, alongside US- Jessica Lang’s beautiful Lyric Pieces. The programme is completed by excerpts from the full-length classics that have brought the Company such acclaim around the world.

You can see previews of two pieces from the programme here:

We are now halfway through the penultimate leg of the tour and BRB are currently taking up residence in Sadler’s Wells theatre aka ‘London’s Dance House’. The majority of dancers and several of the company’s staff arrived in the misty, rain-drenched capital on Monday afternoon after a rather warm, sleep-inducing coach journey.

Sadler’s Wells theatre is always looking to commission fresh, innovative work and BRB’s two triple bills (Opposites Attract and Autumn Celebration) certainly fulfil those specifications.

It has been a successful start to the week and on Wednesday evening the curtain went down on the first of our two shows as the final performance of Opposites Attract came to an end. With the opening performance of Autumn Celebration tonight (which I am very privileged to be going to see), I am convinced we will have an equally favourable performances in the next two days, especially after having seen the dress rehearsal!!

This is the week in the tour I have been most looking forward to for two specific reasons. Firstly, I simply love London. I cannot imagine spending a single moment in this city at a loss for what to do, and it is always great to see friends and family and catch the odd show (in between work of course).

Secondly, Sadler’s Wells Theatre share a significant history with BRB in that it housed the Vic-Wells ballet from 1931 to 1940, a company that after going through various changes eventually became the BRB we know and love today. Due to this reason, I was very eager to see the theatre (even after its sixth renovation).

Yesterday I attended a couple of meetings alongside Paul Grace (Technical Director), Peter Teigen (Lighting Design Consultant) and Johnny Westall-Eyre (Head of Lighting); the first of which was at London Coliseum (well more accurately it was conducted in Café Neros, which is rather conveniently positioned next door). The purpose of the meeting was to consolidate the technical schedule for the forthcoming season of David Bintley’s Aladdin, which we are taking to the Coliseum in March next year. (As an aside: I did however get to experience a swift tour of the theatre, which is the largest in the UK and it has arguably the most beautiful auditorium I have ever seen).

We went from there onto the Royal Opera House, who are commissioned by BRB to create the set, costumes and props for Aladdin, along with other upcoming productions.

I was fortunate enough to be able to go behind the scenes and discover the untold delights of their Props workshop room, a treasure trove which Paul Grace has fondly termed ‘Aladdin’s Cave’ for many years, which has now quite literally become the case. Seeing the work for the set that has already been undertaken and pairing that with David Bintley’s choreography I can only imagine the show will be nothing short of spectacular.

I’m heading back to Birmingham tomorrow morning, and I cannot believe how swiftly this week has flown by.

Here’s to the final leg in Cardiff next week!!

The piece is choreographed by our own Director, David Bintley, with a score composed by Matthew Hindson. Matthew is a prolific tweeter, and we collected his tweets during preparations for the premiere in Birmingham this summer. You can see them here, along with some additional tweets from the Company:

Finished the pno reduction of my new ballet for @BRB today – right on schedule! I think it will be exciting – premiere in June—
Matthew Hindson (@MatthewHindson) December 15, 2011

The next job is orchestrating all 1048 bars of it. Lots and lots of notes. Not as exciting as composing the music—
Matthew Hindson (@MatthewHindson) December 15, 2011

The topic of the ballet is motivations behind sport, e.g. competition, striving towards a goal despite obstacles on the way—
Matthew Hindson (@MatthewHindson) December 15, 2011

Finished orchestrating my 1000 bar ballet for the @BRB this evening. And learned how to use Sibelius along the way—
Matthew Hindson (@MatthewHindson) January 23, 2012

It is inconceivable how much work would go into writing a full opera. Or even something like Turangalîla. Composing is difficult, folks—
Matthew Hindson (@MatthewHindson) January 23, 2012

But hopefully the musical rewards are worth it (ie for the audience). Someone has to do it!—
Matthew Hindson (@MatthewHindson) January 23, 2012

Next week have performances of 4 works: 1. new ballet 'Faster' with @BRB in Birmingham brb.org.uk/MH-2012.html—
Matthew Hindson (@MatthewHindson) June 20, 2012

According to the Weather app on iPhone, temperature ranges in Birmingham (summer) same as here in Sydney (winter). Surely not.—
Matthew Hindson (@MatthewHindson) June 21, 2012

In Birmingham for new @BRB ballet, Faster. Nice big poster front of Hippodrome hind.so/fpos—
Matthew Hindson (@MatthewHindson) June 24, 2012

High quality buskers in Birmingham. Good singers, and their guitars are in tune—
Matthew Hindson (@MatthewHindson) June 24, 2012

Just back from first combined rehearsal of Faster with @BRB. Looks & sounds amazing. Supportive & excellent conductor & orch show what poss—
Matthew Hindson (@MatthewHindson) June 26, 2012

How lucky am I to have this opportunity – to have music realized in this fashion. An artistic highlight. Wish always be this way!—
Matthew Hindson (@MatthewHindson) June 26, 2012

Having a musically engaged conductor makes more difference than one would realize. They make or break it. Luckily, Paul Murphy = making it—
Matthew Hindson (@MatthewHindson) June 26, 2012

World premiere of new work #Faster at @BrumHippodrome tonight. Here's an interview with choreographer David Bintley: brb.org.uk/faster—
Bham Royal Ballet (@BRB) June 27, 2012

This evening's performance of #Faster was unbelievably good. Electric. One of the highpoints of my musical life. Thanks @BRB!—
Matthew Hindson (@MatthewHindson) June 28, 2012

Thank you everybody for the continued warmth for new work #Faster, and for the whole triple bill! Tours this autumn: brb.org.uk/masque/index.h…—
Bham Royal Ballet (@BRB) June 30, 2012

We dance Faster as part of Autumn Celebration, along with The Grand Tour and The Dream.
Click here to book for Autumn Celebration at Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London.
Click here to book for Autumn Celebration at Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff.

Among the pieces featured is Frederick Ashton’s The Dream, which Birmingham Royal Ballet performs this week in London and next week in Cardiff. Click each location for booking details.

Here we’ve posted a set of images not included in our Dream wings gallery, showing dancers waiting backstage. Taken by Andrew Ross during a performance of the ballet earlier in 2012, this is the first time that these photographs have been published.

We dance The Dream as part of Autumn Celebration, along with The Grand Tour and our Olympics-inspired ballet, Faster.
Click here to book for Autumn Celebration at Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London.
Click here to book for Autumn Celebration at Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff.

Here’s a selection of our favourites. If you’re on twitter yourself and would like to follow those of us on there, you’ll find a handy list of Company tweeters here.

I always say "I'm going to pack in plenty of time" ..never happens. @BRB. Swan lake at the Lowry this week!—
Max (@maxmaslen1993) September 17, 2012

First stage call for Swan Lake done! Just chilling in my new tutu..
#UglyDuckling http://t.co/mJ4XaI7H—
Kristen (@kbird_mg) September 17, 2012

Too too much tutu xx #BadJoke http://t.co/60G9W1ax—
Kristen (@kbird_mg) September 17, 2012

Long long day of Swan Lake.. Tomorrow is opening night. And it's gonna be awesome.—
Kit Holder (@KitHolder) September 18, 2012

I cannot describe how devastated I am having injured my calf before the most diverse season of dance ever. #gutted #intense #adancerslife—
Jonny Caguioa (@jonnycag) September 19, 2012

Huge chookas and love to all my beautiful colleagues @BRB tonight at the start of our season. GUTTED I am off, hope 2 be back on stage soon!—
Jonny Caguioa (@jonnycag) September 19, 2012

2 sweaty swans backstage http://t.co/pieX2sEE—
Karla Doorbar (@karla_d) September 19, 2012

Just finished my first performance with @BRB , Congrats everyone! you were all beautiful! Can't wait to do it all again tomorrow… twice —
Alys Shee (@pddprincess) September 19, 2012

First show of the season complete!!! Loved it! Feels gd to b back on stage 😃👯👍 #buzzin http://t.co/ugE6Awgf—
Laura-Jane Gibson (@ljgibson88) September 19, 2012

Looking forward to my first performance of the season @BRB this evening! Swan Lake with the beautiful Natasha Oughtred—
Jamie Bond (@jamiembond) September 20, 2012

3 Benno's in a row! Glad it's done and looking forward to tomorrows day off. @BRBontour @BRB #tired—
Mathias Dingman (@matyass88) September 21, 2012

Sunset over Salford quays!last show here at the Lowry,then back to the hippodrome to test out the new £1million stage!—
Steven Monteith (@stevenmonteith) September 22, 2012

The picture might help… #duh http://t.co/zBH6y65b—
Steven Monteith (@stevenmonteith) September 22, 2012

opening night for the ballet in Brum – @BRB company looking great on stage as are the refurbished front of house areas @brumhippodrome—
Simon Harper (@SimonHarper68) September 26, 2012

Great time performing Jessica Lang's 'Lyric Pieces' tonight. Swell bunch of people in 'Team Iain!'
#ComeSeeUs! http://t.co/5MDV2HP5—
James Barton (@Barts_James) September 26, 2012

Congratulations @CelineGittens & my boys @aaronrobison86 & @jamiembond named in @DanceEurope' Top 100 dancers! #CremeDeLaCreme #Drinksonyou—
Kit Holder (@KitHolder) September 27, 2012

stage call for Swan Lake with @CelineGittens, straight into performance of Take Five #knackered!!!! #bringonnextweek—
tyrone singleton (@ty_sing) September 28, 2012

Opening nite of Swan Lake in Brum 😃👯 @brumhippodrome @BRB who's watching? #whitemakeupattheready—
Laura-Jane Gibson (@ljgibson88) October 02, 2012

Trying to watch'Great British Bake Off' whilst waiting for Act 3. Getting distracted by this beauty.
@stevenmonteith http://t.co/wOdeHVbT—
James Barton (@Barts_James) October 02, 2012

Lots of love at @BRB for the new Swan Lake Pointe Blank collection – the Company got to see the prints last night! pointeblank.co.uk—
  (@Robintheoffice) October 03, 2012

First Benno in Bham tonight had amazing time with amazing#debuts momoko & Cesar! Pic with gorgeous#BRB swans#swanlake http://t.co/A2qXCGRg—
Tzu-Chao Chou (@tzuchaochou) October 04, 2012

With Momoko Hirata and Delia Matthews @CelineGittens Odette/Odile debut will mark 3 company debuts in the role this week @BRB #swanlake—
Simon Harper (@SimonHarper68) October 05, 2012

what an amazing performance this afternoon!! @ty_sing and @CelineGittens were incredible! one more tonight…!—
Anna Monleon (@AnnaMonleon) October 05, 2012

Last Benno in bham before we go on tours !! Love dancing with my stunning partners ! Had lots of fun on stage tonight! http://t.co/fUSQzEk3—
Tzu-Chao Chou (@tzuchaochou) October 06, 2012

Great blog by @themichaelowen not just appropriate for footballers but I think dancers too! An interesting read!

michaelowen.com/blog.html—
Jamie Bond (@jamiembond) October 06, 2012

My first performance with @BRB in Swan Lake at Theatre Royal Plymouth tonight!!!! —
Lachlan Monaghan (@lachlanmonaghan) October 11, 2012

@BRB true I loved the 2nd act sensational. Lol—
Christopher Biggins (@onebiggins) October 10, 2012

Yasuo ex-@BRB dancer visits to rehearse Bintley's Sylvia. Catch up over dinner last night, perfect. #oldmate http://t.co/hSKYpDE2—
Jonny Caguioa (@jonnycag) October 11, 2012

Just heard a backstage call for 'Captain to the Bridge' from @BRB. All aboard the Starship Theatre Royal it is then…!—
TheatreRoyalPlymouth (@TRPlymouth) October 11, 2012

Never thought I'd say this… But I secretly missed my green onesie!
#Puck'sBack! http://t.co/9P5MbSKl—
James Barton (@Barts_James) October 10, 2012

With the majority of the company on tour, most of the building is dark and empty. #spooky—
Jonny Caguioa (@jonnycag) October 12, 2012

The visually enticing Gyrotonic machine. Dynamic warm up. (As used by Madonna and other fit pop stars) http://t.co/ouuPiQpr—
Jonny Caguioa (@jonnycag) October 12, 2012

The rain has finally stopped and there even may be a chance of a tan on this balcony http://t.co/PHvVSpG3—
Steven Monteith (@stevenmonteith) October 12, 2012

I've no greater pleasure than browsing plymouth's old book shops then settling down with a fish finger sandwich & tea to read my purchases.—
Kit Holder (@KitHolder) October 12, 2012

And I'm hooked on game of thrones…—
Steven Monteith (@stevenmonteith) October 14, 2012

Hurry up and jump! #felixbaumgartner—
Laura-Jane Gibson (@ljgibson88) October 14, 2012

I missed Downton tonight for Mr Rogers Birthday dinner.
#That'sLove! http://t.co/Tn179TWw—
James Barton (@Barts_James) October 14, 2012

https://twitter.com/kbird_mg/status/248514076832038913/photo/1

Have you seen our new Cinderella trailer? Contains scenes of fantasty awesomeness: birminghamhippodrome.com/mediacentre.as…—
  (@Robintheoffice) October 15, 2012

Me and computers is like me and dogs. I love them, I am just not good with them.—
victoria marr (@vicky_marr) October 15, 2012

Ahh! So I had a quick recap of Grosse Fuge in the studio with Wolfie. How I love this piece, fond memories! #happy #sweaty #excited—
Jonny Caguioa (@jonnycag) October 16, 2012

It's a tutu apocalypse from @brb!!! m.pinterest.com/bhamroyalballe… #ballet—
Will Southworth (@willsouthworth) October 16, 2012

Welsh dancer William Bracewell performs @Centre from next Tues with @BRB, find out more here: tinyurl.com/bs7eona—
WalesMillenniumCentr (@theCentre) October 16, 2012

Hello Sunderland! @BRB Swan Lake thurs – sat then it's on to London town with two triple bills @Sadlers_Wells #excited—
Kristen (@kbird_mg) October 17, 2012

Nothing is better than bacon rolls for breakfast!—
Mathias Dingman (@matyass88) October 17, 2012

Sharing on tour with @stevenmonteith is exhausting. I laugh so much it hurts. Am lying in bed with tears streaming down my face.
#goodtimes—
James Barton (@Barts_James) October 17, 2012

1 Swan Lake down, 3 to go in Sunderland!!! Very excited for London next week! #brbontour—
Lachlan Monaghan (@lachlanmonaghan) October 18, 2012

You can follow Birmingham Royal Ballet on twitter here: @BRB