Leigh Alderson

Leigh Alderson (born 1986) is a dancer from Portadown, Northern Ireland. He began dancing at the age of seven at The Donna Whitten Dance School, and later The Susan McMillian Ballet School. After training with both teachers for three years, Leigh went on to the Royal Ballet School in London for eights years training.

During this time, the BBC produced three documentary films about his life, the first being aired in October 1998, entitled "Lost To Dance". The second film was aired in September 2005, entitled "A God Given Gift", and the third, also entitled "A God Given Gift", was aired in December 2007.

Whilst at school Leigh was the recipient of several awards including The Lynne Seymour Award For Most Expressive Dancer 2004, The Royal Ballet School Achievement Award 2005, The NJL Sponsored Award For Choreographic Development 2005 and The Royal Ballet School Achievement Award 2006.

Whilst in the last three years of his training, Leigh travelled to Toronto, Canada to perform in a production of FOUR LAST SONG's by Rudi Van Danzig, and then performed it again in Stuttgart, Germany. He also performed COLOURBLIND, a duet with Jay Hale-Christofi which he himself choreographed to much critical success, both in Palermo, Sicily and at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London.

After being offered several contracts, Leigh accepted a place with Scottish Ballet, and moved to Glasgow in 2006. He stayed with them for two years, dancing in a range of their Ballets including Page's "Sleeping Beauty" and "Cinderella", Pastor's "Romeo and Juliet" and "In Light and Shadow", Brown's "MG the Movie", and Forsyth's "Artifact". Leigh left Scottish National Ballet in 2008.

In 2007 A Biography was written by Leslie Norton entitled 'FREDRICK FRANKLIN : A Biography Of A Ballet Star. Due to Fredrick's involvement in Leigh's 2005 and 2007 BBC Documentaries GOD GIVEN GIFT and GOD GIVEN GIFT 2, Leigh was subsequently included in Fredrick's Biography.

In September of 2008 Leigh signed a contract with new ballet company NEW ENGLISH CONTEMPORARY BALLET, But would not start dancing with them until February 2009. In the mean time Leigh was a Guest Artist with Ballet Russe, The Uk's Russian Ballet Company, Performing Principal Roles in their Production of Swan Lake. Leigh Also Guested with Cork City Ballet, Ireland's Premiere Ballet Company at the same time.

In 2008, Leigh was invited down to London to Chelsea to work with amazing new photographer ,Bertil Nilsson, who had worked with Darren Evans and also with the singer Brian Adams. Their collaboration was an artistic venture into ballet and photography with some beautiful results. The Pictures where quickly made available online through Bertil Nilsson's Website. www.bertil.co.uk

At the same time Leigh, was being offered scripts for short and feature length indie films but unfortunately wasn't able to accept all the roles due to a hectic schedule.

[www.leighalderson.com]