Paul James Rooney
Encyclopedia
Paul James Rooney is an English dancer, choreographer and rehearsal director, who has worked in and with various companies and choreographers around the world, including names such as; Matthew Bourne
, Will Tuckett, Christopher Hampson
and Marie Brolin-Tani. Paul James Rooney was also one of the ballet dancers representing the Royal Opera House
in the closing ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympics dancing with Leona Lewis
and Jimmy Page
.
Paul James Rooney was born in Sandhurst, Berkshire and started dancing at the age of 5, joining the Royal Ballet Associate programme and moving on to study at The Royal Ballet School, White Lodge. Paul continued his training at Elmhurst Ballet School, where his versatility was nurtured; studying Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, Tap and Flamenco. He can be seen demonstrating Escuela Bolera excerises on The Bolero School DVD.
Since graduating Paul has danced for many companies, including; New Adventures
, English National Ballet
, Pantomimeteatret
and Alvin Ailey Dance Theater
in their Copenhagen performance of Memoria. Paul has danced Principal roles in The Royal Opera House's 'Pinocchio', 'Peter and the Wolf' in New York, and in various Bournonville productions at the Pantomimeteatret.
Paul James Rooney has also been the rehearsal director for 'Peter and the Wolf' in New York and The Netherlands, working with Brian Blessed
who was the Narrator of the production.
, in summer of 2009 he created Polyphony. This piece was well received by audience and critics alike and he was asked to return the following year to choreograph a new piece for the company. In summer 2010 Rooney's new piece Mezclanza was premiered, alongside August Bournonville
's Le Conservatoire
and Peter Martins
Barber Violin Concerto
. Mezclanza was greatly received by critics from Danish Newspaper Berlingske
and Danish Dance Magazine, Terpsichore. Mezclanza was re-premiered for the Pantomimeteatret
's 2011 season.
In early 2011, Rooney and his business partner Matti Silfer created a performance, 'Moving Art' celebrating great Nordic art and artists; including Grieg, H C Lumbye
, Roslin
and many more. Integrating dance film, a dance photography exhibition and live dancing all in one performance.
Paul James Rooney is currently the Creative Director of a new production company, Oliver James Production.
Matthew Bourne
Matthew Bourne OBE is a British classical and contemporary ballet and dance choreographer.-Biography:Matthew Bourne was born in Hackney, London in 1960. He went to William Fitt and Sir George Monoux School in Walthamstow, London...
, Will Tuckett, Christopher Hampson
Christopher Hampson
Christopher Hampson, born in Middleton, Lancashire, England on 31 March 1973, is a ballet choreographer and director and former professional ballet dancer. He is a graudate of the Royal Ballet School, where he began his professional training at the age of 11. He danced professionally with the...
and Marie Brolin-Tani. Paul James Rooney was also one of the ballet dancers representing the Royal Opera House
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
in the closing ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympics dancing with Leona Lewis
Leona Lewis
Leona Louise Lewis is a British singer and songwriter. Lewis first came to prominence in 2006 when she won the third series of the British television series The X Factor....
and Jimmy Page
Jimmy Page
James Patrick "Jimmy" Page, OBE is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and record producer. He began his career as a studio session guitarist in London and was subsequently a member of The Yardbirds from 1966 to 1968, after which he founded the English rock band Led Zeppelin.Jimmy Page...
.
Paul James Rooney was born in Sandhurst, Berkshire and started dancing at the age of 5, joining the Royal Ballet Associate programme and moving on to study at The Royal Ballet School, White Lodge. Paul continued his training at Elmhurst Ballet School, where his versatility was nurtured; studying Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, Tap and Flamenco. He can be seen demonstrating Escuela Bolera excerises on The Bolero School DVD.
Since graduating Paul has danced for many companies, including; New Adventures
New Adventures
New Adventures is a British dance company, specialising in contemporary dance. Founded by the choreographer Matthew Bourne in 2002, the company developed from an earlier company Adventures in Motion Pictures, which was later dissolved....
, English National Ballet
English National Ballet
English National Ballet is a classical ballet company founded by Dame Alicia Markova and Sir Anton Dolin and based at Markova House in South Kensington, London, England. Along with the Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet and Scottish Ballet, it is one of the four major ballet companies in Great...
, Pantomimeteatret
Pantomimeteatret
The Pantomime Theatre is an open-air theatre located in the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, Denmark. As indicated by the name, it is primarily used for pantomime theatre in the classical Italian commedia dell'arte tradition which is performed daily...
and Alvin Ailey Dance Theater
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is a modern dance company based in New York, New York. It was founded in 1958 by choreographer and dancer Alvin Ailey...
in their Copenhagen performance of Memoria. Paul has danced Principal roles in The Royal Opera House's 'Pinocchio', 'Peter and the Wolf' in New York, and in various Bournonville productions at the Pantomimeteatret.
Paul James Rooney has also been the rehearsal director for 'Peter and the Wolf' in New York and The Netherlands, working with Brian Blessed
Brian Blessed
Brian Blessed is an English actor, known for his sonorous voice and "hearty, king-sized portrayals".-Early life:The son of William Blessed, a socialist miner, and Hilda Wall, Blessed was born in the town of Goldthorpe, West Riding of Yorkshire, England...
who was the Narrator of the production.
Choreography
Paul James Rooney has choreographed for the PantomimeteatretPantomimeteatret
The Pantomime Theatre is an open-air theatre located in the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, Denmark. As indicated by the name, it is primarily used for pantomime theatre in the classical Italian commedia dell'arte tradition which is performed daily...
, in summer of 2009 he created Polyphony. This piece was well received by audience and critics alike and he was asked to return the following year to choreograph a new piece for the company. In summer 2010 Rooney's new piece Mezclanza was premiered, alongside August Bournonville
August Bournonville
August Bournonville was a Danish ballet master and choreographer. August was the son of Antoine Bournonville, a dancer and choreographer trained under the French choreographer, Jean Georges Noverre, and the nephew of Julie Alix de la Fay, née Bournonville, of the Royal Swedish Ballet.August was...
's Le Conservatoire
Le Conservatoire
Le Conservatoire, or A Marriage by Advertisement is a two-act vaudeville ballet created by the Danish choreographer and ballet master August Bournonville in 1849 for the Royal Danish Ballet. The ballet's setting is a dance studio at the Conservatoire de Paris...
and Peter Martins
Peter Martins
Peter Martins is a Danish ballet dancer and choreographer. Martins was named man of the year by Danish American Society, 1980...
Barber Violin Concerto
Barber Violin Concerto (ballet)
The Barber Violin Concerto is a ballet made by New York City Ballet ballet master in chief Peter Martins toSamuel Barber's Violin concerto, opus 14, 1941. The premiere was conducted by Robert Irving and took place on May 12, 1988 at the New York State Theater, as part of City Ballet's American...
. Mezclanza was greatly received by critics from Danish Newspaper Berlingske
Berlingske
Berlingske may refer to:* Berlingske Tidende, a Danish newspaper* Det Berlingske Officin, its parent company...
and Danish Dance Magazine, Terpsichore. Mezclanza was re-premiered for the Pantomimeteatret
Pantomimeteatret
The Pantomime Theatre is an open-air theatre located in the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, Denmark. As indicated by the name, it is primarily used for pantomime theatre in the classical Italian commedia dell'arte tradition which is performed daily...
's 2011 season.
In early 2011, Rooney and his business partner Matti Silfer created a performance, 'Moving Art' celebrating great Nordic art and artists; including Grieg, H C Lumbye
Hans Christian Lumbye
Hans Christian Lumbye was a Danish composer of waltzes, polkas, mazurkas and galops, among other things.As a child, he studied music in Randers and Odense, and by age 14 he was playing the trumpet in a military band. In 1829, he joined the Horse Guards in Copenhagen, still continuing his music...
, Roslin
Alexander Roslin
Alexander Roslin was a Swedish portrait painter.-Life:Roslin was born on July 15, 1718, in Malmö, Sweden. In 1759 he married Marie-Suzanne Giroust. He plied his trade in Stockholm, Bayreuth, Vienna, Paris and Italy...
and many more. Integrating dance film, a dance photography exhibition and live dancing all in one performance.
Paul James Rooney is currently the Creative Director of a new production company, Oliver James Production.