Dance City are hosting a unique artistic collaboration bringing together literature and dance on one stage on 1 October. The evening will launch the hotly-anticipated novel Letters from Yelena by Newcastle based author Guy Mankowski and will feature choreography by the acclaimed Dora Frankel (Bitter, Sweet and Dark and One Small Step/One More Step). The powerful dance piece will be set to an original soundtrack by Jeremy Bradfield, alongside a reading from Guy.

Letters from Yelena is inspired by Guy Mankowski’s intensive research of the ballet community in both the UK and Russia and draws on darker themes such as mental health, self-harm and abuse, portrayed authentically through Guy’s professional background as a psychologist. Through an Arts council grant, Guy visited St Petersburg to research the novel and is one of the few English people to ever be granted unmitigated access to the prestigious Vaganova Ballet Academy. Guy’s debut novel The Intimates was chosen as a Must Read for New Writing North’s Read Regional 2011 campaign. Guy’s writing has a strong, authentic literary voice.

Man Booker Prize longlistee Andrew Crumey comments on Letters from Yelena: It’s unusual to find a young male writer who can write with such sensitivity and maturity. Guy’s portrayal of the ballerina Yelena is wholly convincing, taking us inside her thoughts and feelings as she describes the course of her life, from harrowing childhood to professional success, punctuated with turbulent emotional crisis. This is clearly a writer of great talent.

Letters from Yelena book launch is at Dance City on Mon 1 Oct from 7pm. Tickets are priced £3.50 and can be purchased from Dance City Ticket Office on 0191 2610505 or www.dancecity.co.uk

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