Urban Ballet calender photoshoot in Notts

Two photographers and a group of local dancers have created an ‘Urban Ballet calendar’ shot at locations around Nottingham to raise money for the charity CMT UK. The three month-long project, including four East Midlands dancers, is now on sale to the public and could not be better timing with the upcoming dance events next year in Nottingham. Shots include the dancers at Maid Marian Way, The Park, Wilford suspension bridge, Victoria Embankment Memorial Gardens, Broadmarsh Car Park, outside the Council House and in front of the World Service restaurant. Director of Scholarship Press, Tim Elwood, decided to create the calendar with his colleague Lauren Smedley, 23, after photographing a CMT UK ball in Bournemouth earlier this year. Tim said: "Urban ballet is a trend at the moment in photography. I have known CMT UK for a long time and when I meet people with the condition, they are an inspiration and they are the first on the dance floor.” The charity helps people affected by Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, (CMT) a progressive condition that affects the nerves in the legs and arms. Lauren said: “CMT is a progressive disease that can cause long term pain and chronic tiredness, so this calendar represents the freedom and beauty in movement which can often be taken for granted.” The calendar shows Nottingham dancers Hannah McBrien, 24, Roseanna Telling, 20, and Felicity Morris, 20, and Lincoln dancer Kelly Greenhalgh, 19, striking dance poses at various locations around Nottingham. Hannah has just graduated from Coventry University with a first-class BA Honours in dance making and performance. She is now working all over East Midlands performing and teaching. Roseanna trained on the BA and MA contemporary dance course at Rambert Ballet in London and is now going to train with Kibbutz Dance Company in Israel. Aspiring performer Kelly, who has a background in singing, dancing, acting and modelling is hoping to study musical theatre next year at university, while former Nottingham Blue Coat School pupil Felicity Morris, is studying dance at the London Studio Centre. Tim Elwood formed Scholarship Press (a creative multi disciplined design agency) in 2000 and took on Lauren Smedley this July, after her graduating with a BA Honours in Photography, with the help of the Nottingham City Council jobs fund; this being their first project together. Tim said: "The project was great fun and people would stop when we were photographing. I am hoping we can raise some money for this brilliant charity through this unique calendar." The cost of the calendar is £10.99 and it can be purchased by visiting www.funfundraisingcalendars.com. Alternatively, you can purchase the calender from the Tourist Information Centre, in Smithy Row.