Anthony Baker: My North (From Living Northeast)

Anthony Baker: My North

1:29pm Monday 19th July 2010 in

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ANTHONY BAKER, aged 36, is the new artistic director at Dance City, in Newcastle. He’s from Sedgefield, County Durham, and lives near Durham City, but is moving to Newcastle soon. One of nine National Dance Agencies, Dance City aims to develop dance in the region through professional artistic support, education, dance performance and participation.

Favourite restaurant/pub

Roberto’s traditional Italian restaurant, in Westgate Road, not far from Dance City, has cheap but delightful food and, in particular, a wonderful, and huge, vegetarian calzone. It’s a handy place to pop into after a hard day at work or when friends or family visit.

Favourite shop

I prefer a local, specialised shopping experience, but finding the time to explore and visit numerous shops is difficult, that’s why I have to say John Lewis, the ultimate department store. It still feels homely, but has everything one could need, and a few surprises too.

Favourite walk

The cliffs and beach at Marsden are such a treat. The bracing wind, stunning scenery, crashing North Sea waves and so much birdlife. The diversity of experience in the North-East is incredible: from Kielder Forest to the beach, there is so much choice.

Favourite view

Driving down Westgate Road toward the city centre.

The vista opens up between the housing either side, revealing the Sage Gateshead, the Tyne Bridge, the old Newcastle of Grainger Town, and, of course, at the bottom of the hill there’s Dance City.

Favourite landmark

Durham Cathedral. When I see it appear on the horizon, I feel like I’m home. St Pancras train station is also a delight and, of course, the North-East’s premiere cathedral of football, the Stadium of Light.

Favourite day out

Exploring England by train, down branch lines, through countryside, the old glamour, splendour and romance of the railways, with a picnic and a sense of adventure. I particularly like the journey between Newcastle and Edinburgh, the coastline is incredible.

Sheep cling to rocky clifftops, streams cut into the rolling green and yellow fields, stone farmhouses sit in pockets between the hills – the best that the UK’s countryside has to offer, all in one journey. I just need to find some time to enjoy it.

Biggest passion

Watching people create, using their skills, expertise and passion to reinterpret the world and provide new ways of seeing it for us. Dance is a unique art form in that it uses the body to illustrate a multitude of experiences and knowledge in inspiring and unpredictable ways. Its vibrancy and immediacy breathes life into spectator and performer alike.

Proudest achievement

Learning to snowboard. Spending a season in the Alps, exploring off-piste and being subsumed by vast scenery gives one a sense of place and self. Also, returning to the North-East after 17 years to do the only job I wanted, to be artistic director at Dance City.

It’s a huge honour to be in a position I love, enjoying going to work each day and believing that I can make a difference.

Where I like to travel away from the North-East

I love exploring the world, finding out new things, meeting people, discovering the unexpected. I particularly like old Europe, so much history and passion. I recently visited Africa and fell in love with the people, the culture, the scenery and the opportunity of such an amazing place.

The best thing about living in the North-East

The people, the passion, the culture, the scenery, the diversity between urban and rural, being closer to my family and, of course, being able to get to more football matches.