Northern Ballet has partnered with Leeds Hospitals Charity to launch a Virtual Reality (VR) pilot project designed to alleviate stress and isolation for young patients at Leeds Children’s Hospital.
The five-minute immersive experience transports children aged 8 to 16 out of clinical settings and into a 360-degree virtual environment set in Otley Chevin Forest Park. Choreographed by Northern Ballet’s George Liang and performed by Cameron Pugh, the piece features an original score from Leeds Conservatoire that blends gentle music with natural soundscapes.
Hospital Play Specialists will deploy the VR headsets with bed-bound patients and children facing long hospital stays. Academic input from the University of Leeds and Leeds Beckett University will help analyse patient feedback, with a public report scheduled for spring 2027.
“We know that dance can transport audiences to a different time and place,” said Federico Bonelli, Artistic Director at Northern Ballet. “I hope the powerful combination of nature, beautiful movement from the dancer and the immersive soundscape will help children feel calmer and less isolated in hospital.”
The project received funding from The Linbury Trust and Leeds Hospitals Charity, forming part of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Leeds City Council’s Seasons of Culture 2026.
“Being in hospital can be an anxious and isolating time,” said Rebecca Baldaro-Booth, Director of Grants and Impact at Leeds Hospitals Charity. “Through the power of dance, music, and virtual reality, we’re hopeful patients will enjoy the opportunity to step outside the hospital environment for a few moments.”
