limelight news from elmhurst APRIL 2019
Patron HRH The Duchess of Cornwall
MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL With just one term left until the summer break, we are looking forward to our end of year shows. Tickets will be on 2019 has been a landmark year at Elmhurst Ballet School, sale from the middle of May and we will of course let you with two major initiatives that are set to change the know! Our Gala performance will be on 4th July this year course of life at School: The launch of Elmhurst Ballet and we are absolutely thrilled that Carlos Acosta CBE has Company, an initiative for our final year students which agreed to be our guest speaker. Last year’s event raised a enables them to gain a greater sense of working and much-needed £5,000 for the School, and we are hoping touring in a professional company setting; and the to do even better this year. Read on for more information start of a partnership with Studio Wayne McGregor, about the Gala and how to secure your tickets. further enhancing the student experience through a Read on for more news about Elmhurst Ballet School. contemporary complement to classical association we I do hope we will have an opportunity to welcome you to already have with Birmingham Royal Ballet. We are of Elmhurst again soon. course thrilled that Wayne has personally committed to Elmhurst by joining our Vice Presidents. Jessica Wheeler Principal
Carlos Acosta CBE is guest speaker at summer Gala Elmhurst Vice President and new Artistic Director at Birmingham Royal Ballet, Carlos Acosta, joins us as guest speaker at our summer Gala event on Thursday July 4th. The event at Elmhurst Ballet School begins at 6.15pm, with drinks and canapés, followed by a performance, dinner and an opportunity to hear from Carlos. The performance will feature an eclectic range including excerpts from Sir Peter Wright’s Sleeping Beauty and from Wayne McGregor’s Entity. Tickets are £100 each or £900 for a table of ten. If you are interested in taking tickets, please contact [email protected].
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First ever student ballet company launched at Elmhurst
Earlier this year we launched Elmhurst Ballet Company, Ballet to dancing in our summer shows. Elmhurst the first-ever company for the school’s Graduate Year. Ballet Company will allow Company artists to hone and The Company tours annually and helps to deliver the perform challenging and well known choreography and school’s outreach, learning and participatory activities, will take them off site to experience new venues and a starting with performances and workshops in selected touring regime. This is an important development for state schools relating to the 2019 launch programme. our next cohort of graduating students, and all those in Elmhurst Ballet Company’s inaugural tour, Origins, the school years to come, as they dance ever closer to saw students perform in Elmhurst’s own student their professional careers.” company and at Sadler’s Wells’ Lilian Baylis Studio in Origins would not be possible without the generosity London. Origins showcased a range of excerpts from of David Bintley, Sir Peter Wright, Studio Wayne works by leading classical and contemporary dance McGregor and Deborah MacMillan, the custodian of the makers including David Bintley’s The Shakespeare ballets of her late husband Kenneth MacMillan. Wayne Suite, Kenneth MacMillan’s Elite Syncopations and McGregor’s Entity (excerpt), was performed by Elmhurst Romeo and Juliet, Peter Wright’s Swan Lake and Ballet Company with thanks to the concept, direction Wayne McGregor’s Entity. and choreography of Wayne McGregor. Original music Robert Parker, Artistic Director of Elmhurst Ballet is by Jon Hopkins; costume design taken from the School, added: “Elmhurst Ballet Company is helping original by Patrick Burnier; lighting design taken from our graduate students make a smoother transition the original by Lucy Carter; and staged on Elmhurst to their professional dancer lives. Throughout their Ballet Company by Studio Wayne McGregor Artist, time at the school, students enjoy many performance Catarina Carvalho. experiences, from working with Birmingham Royal
Rambert2 takes over school World-renowned contemporary dance company Rambert2 brought their Kamuyot Educational Day to Elmhurst in March. Choreographed by Ohad Naharin, this playful, mischievous and moving piece is performed by dancers from Rambert2 (Junior company) in the round to encourage interaction between dancers and audience. The day then continued with all year groups across the school participating in workshops lead by members of Rambert2, followed by an insightful live streamed Q&A. Elmhurst welcomes Rambert2
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Royal Ballet resident choreographer, Wayne McGregor appointed Vice President of Elmhurst Ballet School, as new partnership between Studio Wayne McGregor and Elmhurst Ballet School launched We are delighted to announce our new Vice President, Other opportunities for students to work with Studio Wayne McGregor CBE, Artistic Director of Studio Wayne Wayne McGregor include talks by Wayne McGregor, McGregor and Resident Choreographer of The Royal mentoring and buddying opportunities between Ballet, Covent Garden. The appointment marks the start upcoming graduates and Company Wayne McGregor of an exciting new partnership between the school and dancers, audition preparation workshops for Upper Studio Wayne McGregor. School students, and the opportunity for Elmhurst McGregor is the latest to join esteemed dance luminaries: Ballet Company members to take company class at Carlos Acosta CBE, Maina Gielgud AO, Dame Merle Park Studio Wayne McGregor. There will also be a possibility DBE and Sir Peter Wright CBE as vice presidents of for Elmhurst students to be involved in Studio Wayne the school. McGregor’s professional development programmes. Studio Wayne McGregor and the school have planned “As Director of Studio Wayne McGregor and Resident a programme of activities, creating fantastic opportunities Choreographer of the Royal Ballet I am thrilled to for Elmhurst students to work with its artists and explore contribute to the vision and future programme of Elmhurst Wayne McGregor’s choreographic repertoire and process. as Vice President. The creative training of young dancers 2018/19 saw the commencement of the partnership with has been a career long passion. As dance companies the newly created Elmhurst Ballet Company, which was worldwide extend their repertoire, dancers need to be granted permission to perform an excerpt from Wayne equipped with new skills that offer them the best chance McGregor’s Entity. Future plans include a new work to be to succeed. Studio Wayne McGregor is delighted to created with Elmhurst Ballet Company in Birmingham contribute to this fresh horizon and looks forward to and London in 2020. Company Wayne McGregor working in Birmingham which continues to flourish as dancers will also work with students from across the a centre of excellence for all forms of dance.” school, from Year 7 through to the graduate year, to Wayne McGregor CBE create work for the School’s performance series.
Elmhurst Ballet Company perform an excerpt from Entity Wayne McGregor CBE
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Elmhurst student wins coveted Elmhurst Young Dancers RAD prize Many congratulations to Olivia Chang Clarke, Year 11, who won the coveted Royal Academy of Dance Phyllis Bedells Bursary award 2019. The event, judged by Joseph Caley and Valerie Aitkin, was held at RAD headquarters in March. Olivia’s prize-winning performance included the Swanilda variation from Coppélia and her own created solo. Commenting on her success, she said: ‘It was a great sense of achievement to be awarded the Phylis Bedells Bursary. My hard work, over five years with Elmhurst has paid off and I was extremely grateful to have been chosen by two very prestigious judges.’
Apply now for: Elmhurst Young Dancers Programme (years 4, 5 and 6) in Birmingham, Manchester, Sunderland and Plymouth and Elmhurst Extended Young Dancers programme (years 7, 8 and 9) in Birmingham. Go to www.elmhurstdance.co.uk/Apply-associates.html for audition dates and application forms.
23rd May Dance Teachers’ Open Day Elmhurst Ballet School will be opening its doors to professional dance teachers – an opportunity to find out about world-leading vocational ballet training and education opportunities for talented young people, in a pioneering purpose-built school set in the young and vibrant city of Birmingham. For more information please email [email protected] To book, go to: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dance-teachers-open-day-tickets-60569299405 12th June Welcome day – Friends and Old Elms Friends of Elmhurst Ballet School and Old Elms are invited to join us for a tour of the school, lunch, a performance and an opportunity to catch up with each other and with our staff and students. More information coming soon.
4th July Gala Performance With guest speaker, Carlos Acosta CBE. Tickets are £100 each or £900 for a table of ten. To reserve your seats, contact [email protected] 5th – 12th July Summer Performances – Awakening Our annual not-to-be-missed performances, showcasing talent right across the school. FORTHCOMING EVENTS More information coming soon.
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