Dancerthe 2014 The Magazine of the British Ballet Organization Order your official BBO Dance Uniform with IDS Pink portable barre exclusive to “Best uniform we’ve IDS, visit ids.co.uk for more details. ever had. Very happy... it’s our 7th year with great quality and prices from IDS!” JOHN TRAVIS Chief Executive BBO Made in the UK Logoed bags and hooded tops also available! Trade Order your official BBO uniform now at Exclusive Enquiries Wholesale Only ids.co.uk +44 (0)1626 36 32 32 Prices The British Ballet Organization FOUNDERS Edouard Espinosa Louise Kay FOUNDER PRESIDENT Dame Ninette de Valois OM, CH, DBE PRESIDENT Order your Dame Beryl Grey DBE PATRONS official BBO Thomas Edur CBE Wendy Ellis Somes Dance Uniform Bonnie Langford Tandy Muir-Warden with IDS Agnes Oaks CBE Peter Schaufuss Wayne Sleep OBE Doreen Wells, Marchioness of Londonderry BOARD OF THE TRUSTEES Nicholas Espinosa (Chairman) Nigel Copeland FCA Laura Hartong Dame Sally Powell DBE Peter Rostron FCA JOINT CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS Pink portable barre exclusive to “Best uniform we’ve John Travis IDS, visit ids.co.uk for more details. Robin Bloor ever had. Very happy... it’s our 7th year with great quality and prices from IDS!” Contents JOHN TRAVIS 2 From the President – Dame Beryl Grey 24 BUSY BOYZ – the Ballet Boyz, Michael Nunn Chief Executive BBO 3 From the CEO – John Travis and William Trevitt, talk about their new projects 4 From Strength to Strength 30 BBO Annual Teaching Qualifications Awards 6 Discovering Dance at BBO Dance Days 2014 33 Your Legacy is the BBO’s Future Made in 10 Is Competitiveness Fashionable? 34 A Chance to Flourish – Learning from the UK 14 New BBO Scholars 2014 Positive Psychology 18 Quadruple Threat – Chris Hocking talks 36 News from BBO Patrons about his passion for Musical Theatre 37 A Royal Welcome for Rambert 20 A Passion for Teaching – The Royal Ballet 38 Quality Training Begins at a Young Age – Schools’ new Director, Christopher Powney, LSC’s new Junior Programme talks about his new post 39 IDS Dance School of the Year 22 Dance’s Miss Marple – the V&A’s Curator of Dance, Jane Pritchard MBE 40 BBO Personnel Cover Photo: Beryl Grey as Odette in Swan Lake c1959. the Logoed bags Photo: BBO trained, Adele Crisp, at Dance Days 2014. and hooded tops Photo by Tim Cross. also available! The BBO has made every effort to source and include Dancer photography credits within this issue of The Dancer. 2014 BBO LONDON HEADQUARTERS Trade Order your official BBO uniform now at Exclusive Tel: +44 (0) 20 8748 1241 1 Down Place Design and Print by Enquiries Wholesale Email: [email protected] Hammersmith Web: www.bbo.org.uk London W6 9JH Tel: 01895 619 900 – Email: [email protected] Only ( ) Prices ids.co.uk +44 0 1626 36 32 32 © The Dancer 2014 BBO The Dancer Magazine – 2014 1 From the President – Dame Beryl Grey DBE “I would like to extend my thanks to all dance teachers who work so hard bringing something of true value into so many lives.” Dame Beryl Grey at the BBO Teachers’ Dinner in 2009. Photo by Elaine Mayson. “As the BBO heads confidently towards its 85th Change is inevitable and must be embraced; but “Long may the BBO anniversary year, it is a pleasure and an honour to not without remembering one’s origins and the preside as its President. In the tradition of the very foundations upon which one’s philosophies thrive and long may great Espinosa family, the Organization has grown have been built. The BBO has celebrated its past it inspire generations significantly over the years. Through dedication, and the Espinosa family’s unique contribution to loyal teachers, continuity, achievement and sheer dance across three centuries. Thankfully, it has of dancers and their determination, the BBO has earned its reputation always had a firm grip on its future too. Over the teachers.” as one of the very best dance training providers in past year, the BBO has faced more transition and the country. I am proud that my links with an change than ever before and it is so reassuring, as organisation, with such a distinguished pedigree, President, to witness the ambition and conviction go back to my childhood – 1931 to be precise! with which it is developing and securing its future for the next 85 years and beyond. It was with the BBO, and its Founder – Edouard Espinosa, that I took my very first ballet Dance has so much to offer and teachers today examination. I was three years old and it has are more important than ever to society. Dance become a most treasured memory. It was the first teaching is an art form and carries with it of many happy visits to the BBO which, over the tremendous responsibility. I would like to extend years, have included award ceremonies, reunions my thanks to all dance teachers who work so and special anniversary galas. Most recently, I was hard bringing something of true value into so asked to speak at the farewell gathering, following many lives. the sale of Woolborough House –the BBO’s much-loved home in Barnes, London. This was Having been closely associated with the BBO for particularly nostalgic for me, having spent many many years, I am continually impressed with the happy and memorable times there. quality of its work and greatly admire the principles upon which it is based. I am enjoying helping to shape the future of this inspiring organisation which plays a pivotal role in the dance world, both in the UK and internationally. 2 BBO The Dancer Magazine – 2014 From the Chief Executive – John Travis John Travis with special guests, Max Maslen and Brandon Lawrence of the Birmingham Royal Ballet, at Dance Days 2014. The past year has been one of great change in the world of the BBO, as Beginning with the ballet, then moving onto modern and tap, we are we bade farewell to Woolborough House and moved the Organization to undertaking a detailed consultation process involving industry experts, with its temporary Headquarters in Hammersmith. As we continue the search careful consideration being given to the feedback provided by our members. for larger premises in central London, which will allow us to expand our programmes and realise our vision for the future, the innate strength and The idea is not to completely overhaul our existing syllabi, but to build upon ambition at the core of the Organization have never been more apparent. the success of the current work and ensure that our syllabi are available The BBOis entering a new era in its history and we are primed for the through a wider range of media, including via the website. Teachers can challenges ahead. be assured that the Organization will provide all the support necessary for teachers to learn the new or reviewed work. Alongside ourongoing search for a new home, which we hope will be concluded in time for our 85th Anniversary in 2015, the BBO is firmly In addition to strengthening our presence in the UK, we are also focused focused on strengthening communication with its members and updating on developing our infrastructure overseas. Earlier this year, following its brand, to ensure that it is providing the most relevanttraining in the most the reorganisation of our Australian and New Zealand branches, BBO accessible ways. Australasia was born. This had been under review for some time and I am delighted that it has now come to fruition. I am very grateful to all our Our proposed rebrand will place our vision for development at the heart teachers and examiners from both countries for their support in this venture, of every facet of our business, offering the fresh, bold identity we need and particularly, to Liz Derby, for heading up BBO’s Australasian operations, to support our ambitious expansion plans. The rebrand, which we aim supported in New Zealand by Ann Judson and Heather Brunsdon. to launch in early 2015, will be reflected in a new logo and revised digital strategy, comprising an updated website and more prominent social media presence. At the BBO, we pride ourselves on our commitment to reaching I would also like to pay tribute to Prue Gooch for the many years out to young people through dance and it is imperative that we establish a of hard workshe devoted to raising the standards of BBO New more robust digital platform from which to reach further into communities. Zealand. Her passion for dance and knowledge of the ballet syllabus in particular, was second to none. On behalf of the New Zealand An integral part of the rebrand will also involve reviewing our syllabi to Teachers and the entire Organization, I would like to say a very ensure they retain their reputation for artistic quality, whilst being informative, special thank you to Prue, who recently took the decision to stand up to date with current practice and user-friendly. down from her position with the BBO. BBO The Dancer Magazine – 2014 3 From the Chief Executive – John Travis John Travis with BBO President, Dame Beryl Grey at Markova House at the 2013 reunion for London Festival Ballet Members. Photo courtesy of Photobox. I had the pleasure of visiting Australia and New The BBO was deeply saddened to hear of the Zealand again this year, (with Simon Horrill and passing of two prominent figures from the dance Damien Delaney), and judging by the success profession this year; Gailene Stock CBE AM of Dance Days and the various BBO events we (1946-2014) and David Wall CBE (1946-2013).