THE ROYAL BALLET SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT 2016/17 BALLET SCHOOL ANNUAL THE ROYAL ANNUAL REPORT 46 FLORAL STREET WHITE LODGE COVENT GARDEN RICHMOND PARK LONDON WC2E 9DA SURREY TW10 5HR +44 (0)20 7836 8899 +44 (0)20 8392 8440 [email protected] | royalballetschool.org.uk A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE | REGISTERED IN ENGLAND (547018) | REGISTERED CHARITY NO: 214364 | REGISTERED OFFICE: 46 FLORAL STREET, LONDON WC2E 9DA 2016/ 17 PATRON MISSION & VISION HM THE QUEEN PRESIDENT OUR MISSION & VISION HRH THE PRINCE OF WALES Our mission is to nurture, train and educate VICE PRESIDENT exceptional young dancers for the Royal THE LADY SARAH CHATTO Ballet companies and other leading UK FOUNDER and international companies and to inspire DAME NINETTE DE VALOIS OM CH DBE the future of classical ballet training. ARTISTIC DIRECTOR CHRISTOPHER POWNEY Our vision is to be the best classical ballet school in the world. GOVERNORS CHAIRMAN THE DUCHESS OF WELLINGTON OBE DEPUTY CHAIRMAN RICKI GAIL CONWAY CONTENTS DEPUTY CHAIRMAN MADELEINE PLAUT OUR REVIEW 2 HIGHLIGHTS SUNEEL BAKHSHI JONATHAN CHENEVIX-TRENCH 4 CHAIRMAN’S REVIEW DR GENEVIEVE DAVIES (FROM 1 NOVEMBER 2017) 6 ARTISTIC DIRECTOR’S REPORT SARAH DORFMAN CLARISSA FARR 8 OUR YEAR DAVID FLETCHER CANDIDA HURST-BROWN JANET LAMBERT OUTREACH & ACCESS NANCY MARKS 10 INSPIRING YOUNG PEOPLE MENNA MCGREGOR 15 OUTREACH & ACCESS STATISTICS KEVIN O’HARE ZITA SAUREL DR STEPHEN SPURR OUR ACHIEVEMENTS KENNETH STEELE 16 ACADEMIC & PASTORAL REPORT GOVERNOR EMERITUS 21 EXAMINATION RESULTS THE LADY SAINSBURY CBE HEALTHY DANCER PROGRAMME SENIOR STAFF 22 HEALTHCARE REVIEW CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER PIPPA ADAMSON (FROM JANUARY 2017) ALAN WINTER (UNTIL FEBRUARY 2017) OUR FINANCES 26 BUSINESS REVIEW ACADEMIC & PASTORAL PRINCIPAL 29 STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES KAREN DAVIES 30 BALANCE SHEET ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL PASTORAL & WELFARE JILL TAIT-HARRIS OUR SUPPORTERS . © The Royal Ballet School/Johan Persson Ballet School/Johan Royal . © The HEAD OF TRAINING & ACCESS 32 SUPPORTERS MARK ANNEAR HEAD OF INTENSIVE COURSES & INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 3rd Year Upper School Year 3rd SAMIRA SAIDI HEAD OF DEVELOPMENT & COMMUNICATIONS SARAH ELIOT-COHEN and Harrison Lee, HEAD OF SITE OPERATIONS 2017 graduate 2017 ROGER ATKINSON For a full staff list please visit royalballetschool.org.uk/people Sae Maeda, hoto: THE ROYAL BALLET SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT 2016/17 1 Cover p OUR REVIEW The Royal Ballet School remains the top choice for The performance the world’s most talented young dancers – attracted opportunities I’ve had here, by the high calibre of training, state-of-the-art from a very young age, have facilities and unparalleled healthcare programme. been incredible. When I first got on stage I knew this was what I wanted to do. AIDEN O’BRIEN GRADUATE 2017 2,712 OUR GREATLY EXPANDED WE HAD 2,712 APPLICATIONS TO OUR 2,143 CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE HEALTHCARE TEAM GIVES STUDENTS FULL-TIME AND ASSOCIATE COURSES WERE INTRODUCED TO BALLET ACCESS TO 20 ON-SITE SPECIALISTS THROUGH OUR ACCESS WORK 23 OUR BALLET HISTORY TIMELINE 23 GRADUATES GAINED JOBS IN RECORD NUMBERS OF DANCERS TOOK WAS LAUNCHED ONLINE AT 12 COMPANIES AROUND THE WORLD PART IN OUR EXTENDED FOUR-WEEK TIMELINE.ROYALBALLETSCHOOL.ORG.UK SUMMER INTENSIVE Photo: © The Royal Ballet School/Johan Persson Ballet School/Johan Royal © The Photo: EXCEL2 LENCE3 CHAIRMAN’S REVIEW This year has proved, yet again, to be a remarkable one for a school that continues to set the standard. (listed at the end of this report), have enabled CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR these first 18 months of our Healthy Dancer 2017 GRADUATES – THIS YEAR programme to happen. The rewards are seen 23 STUDENTS JOINED 12 BALLET COMPANIES AROUND THE WORLD: throughout the School as academic, artistic and pastoral staff work in close collaboration with HAOLIANG FENG BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET our healthcare professionals. We are all convinced that treating our students as athletes and artists AUGUSTUS PAYNE BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET is now an imperative part of the training we offer. HARRY WRIGHT BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET Another technology that has changed teaching methods is the use of Smart screens JOONHYUK JUN THE ROYAL BALLET – AUD JEBSEN in the classrooms and studios. This has YOUNG DANCERS PROGRAMME enormously enhanced the use of our academic JOSHUA JUNKER teachers’ time, many of whom teach at both THE ROYAL BALLET – AUD JEBSEN sites, White Lodge in Richmond Park and the YOUNG DANCERS PROGRAMME Upper School in Covent Garden. It also means SAE MAEDA that a student who misses a class, through THE ROYAL BALLET – AUD JEBSEN YOUNG DANCERS PROGRAMME illness or because they are performing, can revisit the lesson online. The screens NADIA MULLOVA-BARLEY THE ROYAL BALLET – AUD JEBSEN also enable opportunities for digital-based YOUNG DANCERS PROGRAMME Country Life Country teaching approaches such as ‘flipped learning’ AIDEN O’BRIEN and ‘virtual tutorials’. THE ROYAL BALLET – AUD JEBSEN Photo: Photo: YOUNG DANCERS PROGRAMME THE DUCHESS OF WELLINGTON OBE Artistic Director, Christopher Powney, has The interactive screens are also invaluable AMELIA PALMIERO CHAIRMAN embedded his new strategic approach for in artistic classes, allowing students to watch THE ROYAL BALLET – AUD JEBSEN YOUNG DANCERS PROGRAMME the School and we all – students, staff and video footage of a wide range of repertoire CLAUDIA NICHOLSON Previous page: Aiden O’Brien, Governors – benefit from his conviction, which can be compared and analysed. BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET graduate 2017 dedication and sensitivity. Students’ work can be recorded to the screens (APPRENTICESHIP) Right: Kenneth MacMIllan’s Concerto and discussed in much greater detail than SEAN FLANAGAN performed at Opera Holland Park His Healthy Dancer programme, developed to ever before. We are hugely grateful to the BALLETBOYZ improve the emotional and physical health of G & K Boyes Charitable Trust for donating JOSEPH FAWCETT-WOOD our students, has impressed us all. For some the remaining 21 screens this year. Our staff BALLET NACIONAL SODRE, time now The Royal Ballet Company has been and students are still discovering exciting URUGUAY using new technologies that were originally new ways to use this technology. ISABELLA KNIGHTS developed for the care of athletes. Not only BAYERISCHE STAATSBALLETTOPER is the School catching up, but we are able to Our responsibilities for student welfare and NICHOLAS LANDON develop this work so much further, as we care safeguarding are taken very seriously and DUTCH NATIONAL BALLET JUNIOR COMPANY for and collect data on our dancers from the our new Pastoral and Compliance Committee WE TRACK AND ANALYSE age of 11. work tirelessly with the staff to ensure that ALICE BELLINI ENGLISH NATIONAL BALLET HEALTH DATA ON STUDENTS Governors and staff alike are aware of each FROM THE AGE OF 11 The regular complaint of the professional change in government directive. As Chairman, FERNANDO MARTIN-GULLANS HOUSTON BALLET dancer who has suffered mental or physical I would like to thank all the Governors who, setbacks (and I have yet to meet the one who on top of the meetings they attend, find time ALBJON GJORLLAKU ORLANDO BALLET hasn’t) is: ‘if only I had had such healthcare to visit the School, speak to students and staff earlier’. Now we are able to provide that care and remain vigilant in protecting their welfare. ALICE KAWALEK SCOTTISH BALLET 21 from a much younger age. The Governors, as ever, wish to congratulate JEROME BARNES SCOTTISH BALLET 21 SMART SCREENS INSTALLED Our Healthcare team has expanded significantly and thank the staff for all the work they RIO ANDERSON Johan Persson IN CLASSROOMS AND STUDIOS and goes from strength to strength. We now put into creating this extraordinary place / SEMPEROPER BALLETT DRESDEN employ 20 staff in this field. It is, however, of achievement. We all agree it is a joy and expensive to run such a far-reaching programme a privilege to be associated with them. ELLA VICKERMAN SEMPEROPER BALLETT DRESDEN and we need long-term funding to ensure it continues. We are deeply grateful for the advice RODRIGO PINTO SEMPEROPER BALLETT DRESDEN and generosity of Angela Bernstein and our FRASER ROACH Governor, Sarah Dorfman who, together with Ballet School Royal © The Photo: STUTTGARTER BALLETT a group of other forward-thinking supporters THE DUCHESS OF WELLINGTON OBE Cover: 4 THE ROYAL BALLET SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT 2016/17 THE ROYAL BALLET SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT 2016/17 5 ARTISTIC DIRECTOR’S REPORT It has been my privilege to lead the School through another year of great achievements. 4 5 4 FOUR PROMISING YOUNG FIVE SUCCESSFUL WE EXTENDED OUR DANCERS WERE NAMED SUMMER PERFORMANCES POPULAR SUMMER INTENSIVE INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARS TO FOUR WEEKS opportunities, including training with us during healthcare support system for our students. certain weeks in the year. I designated four This remains a major focus for the School International Scholars in 2016/17 who are all throughout 2017/18 and beyond. The aim now representing the School around the world. is to optimise our dancers’ health, wellness and resilience. I very much look forward to We have continued our Creative Artist guest reporting further on this programme in the speaker programme to expand the creative coming year. influences on our students. In 2016/17 we welcomed a second series of illustrious guests to I would like to thank all the incredible Royal the School. My thanks to The Thompson Family Ballet School staff for their dedicated work Charitable Trust and Kevin and Olga Senior for for the School and ultimately the students. funding this programme and to Christopher Gorman-Evans and Robin and Frances Tompkins for their ongoing support and generous contribution to students’ cultural outings. Schuhlelewis.com / l As you will see elsewhere in this report, we continue to make the positive changes CHRISTOPHER POWNEY Students dancing Mikhail Fokine’s necessary to put in place an even better ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Les Sylphides at Opera Holland Park Photo: © The Royal Ballet Schoo Royal © The Photo: CHRISTOPHER POWNEY I am especially proud of our 2017 graduates, Dance Academy’s Performance Series for ARTISTIC DIRECTOR all of whom obtained company contracts.