Elmhurst Ballet School announces its 2024 summer performances

Continuing the current season of ‘20 years in Birmingham’ celebrations, Elmhurst Ballet School, in association with Birmingham Royal Ballet, is thrilled to share details of its summer run of shows under the umbrella title, 20. Elmhurst’s summer performances are the highlight of the School calendar and a showcase of the extraordinary dedication and passion Elmhurst students apply to their training throughout the year.

Running from 5 to 11 July 2024 in the School’s studio theatre, the shows of 20 are split into Lower School & Elmhurst Young Dancers, Upper School, and Whole School performances. These are the students’ final performances before moving upwards in the school or, for the graduate year Elmhurst Ballet Company, into professional dance employment. The shows allow audiences of family, friends, supporters, and ballet enthusiasts the opportunity to see the rising ballet stars of the future.

For the last 20 years, Elmhurst Ballet School has been situated in Edgbaston, Birmingham. HRH The Queen is Patron of the school, Wayne McGregor CBE is the School’s President, and Carlos Acosta CBE is Vice President. The School celebrated its centenary in 2023. Artistic Director Robert Parker has chosen a bold selection of works to showcase the technical prowess and artistry of the School’s students, ranging in age from 11 to 19. This season celebrates the breadth of the art form – paying homage to the timeless foundations of classical ballet while highlighting the next generation of choreographic voices in a series of new works.

Continuing Elmhurst Ballet School’s legacy of classical ballet excellence, the programme features excerpts from Marius Petipa’s beloved and bewitching Swan Lake, including a joyful Waltz performed by Upper School students. The Kingdom of the Shades, one of the most celebrated pieces in all of classical ballet, from Petipa’s La Bayadère, and an excerpt from Spartacus by Yuri Grigorovich will be performed by Elmhurst Ballet Company. The School’s Upper School students will present excerpts from Miguel Altunaga’s moving love-letter to Birmingham, City of a Thousand Trades, created for Birmingham Royal Ballet in 2021. Elmhurst Ballet Company will showcase their ability to balance artistic expression and technique with Michael Corder’s demanding Fête Galante, set to Domenico Scarlatti’s sonatas from The Good-Humoured Ladies.

This original work for Elmhurst Ballet Company involves a divertissement of varied, classically structured dances in six short movements that reference the styles of eighteenth-century court dances. New creations for the students crafted by school alumnus Rosie Price will premiere on stage in Elmhurst’s studio theatre, and Principal dancer of Birmingham Royal Ballet, Lachlan Monaghan, has worked with the year 12 students to restage his piece Axios, originally choreographed for World Ballet Day in 2023. Geōmantía makes a return to the stage after delighting audiences in Birmingham and London earlier this year.

Geōmantía is performed by Elmhurst Ballet Company and is choreographed by graduate year student Scarlett Brass. Elmhurst continues to invite guest artists into the school to enhance the student experience. During 20, Elmhurst Ballet Company performs FAR, created by Wayne McGregor for Company Wayne McGregor in 2010. Elmhurst Ballet Company worked collaboratively with Studio Wayne McGregor artist Neil Fleming Brown to bring FAR to the stage. The performance marks the sixth project between Elmhurst and Studio Wayne McGregor.

What’s the Time Where You Are? is a fitting addition to the school’s performances of 20, exploring themes of relocation, different time zones and distance, in a school which is home to students from many different countries across all continents of the world. It is choreographed by former Scottish Ballet and Rambert dancer Daniel Davidson for the year 13 students. Elmhurst artistic team members including Sonia Fajardo, Alex Harrison, Gloria Grigolato, Lee Robinson, Mary Walsh, Indra Reinhold, Sandrine Monin, Sarah-Jayne Blackwell, Chris Penfold, and Denise Whiteman have also created a range of dance pieces for 20.

Before the curtains close on Elmhurst Ballet School’s 2024 season, the Whole School performances will culminate in the joyous Grand Défilé, bringing all 190 students at the School together on stage.