Elmhurst Ballet School opens its doors to celebrate national launch of Let's Dance!

Founded in Camberley, Surrey in 1923, Elmhurst was one of the UK’s first vocational dance schools. In 2004, the school moved to its purpose-built new home in Edgbaston, Birmingham forming a close association with Birmingham Royal Ballet. Elmhurst has a history of notable alumni and continues to be a world-renowned centre of excellence, providing full-time vocational training in classical ballet in conjunction with a sound academic education across the whole school.

In a change to its usual students, on Sunday 2 March Elmhurst will welcome participants to take part in a Royal Academy of Dance Silver Swans class, a specially designed ballet session aimed at over 55s to help improve mobility, posture, and co-ordination, and boost energy levels. Elmhurst will host three levels of class; beginner, intermediate and advanced, to ensure that all abilities are catered for. Classes will be held in Elmhurst Ballet School’s state-of-the-art studios and taught by RAD Silver Swans qualified staff. Silver Swans Licensees are trained specifically to teach ballet to adults over the age of 55, but all ages are welcome.

Speaking about Let’s Dance!, Denise Whiteman, Director of Dance Training at Elmhurst Ballet School said: “Let’s Dance! is about encouraging everybody, from older people to teenagers, to embrace the joy and benefits of dancing. The more we dance, the better we will all be – as individuals, and as a society.

Whether you’re an experienced dancer, have briefly dabbled, or are a complete novice, we warmly invite anyone to come along to Elmhurst Ballet School on Sunday 2 March to try our Silver Swans classes. Let's get the nation dancing!”

Let’s Dance! is a brand-new initiative spearheaded by Angela Ripon CBE. Angela’s journey on Strictly Come Dancing highlighted to her the incredible benefits of regular dancing, and now she’s on a mission to get the whole nation dancing. This campaign is all about making dance accessible to everyone, with a focus on encouraging people to embrace the joy and health benefits of dancing.

Angela Rippon CBE said, "This all started after my appearance on Strictly Come Dancing, revisiting my roots in dance, where I had the chance to feel the benefits myself. It's this that sparked my mission to get the nation dancing, in the hopes of helping more people access the health and social benefits of dance. So please join us! Let’s come together and make 2025 the year of dance."

The RAD Silver Swans programme comes with the royal seal of approval, as Elmhurst’s Patron, Her Majesty The Queen, is a Silver Swan herself. Patron of Elmhurst Ballet School since 2006, HM The Queen is an enthusiastic dancer, staying fit and healthy by taking part in the regular ballet classes for the over 55s and referring to herself as “a devoted, if slightly creaky, Silver Swan”.

For more information and to book your place: Let's Dance! Tickets, Sun, Mar 2, 2025 at 10:30 AM | Eventbrite