Elmhurst Ballet School, the vocational school in association with Birmingham Royal Ballet, will move its annual summer school online this year with its Back to Dance Masterclasses running 26–28 August 2020. Elmhurst teachers and Birmingham Royal Ballet dancers will deliver two virtual timetables designed for the 10–13 and 14–19 age groups.
‘Back to Dance’ aims to help young dancers maintain or pick up on their training as many students think about returning to courses and education in September. Although dance studios are allowed to reopen from 25 July, Elmhurst will remain closed to large groups until the start of the autumn term.
The online programme in August will include masterclasses by Elmhurst ballet teachers: Andrea Tredinnick, a former First Soloist with BRB Laëtitia Lo Sardo, a past winner of the Prix de Lausanne international ballet competition and First Soloist with BRB; Lei Zhao, a former First Soloist with BRB; and Sander Blommaert, a former dancer with The Royal Ballet. Also passing on his experience will be Robert Parker, a former Principal dancer with BRB and now the Artistic Director of Elmhurst.
Leading on the contemporary dance classes will be Angela Towler, a former dancer and rehearsal director with Rambert, and Sandrine Monin, a choreographer and former dancer with Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz and Phoenix Dance Theatre, as well as Jenny MacNamara and Sarah-Jayne Blackwell, who will teach jazz dance.
BRB Principal dancers Samara Downs, Céline Gittens and Brandon Lawrence will teach classes and there will be ‘Life in a Ballet Company’ Q&A sessions with the dancers and Assistant Director Marion Tait.