Birmingham dance and culinary talents will unite for a fundraising event on 11 July 2023 as Elmhurst Ballet School presents its Centenary Summer Ball and Birmingham-born Michelin star chef Glynn Purnell curates the evening’s menu.
Purnell received Birmingham’s first Michelin star in 2005. He has taken part in The Great British Menu, winning twice and appearing in later series as a mentor and is regularly seen on Saturday Kitchen.
He said, “it is an absolute pleasure to design a menu that suitably celebrates Elmhurst Ballet School, a brilliant training facility which Birmingham welcomed with open arms when it made the move to our fantastic city in 2004. I’m so pleased to be able to contribute to celebrating 100 years of Elmhurst and seize the opportunity to bring theatricality and elegance to the dinner table at this special event.”
Jessica Ward, Principal of Elmhurst Ballet School, added, “Elmhurst has had an incredible year commemorating its centenary, from a royal visit to alumni reconnecting and inspiring current students. To conclude the celebrations with Glynn Purnell curating the menu for our Summer Ball is a real coup for the school and is the perfect way to take Elmhurst into its next 100 years.”
For the Century shows, Elmhurst students will perform a range of dance in the school’s studio theatre, including excerpts from Birthday Offering by Fredrick Ashton, Journey, a new ballet creation by Northern Ballet soloist Gavin McCaig, Juncture, a new contemporary piece by dance artist and filmmaker Charlotte Edmonds, and the whole school in the Grand Défilé.