Elmhurst Ballet School, the school associated with Birmingham Royal Ballet, has launched Elmhurst Ballet Company, the first-ever company for the school’s graduate year, which will launch in 2019 with Origins, an evening of dance, at Elmhurst’s studio theatre in Edgbaston, Birmingham on 8 and 9 February and Sadler’s Wells’ Lilian Baylis Studio in London on Friday 15 February.
Origins will include excerpts from works by leading classical and contemporary dance makers including David Bintley’s The Shakespeare Suite, Kenneth MacMillan’s Elite Syncopations and Romeo and Juliet, Peter Wright’s Swan Lake and Wayne McGregor’s Entity.
Jessica Wheeler, Principal of Elmhurst Ballet School, said, “the launch of Elmhurst Ballet Company is an exciting development in the school’s history, especially as we work towards marking our 100th anniversary in 2023. The Company will enhance the student experience with performances in a variety of locations, including at home in Birmingham and in London. Students will gain a greater sense of working and touring in a professional company whilst learning and performing a diverse range of choreography.”
Robert Parker, Artistic Director of Elmhurst Ballet School, added, “Elmhurst Ballet Company will help our graduate students make a smoother transition to their professional dancer lives. Throughout their time at the school, students enjoy many performance experiences, from working with Birmingham Royal Ballet to dancing in our summer shows. Elmhurst Ballet Company will allow Company artists to hone and perform challenging and well known choreography and will take them off site to experience new venues and a touring regime.”
Elmhurst Ballet Company will continue to deliver performances in its home city of Birmingham, return to London and develop a touring strategy as well as helping to deliver the school’s future outreach, learning and participatory activities.