Elmhurst Ballet School will present Voices & Virtues, a series of shows following its centenary and the 20-year anniversary of its relocation to Birmingham, for six performances 4–10 July 2025 in its studio theatre.
The programme features excerpts from Sir Peter Wright and Galina Samsova’s Swan Lake, performed by Year 13 students, who have also worked with Cuban choreographer Miguel Altunaga on a new piece titled Ek.sta.sis.
Birmingham Royal Ballet Principal Dancer Lachlan Monaghan’s Unfading, set to Chopin’s Ballade No. 3, is dedicated to Ana Wheeler, a much-missed Elmhurst pianist.
New creations for years 7 and 8 students by school alumnus Rosie Price titled Youthful Enthusiasm and Knowledgeable Optimism will première, and another former Elmhurst student and current dancer of Birmingham Royal Ballet, Olivia Chang-Clarke, has worked with year 9 students on a classical piece, The Chase.
Choreographer Rachel Hunt has worked with year 8 students on a piece called Welcome to Hollywood! and contemporary piece, A Line That We Crossed, choreographed by graduate year students Tom Wood and Spike Frobisher.
Year 11 students will perform a new contemporary piece, Jinwoo, created by former Rambert Dance Company dancer and current Associate Choreographer for Ballet Black, Jacob Wye. Elmhurst artistic team members, including Mary Walsh, Cris Penfold, Sonia Fajardo, Gloria Grigolato, Lee Robinson, Indra Reinhold and Hannah Rudd, have also created a range of dance pieces.
The whole school performances will culminate in the Grand Défilé, bringing all 190 students together on stage.