The Royal Opera House is partnering with the MS Society to host a 12-week ballet residency for volunteer dancers living with multiple sclerosis in which more than 20 dancers, with different levels of dance experience and mobility, will participate in a series of workshops at the ROH.
Run by choreographer Bim Malcomson, these weekly workshops explore different principles of ballet technique, drawing inspiration from Cathy Marston’s ballet The Cellist, about the life of cellist Jacqueline du Pré, which was performed by The Royal Ballet last October. The residency will culminate with a free, unticketed performance at the Royal Opera House on Friday 9 February as part of the Royal Opera House’s Live at Lunch series.
Nick Moberley, Chief Executive of the MS Society, said, "over 130,000 people live with MS in the UK and symptoms are different for everybody and often invisible. What many people wrongly assume is that living with a condition like MS means dance and other forms of exercise are not possible. Our amazing group of dancers have proved that whatever your level of ability or experience is, ballet is adaptable and open to all. Any type of exercise can be beneficial for people living with MS and we hope this partnership will inspire others to try something new or follow a dream this year."