LBC

As a consequence of these awards, the winning organisations invite LBC members and guests to attend rehearsals. The next rehearsal is by ENB School final year students at their studios on Friday 24 May at 2pm and is open to non-members as well as members, as ENBS have capacity for an audience of 50. The capacity at the rehearsals of NB and NEBT was substantially smaller at 15-20. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to see what the talented young students are producing. book here https://www.tlbc.org.uk/events/visit-to-enbs-Young-choreographers-2024-rehearsal

The London Ballet Circle’s Choreographic Award was held for a second time in 2024. Due to members’ generosity the total awarded this time was £10,000. The winning organisations (in order of largest award first) were English National Ballet School, Northern Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, New English Ballet Theatre and Let’s All Dance Ballet Company. The panel of judges for the 2024 award were: - Dame Monica Mason - Elena Glurjidze (former ENB principal and now director of the Masters of Ballet Academy) - Deborah Weiss (former soloist at ENB and Bavarian State Ballet, now dance writer) - Chris Marney (former dancer with Matthew Bourne and others, now Director of London City Ballet) Read more about the 2024 awards process and winners https://www.tlbc.org.uk/articles/results-of-the-lbc-choreographic-award-2024

… and these have been on our calendar for months!

Wednesday 29 May - 7.30pm - Ashton & Sarasota Ballet In the run-up to the Ashton performances at the ROH by the RB and by Sarasota Ballet, and as part of Ashton Worldwide, the London Ballet Circle are hosting a joint event with the Frederick Ashton Foundation at the RB Upper School. Jane Pritchard, curator of dance at the V&A, will be interviewing Sarasota Ballet directors and former Sadlers Wells dancers, Iain Webb and Margaret Barbieri. The event will include a showing of Lynne Wake’s film “Frederick Ashton: Links in the Chain” which features past and present stars of the RB. Tickets are available to all https://www.tlbc.org.uk/events/Ashton There is also a Zoom option to book for those further afield.

Imminent events which are open to all to book: Friday 24 May - 2pm - ENB School Rehearsal by final year graduates of their dissertation choreographies. This programme is one of five to be have received an award from our judges Monica Mason, Elena Glurjidze, Chris Marney and Deborah Weiss of our 2024 Choreographic Award. Book here Tuesday 28 May - 2pm - Northern Ballet Watch technical rehearsal of Moricone’s Romeo & Juliet at Sadler’s Wells. Only a handful of tickets remaining, book here Wednesday 29 May - 7.30pm - Ashton & Sarasota Ballet In the run-up to the Ashton performances at the ROH, we are hosting a joint event with the Frederick Ashton Foundation at the RB Upper School. Jane Pritchard, curator of dance at the V&A, will be interviewing Sarasota Ballet directors and former Sadlers Wells dancers, Iain Webb and Margaret Barbieri. Plus we will show Lynne Wake’s film “Frederick Ashton: Links in the Chain” Tickets for in-person attendance and via Zoom are available here Beyond these … There are more events beyond this, some have booking restricted to members (it only costs £20 a year to join), some June events might be opened to non-members from from 1st June if there is still availability. for instance the visit to London City Ballet is near sold out. All our events are here: https://www.tlbc.org.uk/pages/upcoming-events

Christopher Marney explained t9 London a ballet Circle last night that he specifically wanted to revive London City Ballet because they used to tour to smaller theatres of the UK. When he got in touch with those theatres they were all keen to have shows of good quality ballet, and from a UK company. so I believe all the current venues used to see LCB decades ago.

The written report is usually available within a few days. The video recordings often take much longer to get approved.

London Ballet Circle will be In Conversation via zoom, with LCB Artistic Director, Christopher Marney later today. It will be fascinating to hear how this project began and what it has taken to get to this point. Monday 13 May 2024 at 7pm join us here

Christopher Marney, Artistic Director of the reincarnated London City Ballet is our Zoom guest this evening. ZOOM Monday 13 May 2024 7pm The zoom link is free to members. Non-members can join here VISIT Ahead of their inaugural tour of UK cities, we are privileged to have a visit to the company’s purpose built studio to watch class and rehearsal led by Kate Lyons and Iain MacKay on Thursday 11 July. Members can book here

thank you. It’s always a special privilege to watch class of these aspiring and talented students

TIMETABLE CHANGE FROM THE RBS: “Due to this being such a busy and exciting term at The Royal Ballet School, we have experienced a few timetable changes. However, we have worked at pace today, in collaboration with our Artistic Manager, to curate a timetable that will offer a fantastic and varied insight; including ballet class, Summer Performance rehearsals, our new year group, and a glimpse into our assessment process.L Please see an updated timetable below, please note the earlier finish: 9.30am – Doors Open 9.30am – 9.45am – Tea and Coffee available in foyer 9.45am – 11.30am – Class One, Pre Pro Men 11.30am -11.45am – Comfort break, Tea and Coffee available 11.45am – 13.15pm– Class Two, 1st year Ladies 13.15pm – Lunch, guest leave building 14.00pm – Doors Open for afternoon 14.15pm - 15.45pm– Paquita (Summer performance rehearsal), All Ladies 15.45pm – All guests depart All classes will be in the Linden Studio.

yes there has been a late change to the timetable. An email has now been sent to ticketholders. I have been in other commitments and so not been able to forward this until now.

LATE AVAILABILITY DUE TO TRAIN STRIKES - open to all Annual visit to Royal Ballet Upper School Wednesday 8 May 2024 A lovely day awaits us, see full programme below beginning with ballet class for the pre-professional men. Spaces have become available due to the train strikes and so booking has been opened for non-members as well as members. Book for visit to RBS 9.15-9.45 Arrival and registration 9:45-11:00 Pre-professional Men Ballet Class, followed by 10:45-11:30 Pre-professional Assessment Rehearsals 11:30-11:45 Break 11:45-13:15 2nd Year Ladies Ballet 13:15-14:00 Break for lunch 14:00 Return to School ready for class to resume at 14:15 14:15-15:45 All Years Men – Rehearsal of New Creation 15:45-16:00 Break 16:00-17:30 All Years Men – Rehearsal of New Creation NOTES: The schedule is fuller and longer than we were expecting. Please feel free to leave at a break between sessions. If you are not able to arrive in time for the first session, please plan to arrive before the start of the one you can attend. We are requested to vacate the premises during the lunch break.

LINDA GAINSBURY RIP The Trustees of the London Ballet Circle are all deeply saddened to hear the news of Linda Gainsbury’s passing. Linda was a tour de force for us handling all facets of our organisation for over 5 years as a trustee. When she became ill and stepped down from her responsibilities, a number of new trustees were brought on board to take over all the roles she had managed alone. Since retiring from the LBC, Linda continued to support each of us with advice, suggestions for improvements, and much appreciated words of thanks after successful events. Members will have seen Linda via Zoom interviewing many dancers for the LBC In Conversation events during the COVID pandemic. A fuller tribute will follow in our next newsletter in June. She will be greatly missed by both trustees and members.

The Trustees of the London Ballet Circle are all deeply saddened to hear the news of Linda Gainsbury’s passing. Linda was a tour de force for us handling all facets of our organisation for over 5 years as a trustee. When she became ill and stepped down from her responsibilities, a number of new trustees were brought on board to take over all the roles she had managed alone. Since retiring from the LBC, Linda continued to support each of us with advice, suggestions for improvements, and much appreciated words of thanks after successful events. Members will have seen Linda via Zoom interviewing many dancers for the LBC In Conversation events during the COVID pandemic. A fuller tribute will follow in our next newsletter in June. She will be greatly missed by both trustees and members.

The London Ballet Circle has been offered a discount for members to attend the GradPro finals in Birmingham on 19 May. https://www.tlbc.org.uk/events/visit-to-finals-of-gradpro-2024

Imminent events on our busy programme in the next few months are: Friday 26/4: - visit to tech/dress rehearsal of IMAGO by Pett|Clausen-Knight, nominated for BEST INDEPENDENT COMPANY at the ucmn* National Dance Awards Tuesday 30/4: 🛜 IN CONVERSATION VIA ZOOM with Ruth Brill, choreographer and AD of London Children’s Ballet Sunday 5/5: - watch RB principal Yasmine Naghdi teaching class and variations in RB studios, arranged by Dance Forward Wednesday 8/5: - annual visit to RB Upper School to watch classes of the graduating students and other year groups Monday 13/5: 🛜 IN CONVERSATION VIA ZOOM with Christopher Marney, AD of the reformed London City Ballet Click below to book, and for full details of these and all other upcoming events: https://www.tlbc.org.uk/pages/upcoming-events

@BalletcoForum Moderators please could I ask a moderator to amend Mr Campbell’s first name to ALEXANDER in the post above. We’ve been informed that he prefers to use the full version of his name. Thanking you in advance.

Our next In Conversation via Zoom is TOMORROW! Royal Ballet first soloist ISABELLA GASPARINI Monday 8 April 2024 7.30pm (UK time, UTC+1) FREE to LBC members. Anyone is welcome to join this talk for £5, or to join the charity for £20 annually. FUTURE In Conversation dates for your diary are: Tuesday 30 April - RUTH BRILL, Artistic Director of London Children’s Ballet Monday 13 May - CHRISTOPHER MARNEY, Artistic Director of London City Ballet Thursday 20 June - ALEXANDER CAMPBELL, new Artistic Director of the Royal Academy of Dance, former principal of The Royal Ballet

A reminder that Darcey Bussell is teaching variations on Sunday 24 March to students aged 13-20 in the Royal Ballet Studios for DANCE FORWARD. The LBC have a handful of spaces to watch available … open to all … full info and booking here Classes start at 9.30am and finish at 1.30pm, and include: - 1.5 hours of Warm-Up Class - 2 hours of solos coached by Darcey

NB have invited LBC members to a rehearsal of this Sketches choreographic project and for a tour of their purpose built facilities in Leeds. More info and booking link here https://www.tlbc.org.uk/events/visit-to-northern-ballet-rehearsal-in-Leeds-members-only This will raise extra funds for NB as we donate all the event ticket monies to the host entity. Join us as a member to benefit from access to visits such as these, and to support the dance community. Our in conversations via zoom are included with your membership. Only £20 per annum. https://www.tlbc.org.uk/pages/join

The LBC are delighted to make this award to Northern Ballet. And also delighted that they are celebrating it publicly like this. Full details here https://www.tlbc.org.uk/articles/results-of-the-lbc-choreographic-award-2024

ANNOUNCEMENT Made at the AGM of the LBC, on 11 March 2024 The London Ballet Circle is delighted to announce that Aaron S. Watkin, Artistic Director of English National Ballet, has kindly accepted our invitation to be our newest Vice President. Aaron joins our distinguished set of Vice Presidents which include Dame Merle Park DBE, Wayne Eagling, David Nixon OBE, Darius James OBE, Sir David Bintley CBE, Kevin O’Hare CBE, Dame Darcey Bussell DBE, Carlos Acosta CBE and Tamara Rojo CBE. We continue to be privileged to have Dame Monica Mason DBE as our current President (she presided over our AGM this week) and also privileged that Sir Peter Wright CBE is our current Patron. The London Ballet Circle was founded in 1946, when the founding Patron was Dame Ninette de Valois OM, CH, DBE. We are very grateful to all our officials for their invaluable and generous support. They enable the Trustees and volunteers of the LBC to provide an enriching experience of the ballet world to our members, which in turn benefits dance students, new choreographies, and other facets of the dance community, with a particular focus on ballet. MORE INFO: https://www.ballet.org.uk/people/aaron-s-watkin/ https://www.tlbc.org.uk

DANCE FORWARD Andrew Ward, former dancer and soloist with RB, Boston Ballet and ENB is running further Sunday ballet courses for vocational students, in the ROH studios, to which balletcoforum members and guests are invited: ▪️on Sunday 24 March, Darcey Bussell will coach 2 hours of solos, following 1.5 hour class taught by Dance Forward staff Book for Sunday with Darcey ▪️on Sunday 5 May, Yasmine Naghdi will teach class and variations for 3.5 hours Book for Sunday with Yasmine ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ IN CONVERSATION EVENTS Do keep an eye on our events page for upcoming in conversation events with these interesting participants in the ballet world: ▪️Members will have a special in conversation interview with CASPAR LENCH, exciting young artist of the Royal Ballet following on from the LONDON BALLET CIRCLE AGM on Monday 11 March (via Zoom) ▪️ISABELLA GASPARINI, first soloist of RB, is in conversation on Monday 8 April (via Zoom) ▪️RUTH BRILL, AD of London Children’s Ballet, is in conversation on Tuesday 30 April (via Zoom) ▪️CHRISTOPHER MARNEY, AD of the reformed London City Ballet, is in conversation on Monday 13 May (via Zoom)

There are still places available on the imminent visit to LONDON VOCATIONAL BALLET SCHOOL on Wednesday 6th March. All are welcome! Click to book … https://www.tlbc.org.uk/events/visit-to-london-vocational-ballet-school