Press Release: Elmhurst Ballet Company in 'SYNERGY' - an evening of dance by some of the most influential figures in the history of ballet

[Jan McNulty]

 

Presents

 

SYNERGY

 

• An evening of dance by some of the most influential figures in the history of ballet
• Excerpts from signature works by Ninette de Valois, Ashton, Wright and Bintley
• Combined with new works and a commission by Studio Wayne McGregor
• Performed by Elmhurst Ballet Company, the graduate year of Elmhurst Ballet School

 

Elmhurst Ballet School, BIRMINGHAM on Friday 7& Saturday 8February 2020 at 7pm

Lilian Baylis Studio, Sadler’s Wells, LONDON on Saturday 15February 2020 at 2.30pm & 7.30pm

 

 

 Elmhurst Ballet Company is pleased to announce details of Synergy, an evening of dance excerpts by some of the most influential figures in the history of ballet, including Ninette de Valois’ Checkmate, widely regarded as de Valois' signature ballet and a cornerstone of the British ballet repertoire. Excerpts from Frederick Ashton’s Tweedledum and Tweedledee, Peter Wright’s Swan Lake, and David Bintley’s Take Five also appear in the mix, and will be combined with new works, including a contemporary piece by Studio Wayne McGregor.

 

Sander Blommaert, one of the school’s ballet teachers, flamenco teacher Ana Garcia, and Elmhurst Ballet Company member Jakob Myers will also create new works for the show.  Jakob’s talent for dance was discovered through Birmingham Royal Ballet’s talent identification Dance Track programme, and he went on to train full-time at Elmhurst, where he became Head Boy in his second year of sixth form, and he will graduate in July 2020 with his fellow Company dancers and year group.

 

Synergy opens at Elmhurst Ballet School in Birmingham on 7 & 8 February, followed by performances at Lilian Baylis Studio, Sadler’s Wells, London, on 15 February 2020.

 

Elmhurst Ballet Company is the student company of Elmhurst Ballet School, the school in association with Birmingham Royal Ballet. The Company bridges the gap between school and professional life, equipping students with the necessary skills and attributes to secure employment with world class dance companies. Company experience provides an opportunity for the dancers to produce their own work, tour, and take ballet out into the community.

 

Synergy marks the second production and tour presented by Elmhurst Ballet Company, and the first for the ‘Class of 2020’. This year’s Company members are: Jennifer Beattie (Newcastle); Maisie Butler (Birmingham); Joshua Dart (Torquay); Ruben Flynn-Kann (Queensland, Australia); Lucy Elizabeth Fox (Sudbury); William Mitchell (York); Jakob Myers (Birmingham); Emily Ormsby (Warwick); Grace Owen (Tamworth); Olivia Parham (Callington, Cornwall); and Mia Stapleton (Cannock).

 

The company recently performed alongside London Schools Symphony Orchestra’s celebrations for Eleanor Alberga’s 70th birthday in a performance of 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' at Barbican Hall in London.

Elmhurst Ballet School is a world-leader in ballet education and training based in the heart of Birmingham and prepares talented and ambitious young dancers to take their place on the world stage. Elmhurst believes that talent is classless, and that world-leading ballet training should be open to gifted, passionate and committed young people, regardless of social and cultural background.

 

-ENDS-

 

NOTES

 

Elmhurst Ballet Company in ‘Synergy’ in 2020

 

Friday 7 & Saturday 8 February 2020 at 7pm

Elmhurst Ballet School, BIRMINGHAM

Tickets: Via Elmhurst Ballet School’s Eventbrite page www.elmhurstballetschool.eventbrite.co.uk/

 

Saturday 15February 2020 at 2.30pm & 7.30pm (ON SALE SOON)

Lilian Baylis Studio, Sadler’s Wells, LONDON

Tickets: www.sadlerswells.com // 020 7863 8000

Transaction fee applies: £3 for telephone bookings and £1.95 for online bookings. No charge in person at Ticket Office

 

Running time: 2 hours (includes 20 minutes interval)

 

Elmhurst Ballet School is based in Edgbaston, Birmingham and will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2023. It is a world-renowned centre of excellence in association with Birmingham Royal Ballet and prepares talented young dancers aged between 11 and 19 to become the thinking dance professionals of the future. The school nurtures individuality through a holistic approach to training, education and health, which helps students to become independent, collaborative and versatile artists, ready to take their professional places on the world stage. Elmhurst’s dance training is of the highest quality and is delivered by current and former dance professionals. This training is enhanced by opportunities to work with Birmingham Royal Ballet, visiting choreographers and dance artists. Elite but not elitist, Elmhurst believes that talent is classless and its exceptional training opportunities should be available to young dancers regardless of their financial, social or cultural backgrounds. Whilst Elmhurst is an independent school, typically some 80% of students benefit from Government support to train at the school.

www.elmhurstballetschool.org

 

Twitter: @elmhurstballet // Instagram: @elmhurstballetschool // Facebook: Elmhurst Ballet School

 

Photo credit: Elmhurst Ballet Company’s Emily Ormsby & Jakob Myers in ‘Checkmate’ excerpt. Photography Andrew Ross