Press Release: Elmhurst Ballet School makes a full return to academics and dance

[Jan McNulty]

 

 

ELMHURST SUPPORTS STUDENTS & STAFF AS THE BIRMINGHAM BASED BALLET SCHOOL MAKES A FULL RETURN TO ACADEMICS AND DANCE

 

After five months of lockdown and many hours of remote learning across its academic, artistic and health and wellbeing departments, Elmhurst Ballet School, the vocational school with close links to Birmingham Royal Ballet has finally welcomed back students and staff to its Edgbaston, Birmingham home. 

 

Over the summer months a variety of support mechanisms have been put in place and a 27-page, Covid-19 specific risk assessment developed, with parents and the Elmhurst workforce an integral part of the conversations to reopen the school. Now, a week into the 2020-21 academic year and the new procedures are being implemented and continue to evolve as staff and almost 200 UK and international students have returned to Elmhurst with their safety and wellbeing at the heart of the school’s activity. 

 

 

Jessica Wheeler, Principal of Elmhurst Ballet School, said: “We are so happy to see our school community come back to life. The incredible team have become masters of Zoom but you can’t beat interacting with people in person. In light of Covid-19 and the impact it has on mental and physical health, we have made numerous changes to the way we deliver our world class training and education. At the end of week one we can already see students and staff have hit the ground running and some level of normality has returned to the school.”

 

Students have quickly adapted to the rigour and focus of training and are clearly delighted to be back in the dance studios, albeit the necessary social distancing restrictions. Over the coming weeks the school is going back to basics as students regain their strength, reacquaint themselves with the finer details of the classical ballet technique, and work in large studio spaces after months of dancing in bedrooms, kitchens and living rooms. 

 

Now into week two, marking Elmhurst’s first full week back at school and support services and health clinics will resume as normal. Students’ overall health and wellbeing has already been assessed and excellent results show students have maintained good levels of fitness through the summer, with thanks to the extensive online offer.

 

Elmhurst academic classrooms are also buzzing as teachers focus on practical elements of the curriculum in Science, Drama and Art, particularly during the autumn term. Thanks to delivering online classes during the lockdown, academic staff are not far behind where they should be in their schemes of work, and the curriculum will be adjusted accordingly to ensure any gaps in students’ learning are continually addressed. 

 

This additional support across the classrooms, dance studios, Elmhurst’s pioneering Health and Wellbeing Centre and boarding, will be complemented with a new whole school programme devised by leading performance psychologist, Niall O’Carroll. 

 

Niall has worked with world and Olympic champions and corporate clients in the pursuit of excellence. He takes a unique approach to understanding distractions and building a culture of excellence. 

 

Niall O’ Carroll, commented: “I was introduced to Jessica and Elmhurst Ballet School in 2014 and was instantly impressed by the work ethic across the entire school. Elmhurst’s ambition to be listed amongst the top ten ballet schools in the world excites me and I look forward to sharing my experiences from the corporate and sport sectors to support the school in its aim to produce the best quality of young people and dancers.”

 

-ENDS- 

 

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. In addition to an excellent academic offer, a pioneering health and wellbeing centre and on-site boarding facilities for the Lower School, the 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. Vice Presidents include Carlos Acosta, CBE (Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet) and Wayne McGregor, CBE (multi award-winning British choreographer and director and Artistic Director of Studio Wayne McGregor). HRH Duchess of Cornwall has been the school’s Patron since 2006 and last visited the school in January 2020.

www.elmhurstballetschool.org