summer classics

In July and August foreign students descend on London in large numbers to experience the dance training that is on offer in high quality summer schools. Elmhurst, at their wonderful new facility in Birmingham does not yet have their own summer school in classical ballet, although they will do so in the near future.

At the moment the new school, affiliated to Birmingham Royal Ballet, is just hitting its stride, but has offered the state of the art building to SAMPAD (South Asian Arts) and the National Youth Ballet for their own programmes and a contemporary street dance initiative called Let Me Dance. Not all events of this kind are held in the summer, of course. It is also worth noting that the British Ballet Organisation, led by the indefatigable John Travis, holds its own courses at Easter time at White Lodge, The Royal Ballet Lower School, and each year 188 pupils and teachers congregate at the former royal palace for classical ballet and musical theatre classes. Last year attendees included dancers from Spain, Malta, Sweden and Australia. The BBO is an international teaching organisation with large concentrations of teachers in Australia and New Zealand as well as in the UK. ...