#LetsTalkDance

Thursday March 25^th 2021

The Instagram Live set of interviews hosted by Elmhurst Principal Jessica Ward has just completed Season 1 (how VERY Netflix!) of engaging and inspiring conversations. The idea behind Let’s Talk Dance came during the third lockdown after seeing Elmhurst departments working together to keep our students learning and training. We wanted to talk about dance with some of our friends and supporters, find out their dance stories and how by working with others shaped their amazing careers and many others too. We hope their stories connect with you as much as they have connected with our students.

Brandon Lawrence, a Birmingham Royal Ballet Principal, and the newest member of our Board, kicked of the series of interviews at the end of January. Other interviews followed: Theresa Ruth Howard, diversity in dance advocate, consultant and strategist who assists arts organisations, including Elmhurst to revisit, reflect, redesign and realise better Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programmes; Daniel Owoseni, the Creative Director and Founder of Leap of Dance Academy in Nigeria; Christine Tjahjadi-Lopez, teacher and Founder Director of Transformación Ballet in Guatemala; Wayne McGregor CBE, multi-award-winning choreographer and director, Artistic Director of Studio Wayne McGregor, and Resident Choreographer of The Royal Ballet; Carlos Acosta CBE, Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet; Christopher Hampson, Artistic Director and CEO of Scottish Ballet; and Etta Murfitt, Associate Artistic Director of Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures. 

Watch and listen again to some of the interviews!