Summer Spotlight on School Talent

Thursday July 11^th 2024

The annual Elmhurst summer show has been a highlight of the school calendar here in Birmingham for 20 years. This year, many performances of 20 sold out, and the shows highlighted the diverse talents of Elmhurst students from the Lower and Upper Schools, Elmhurst Ballet Company, and the weekend Young Dancers’ Programme.

Students collaborated with artistic staff and guests to bring the performances of 20 to the Elmhurst Studio Theatre stage this July. Every year, rehearsals step up during the last month of the summer term and it is an epic task to present the shows in addition to numerous Elmhurst events, and dance and academic exams at the end of the school year.

The summer performances were split into Whole School, Upper School, and Lower School shows. They provided fantastic opportunities for students, from gaining experience in working collaboratively to honing performance skills, from the ability to learn and retain many dance steps to being in a studio with guest artists and choreographers, from long days into evenings for technical and dress rehearsals to building stamina and fitness levels and tackling some very quick costume changes… there really is another show going on backstage!

With thanks to choreographers old and new, students experienced a remarkable range of dance, choreographic and creative styles in 20. Continuing Elmhurst Ballet School’s legacy of classical ballet excellence, the programme featured excerpts from Marius Petipa’s beloved and bewitching Swan Lake, including a joyful Waltz performed by Upper School students. The Kingdom of the Shades, one of the most celebrated pieces in all of classical ballet, from Petipa’s La Bayadère, and an excerpt from Spartacus by Yuri Grigorovich were performed by Elmhurst Ballet Company.

The School’s Upper School students presented excerpts from Miguel Altunaga’s moving love-letter to Birmingham, City of a Thousand Trades, created for Birmingham Royal Ballet in 2021. Elmhurst Ballet Company showcased their ability to balance artistic expression and technique with Michael Corder’s demanding Fête Galante, set to Domenico Scarlatti’s sonatas from The Good-Humoured Ladies. This original work for Elmhurst Ballet Company involves a divertissement of varied, classically structured dances in six short movements that reference the styles of eighteenth-century court dances.

New creations for the students crafted by school alumnus Rosie Price premiered on stage in Elmhurst’s studio theatre, and Principal dancer of Birmingham Royal Ballet, Lachlan Monaghan, worked with the year 12 students to restage his piece Axios, originally choreographed for World Ballet Day in 2023. Geōmantía made a return to the stage after delighting audiences in Birmingham and London earlier this year. Geōmantía was performed by Elmhurst Ballet Company and was choreographed by graduate year student Scarlett Brass. 

 Elmhurst Ballet Company performed FAR, created by Wayne McGregor for Company Wayne McGregor in 2010. Elmhurst Ballet Company worked collaboratively with Studio Wayne McGregor artist Neil Fleming Brown to bring FAR to the stage. The performance marked the sixth project between Elmhurst and Studio Wayne McGregor. 

What’s the Time Where You Are?  was a fitting addition to the school’s performances of 20, exploring themes of relocation, different time zones and distance, in a school which is home to students from many different countries across all continents of the world. It was choreographed by former Scottish Ballet and Rambert dancer Daniel Davidson for the year 13 students. Elmhurst artistic team members including Sonia Fajardo, Alex Harrison, Gloria Grigolato, Lee Robinson, Mary Walsh, Indra Reinhold, Sandrine Monin, Sarah-Jayne Blackwell, Chris Penfold, and Denise Whiteman also created a range of dance pieces for 20. 

Before the curtains closed on Elmhurst Ballet School’s 2024 season, the Whole School performances culminated in the joyous Grand Défilé, bringing all 190 students at the School together on stage. Literally translated as the ‘Big Parade’, it never fails to make the entire audience smile. There might have been a few tears of joy from parents and friends too!

Hats off to everyone who worked tirelessly to create the entertaining and extremely successful 20 – a run of shows we’ll remember as we continue to celebrate our incredible 20 years in Birmingham!