The LBC’s latest “In Conversation” event saw members and guests gather on Zoom to hear from Yuhui Choe, First Soloist at the Royal Ballet, and Nehemiah Kish, former Royal Ballet Principal. Leading the conversation was dance writer and critic Deborah Weiss.
The wide-reaching conversation revealed the depth of both dancers’ talent and experience. Amongst other topics, they both talked animatedly about their time at the Royal Ballet; Nehemiah recalled working with the likes of Natalia Makarova, Anthony Dowell and Monica Mason, and Yuhui talked about her fondness for Ashton’s choreography. Beyond dance, Nehemiah discussed his recent period of further study at Goldsmiths, working towards a Master’s in Arts Administration and Cultural Policy – which he said has given him “a practical foundation to help promote dance.”
Nehemiah has clearly been putting the learning from this course into practical use, as Artistic Director of the upcoming ‘Nureyev: Legend and Legacy’ gala. This gala will bring together some of the world’s greatest dancers – including Yuhui, who revealed she will be dancing the pas de six from Laurencia – at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane to celebrate the legacy of Rudolf Nureyev. Nehemiah said that since attending ballet school he realised how internationally significant Nureyev was – and that “he is still shaping the dance world today.” He said, “it’s important to celebrate Nureyev’s contributions to dance” and spoke about the challenges of staging the gala, as well as the warm support from across the ballet world he has received in organising this event.
After such an insightful and interesting talk, it seems certain that LBC members will be looking forward to the Nureyev gala in September and wishing both Nehemiah and Yuhui great success.
A full report of this event will be available on the website in due course, and the recording will be made available to members in a few months' time.